CHAPTER XXXV. 

 MARKET CLASSES OF HORSES. 



The present rank and importance of the various horse 

 markets is shown by the following figures giving the receipts 

 for 1918: 



1. St. Louis 241,827 T.Omaha ...22,212 



2. Chicago 87,820 8. Indianapolis 19,608 



3. Kansas City 84,628 9. Denver 14,599 



4. Fort Worth 78,881 10. Oklahoma City 12,678 



5. St. Joseph 39,260 11. Wichita 10,782 



6. Sioux City 23,306 12. St. Paul .... . 6,541 



Auction rules. At the large horse markets, horses are sold 

 at auction under certain rules which are well known and under- 

 stood by all horsemen who buy or sell at these markets. As 

 the horse comes into the auction ring, a clerk on the auctioneer's 

 stand displays a placard on which appears in large letters the 

 rule under which the animal will be sold, such as "Sound/' 

 "Serviceably sound," "At the halter," etc. The rule under 

 which the horse is sold is a guarantee made by the seller to the 

 buyer. The buyer has until noon of the following day to refuse 

 the horse, if upon examination and trial he finds that the animal 

 is not as represented. 



The definitions of the principal rules which govern the 

 sale of horses are given below. Exceptions to these rules may 

 be announced from the auction stand, pointing out the defects, 

 in which case they are recorded and go with the horse. 



1. Sound. Perfectly sound in every way. 



2. Serviceably sound. Virtually a sound animal, barring 

 slight blemishes which do not interfere with his usefulness in 

 any way. His wind and eyes must be good, but a spot or streak 

 in the eye which does not affect the sight will be considered 

 serviceably sound as long as the pupil of the eye is good. He 

 must not be lame or sore in any way. 



111. Bui. 122, Market Classes and Grades of Horses and Mules, by R. C. 

 Obrecht, has been used as the basis for much of this chapter and Chapter 

 XXXVIII. The student will find it well worth while to refer to this bulletin, 

 especially for the excellent illustrations which it contains. 



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