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THE NATIONAL HORSE OF AMERIOA. 707 
ity. Still, it is well not toforget that therule is, the better the blood - 
the better the horse, and the better the pedigree the more money 
your horse will bring in the market. To breed this class of horses 
does not call for large expenditures. In almost every county in the 
land can be found some trotting-bred stallion of good size and indi- 
viduality, available at a moderate fee. Mares suitable to produce 
the horse we are discussing can be secured at prices not above their 
intrinsic value; if he breeds asound, handsome, trotting-bred mare 
to a stallion of equal qualifications there is hardly a possibility that, 
intelligently managed, the transaction will not result profitably to 
the average American farmer. Though the time may come when 
ultra-fashionable trotting blood will not sell for the seemingly fabu- 
lous prices of to-day, there is not the slightest doubt that a fine- 
blooded driving horse of size and beauty will always sell at a price 
making his production profitable. To the general farmer and small 
breeder, then, I would say, breed the horse that is the surest always 
to bring a paying price, for then you reduce the risk of loss to the 
minimum; then the profit is most sure, depending upon the intrinsic 
worth of the animal rather than upon the shifting fashions in blood, 
or the uncertain chances of distinction on the turf. You are breed- . 
ing for business, not for sport. Select a sire of sufficient size and 
solid, good color, with trotting action of a high order, well-bred, 
handsome, and stylish in the family carriage; fast enough for the 
road; strong enough for all purposes of the farm; with the right 
kindly disposition for all the purposes of a family horse, and with 
nerve and speed enough for all the purposes of the gentleman driver. 
Now, get a mareapproximating this standard, and you are in a position 
to breed the most valuable, the most useful, and the most profitable 
horse that exists. He will draw the plow, or haul a load to market, 
or perform any task better, infinitely better, than a heavy, sluggish 
animal. Then put him in the family carriage and he will challenge 
thé admiration of all who see him floating along in the pride of his 
beauty. There issatisfaction, enjoyment, and profit in this horse, 
for he is elegant, beautiful, and useful in all places. Such horses 
are always in demand and always salable at a remunerative price in 
keeping with the form, size, style, speed, and breeding of the indi- 
vidual. Beauty, size, and style are the first considerations in breed- 
ing this peerless carriage horse. No matter what the speed or pedi- 
pial of a stallion may be, if he has not good size and substance, and 
oes hot carry himself magnificently and stylishly, he will not do to 
breed the ideal carriage horse from. Breeders who can afford to 
breed for speed alone may patronize fast but undersized stallions, 
but a small breeder can not afford to do it; and, indeed, I doubt if 
any one can afford to doit. If asmall horse isa phenomenal trotter » 
he is worth something; if his speed is only that of an average horse 
he is a ‘losing speculation.” 
See that you get size ranging from 15.3 to 16.2 hands and weighs 
from 1,100 to 1,250 pounds. ‘The most profitable horse is within these 
bounds. The favorite color is solid bay with black points, and lofty 
carriage and elastic gait are essential. The conformation of the 
highest type of the trotter is the best, with clean limbs, fine coat, and 
the general characteristics of good breeding. 
It is strange, yet true, that some misguided but generally very esti- 
mable people look upon speed (and necessarily good breeding) as un- 
desirable in a horse. If a horse can do anything else well, does it 
not add to his value to have the ability to draw the carriage fast? 
