506 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



know, he deserves it. The chief objections to the Suffolk is the dis- 

 parity between the \Yeight of his body and the lightness of his limbs. 

 He exhibits also a formation of hock which suggects a disposition to 

 curb. For working heavy clay soil, such as prevails in East Anglia, 

 his home, the Suffolk is invaluable. There he is seen at his best, and 

 as long as these heavy clays are cultivated his position as an agri- 

 cultural horse is not likely to be assailed." 



MARKETING HORSES. 



To sell promptly at a remunerative price a horse should be of a 

 recognized market type. Horses are classified when they arrive at great 

 markets like that of Chicago and according to the demand for the cer- 

 tain class to which a horse clearly belongs and his individual excellence, 

 according to the requirements of that class, will largely depend the price 

 paid for him. 



On general principles, apart from the consideration of class require- 

 ments, every horse forwarded to market should be in good condition 

 from full feeding. Extra condition, especially in heavy draft horses, 

 is estimated to be worth twenty-five cents a pound in the Chicago mark- 

 et. For immediate purposes of work a horse should at least be five years 

 old, well-matured and well-broken. Immature horses, under five years 

 of age, do not stand work well upon the city pavements, hence are likely 

 to sell at a depreciated price. There is, however, a good and growing 

 demand for well-bred, well-formed, strongly-develcped, sound, active, 

 heavy draft geldings under five years in age to be fattened for market 

 by men who make a specialty of that business. Such horses are classed 

 as "Feeders" in the market. 



It has well been said that "a good horse is a good color" but there 

 is some discrimination against "washy" colors, pink noses, "flea-bitten" 

 grey, white and "mealy" bay horses. A solid grey color, in horses of 

 "French blood" will out-sell black by $50, or over that figure in some 

 instances. Carriage teams sell best when matched as regards color as 

 well as other requisite points. 



Horses offered for sale should be well-groomed, but fore-tops, manes 

 and tails should be left intact. A clipped or "roached" horse is likely 

 to be regarded as "second hand" in any large horse market. Vice 

 injures the value of the horse so afflicted and any serious defect or 

 unsoundness speedily will be detected and have the same affect. It 

 especially is desirable that the feet of all horses should be properly 

 cared for so that at marketable age the horse may appear to the best 

 possible advantage. Horses notably unsound as regards wind, limbs 

 or feet should not be forwarded to market. They will surely prove an 

 expense to the shipper. The average life of a sound horse used steadily 

 upon the streets of a city is five years; the unsound, or weak -footed 

 horse wears out in considerably less time. 



City horse dealers and commission men are excellent judges of horse- 

 flesh as are most of the professional buyers to whom they sell country 

 horses. Good points instantly are noted and estimated at their proper 

 value. Departures from sound or desirable conformation, quality, 



