TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 441 



importance in pleasure horses than in those used for business 

 and utility purposes. 



Training and disposition. Every class calls for a horse of 

 good disposition and well educated for his work. Mere "green- 

 ness" in a drafter, however, does not affect the price much if 

 he is free from vice and bad habits, but carriage and saddle 

 horses must be thoroughly schooled in order to realize good 

 values. 



Sex. Sex is not of great importance in the market. How- 

 ever, geldings sell better than mares for city use, as there is some 

 liability of mares being in foal, and if not, the recurrence of 

 heat is objectionable. For farm use and southern trade, mares 

 are preferred, because farmers buy horses with the expectation 

 of breeding them. 



Breed. The breed to which a horse belongs has but little 

 or no influence upon his market value as long as he has individual 

 excellence. 



Style and freshness. If able to shape themselves well in 

 harness, very plain horses often make a stylish showing, and this 

 increases their value materially. They should be spirited and 

 energetic, which generally comes from being well fed. They 

 should be well groomed, the hair being short and sleek, lying 

 close to the body, and possessing a luster which indicates health. 

 Clipping of the foretop and legs should not be practiced in 

 the case of heavy horses, as it is an indication of staleness or 

 second-hand horses. The presence of the foretop and feather 

 leaves no doubt as to freshness from the country. The feet 

 should be in good condition and of a good length hoof, which 

 is necessary to hold a shoe. 



Breeders make no real effort to supply some of the market 

 classes of horses, either because the demand is very limited 

 or the price too small. Such classes are supplied by careless 

 breeding, by the mixing of types, and by the misfits which re- 

 sult even when the breeding of horses is conducted as carefully 

 as possible. 



The classification outlined below includes not only those 

 classes of horses .which are regular commodities on the large 

 horse markets, but also other more rare and valuable classes 

 which are only to be had from certain dealers and breeders 

 who cater to an exclusive trade not represented at the large 

 markets: 



