44 RANCHING IN THE CANADIAN WEST 



flesh I have never seen. If in the autumn you turned 

 loose to shift for themselves any of the other breeds 

 mentioned above, you would find by the spring 

 round-up they would be skin poor, but in nine cases 

 out of ten the Percheron would come through the 

 winter in fair condition. For general utility pur- 

 poses you cannot find a more suitable breed. 



Buying your Bunch. 



By keeping your eyes open at the various ranches 

 where you have been working you will soon ascer- 

 tain the type of horse which is in greatest demand, 

 and with a little experience, backed by common 

 sense, quite a useful little bunch of brood mares 

 can be got together. Care, however, should be 

 taken not to run more animals than you can handle, 

 Avith or without help, as the case may be, and accord- 

 ing to your means. For it is well to remember that 

 a halter-broken colt will realize more to its breeder 

 when sold than a wild " broncho," and one that is 

 thoroughly broken to saddle or harness (or perhaps 

 both) is worth still more ; so it will be seen that it 

 is worth your while to spend some little time and 

 trouble in this most interesting branch of horse- 

 raising. Great patience is necessary, though, and 

 no good end will ever be served by cruelty while 



