LECTURE LXVII. 



FATTENING HORSES FOR MARKET. 



One of the most important points to be considered in 

 the preparation of horses for the market is to have them 

 properly fattened. This applies to all classes of horses, but 

 it more especially applies to the draft horse. Usually car- 

 riage horses and other types of horses intended for driving 

 purposes carry a sufficient amount of flesh. They should be 

 fat enough to give them a smooth appearance. The draft 

 horse, however, is a different animal. He must be unusually 

 fat to sell to advantage. Nine-tenths of our draft horses 

 which are sold weighing from 1600 to 1700 pounds, should 

 be made to weigh from 1800 to 2000 pounds. The draft 

 horse market is a peculiar one, as weight is one of the 

 most important factors in determining the price. Usually 

 every 100 pounds in a draft horse after he weighs 1600 to 

 1800 pounds is worth twenty-five cents a pound; every pound 

 from 1800 to 2100 pounds is worth about fifty cents a pound; 

 thus the importance of having the horse real fat. 



In the preparation of the driving horse it is very import- 

 ant that he be given regular exercise. With the draft horse 

 this is not so important. In fact most successful fitters omit 

 exercise altogether, claiming that they can get much heavier 

 gains by keeping the animals in a quiet place. Many men 

 prefer tying them in stalls where they may have a ground 

 floor and a rather dark stable. These conditions seem to 

 be conducive to the putting on of flesh. 



In the preparation of driving horses for market the feed- 

 ing of the same should be somewhat different from that prac- 

 ticed in the fattening of the draft horse. It is always best 

 to water before feeding in any class of horses, and never 

 after feeding until two or three hours have elapsed. Salt 

 should be kept within reach of the animals at all times. In 

 feeding the driving horse do not make the common mistake 

 of feeding too much. About three-fourths pound hay per 

 day for every one hundred pounds weight of the animal is 



