180 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



The basic blood of these Percherons is Arab 

 and Barb mixed with the blood of those heavy 

 Norman horses that were used by the heavily- 

 armed knights in the time when the lance, sword, 

 and crossbow took the place in war now monop- 

 olized entirely by rifles, balls and powder or other 

 explosives. After securing the type the French 

 have been so zealously aware of its value that 

 they keep agents in Arabia always looking out for 

 animals suitable to start a new and parellel snp- 

 ply of this basic blood. These same agents are 

 also on the lookout for horses to be used in the 

 breeding of army horses. Few of the Percherons 

 that are brought over here are used in actual 

 work, but are kept on the breeding farms in Ohio, 

 Illinois, and other places for the production of 

 "graded draught horses," horses not quite so 

 heavy as the Percheron, but heavier than any 

 draught horses we previously had of our own 

 breeding. The Percheron stallions are mated 

 with heavy American mares and with "graded" 

 mares, and the produce sent to the great cities 

 where the animals fetch highly satisfactory 

 prices. Great care has to be exercised in making 



