128 THE HORSE AND THE WAR 



you cannot blame farmers for permitting the colts to be sold. This is one 

 explanation for the fact that quite a good many horses are not as perfect in their 

 underpinning as Percheron men would like to have them, but this is gradually 

 being eliminated, as we are now producing more Percheron sires of the right 

 stamp and our buyers are steadily becoming more discriminating in their 

 selections. 



"The one thing that has added more to the popularity of Percheron horses 

 than any other factor is the fact that the Percheron sire is extraordinarily 

 prepotent, stamping his characteristics upon females of any size or breeding. 

 Ranchmen of long experience who have reared thousands upon thousands of 

 horses report the get of Percheron stallions always possess the characteristics 

 of the sire, regardless of what the dam may be, and that the colt, whether from 

 a large or small mare, is a compact, thick, powerfully-muscled, serviceable 

 horse, saleable whether he be large or small. 



" I do not wish your English readers to gain the impression that Percherons 

 are useful only for siring artillery horses, for as a matter of fact they are primarily 

 a draught breed. A sire should stand at least 17 hands, have depth of 

 chest equal to one-half of his height, and be well proportioned throughout, 

 weighing in breeding condition around a ton. The best females usually stand 

 around 16-2 to i6"3 hands, are likewise deep-bodied and roomy in the middle, 

 and weigh from 1,750 to 2,000 pounds, although we have some mares that are 

 larger. Those 1 speak of, however, are considered the most typical. 



" In contrast to the desirable results obtained from crossing Percheron sires 

 on mares of any type or breeding, other heavy breeds have not crossed kindly 

 on so wide a variety of females. If crossed on very small mares the get lacks 

 proportion, are heavy-headed, awkward in underpinning, and in all instances 

 lack the deep, roomy middle, easy-keeping qualities and extreme hardiness 

 characteristic of the Percheron grades. 



" I have written thus fully because I believe these items will interest you, 

 and I am sure that you will find ample confirmation of my statements from 

 the horses actually in service in France. Typical Percheron horses are as 

 good in the underpinning as horses of any breed, bar none. 



" The Percheron horse will not only produce the best artillery horses the 

 world has ever seen, but grades carrying three-quarters or seven-eighths Per- 

 cheron blood will, if properly grown out, make draught horses of real draught 

 character and size that will outwear others in hard city service. This is one 

 of the particularly noteworthy characteristics of the breed, as has been demon- 

 strated in American cities. They have gone into stables, have worked side 

 by side with other geldings, have kept in condition on less feed, and have 

 outlasted them by years." 



After all, it is something quite substantial in his favour that none better 

 is needed in France and North America. And it is also deeply significant that 

 individuals associated with the Army Remount Service, men who have been 

 with horses and studied them all their lives, should have been converted to the 

 Percheron-bred draught horse. These officers were admittedly prejudiced 

 against them at the outset. It has been a kind of creed with every Englishman 

 that the horses of no other country are as good as those of his own. It is a 



