CHAPTER XXXVI. 

 HORSE BREEDING. 



This is a broad subject which may be considered and dis- 

 cussed at length from many points of view. Only brief treat- 

 ment is possible here, however, in which the most common mis- 

 takes in horse breeding are pointed out and their remedies 

 briefly discussed. This is written from the standpoint of the 

 farmer who desires to breed horses in a moderate or small way 

 for the profit there is in it. 



Horse production on the small farm. The advantages of 

 intensive farming have been widely discussed for a number 

 of years. Intensive farming is farming on a small scale, but 

 doing it perfectly, hence realizing the largest possible return 

 on a moderate investment. Horse production on a small scale, 

 as discussed here, is similar to intensive farming. It means 

 the ownership of one or two pairs of high-class brood mares, 

 preferably purebreds, which are used to do part or all of the 

 farm work, and which are given the very best care and atten- 

 tion. They are bred only to high-class stallions of the same 

 breed as themselves, and during pregnancy they are well cared 

 for, well fed, and not overworked. As foaling time draws near, 

 they are watched carefully and assistance is given if necessary. 

 They foal on clean bedding in a clean stall, or, better still, at 

 pasture, and the foals are immediately treated to prevent navel 

 ill. The foals are given the best of care and are carefully trained, 

 being halter broken as early as possible and made gentle by 

 proper handling. They are kept growing after they are weaned, 

 and in due time are carefully and thoroughly educated in harness 

 or under saddle, as the case may be. This is intensive horse 

 production. 



Intensive horse raising therefore means keeping a few 

 extra-good brood mares, and each year producing a few extra- 

 good foals which may be grown out by the breeder or sold as 

 weanlings or yearlings to be developed by someone else. The 

 first costs under this plan are not necessarily less than where 

 a large number of the average kind of brood mares are kept. 

 Good brood mares cost considerable, but they are the only kind 

 on which large profits may be made. If this plan seems im- 



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