HORSES: THEIR POINTS AND MANAGEMENT 



extraordinary position of Montgomeryshire to-day in the cart 

 horse world, in standing ahiiost in the front of all English, 

 Welsh, and Scotch counties, is a lesson to all horse breeders. 

 This leading })Osition is the result of the combination, energy, 

 and judgment of the farmers themselves, and the quality of the 

 soil. For several years, the best entire horses in England have 

 been hired and purchased for services with most profitable 

 results. 



The other variety is the smaller horse, lighter in bone, 

 more active, and, probably of greater utility. In some 

 districts he runs the larger horse very closelv in size and 

 value, wdiile in the most hilly districts, he is much smaller but 

 sturdier, hardier, and often as nimble as a pony cob. But 

 one singular characteristic runs through all the sections of 

 breeding horses. It is this : The harder bred the horse is, 

 the more courage, stamina, and endurance it has. Favourable 

 conditions, as a general rule, entail the loss of stamina and 

 endurance. The ordinar}^ farmer should, even at a compara- 

 tively high figure, secure the best brood mare he can find, 

 and not part with her without exceptional causes. A good 

 sound brood mare goes a long way towards prosperous results. 

 The brood mare is a valuable asset. She should be reasonably 

 worked when in foal ; but well treated. If she is fed well 

 and naturally, her progeny will be all the more valuable. 



From a foal until he is fit for work and sale, the voung 

 horse should be kept in the highest natural condition possible. 

 Many farmers rear their young horses on what they consider 

 the economic principle — low feeding, poor grazing, unnecessary 

 exposure in all weathers, being under the impression that the 

 animal is liardened by this systcmi, constitutionally, and that 



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