BREEDS OF HORSES 27 



annually devoted to the encouragement of the breeding industry. 

 In Great Britain practically all farmers recognize the importance 

 of using pure-bred sires and only such are used in the various dis- 

 tricts, whence come the many well-known British breeds of horses. 

 In Scotland only one non-registered stallion has, since 1900, 

 been reported as being used for public service in that country. The 

 reasons for non-use are that it does not pay to breed from such 

 horses, their stock being ineligible to record and as a rule inferior 

 to horses of approved breeding. The uniform experience of breeders 

 and owners of Clydesdales in Scotland is that during the period of 

 systematic breeding with the guidance of a pedigree record that is 

 since 1878-1879 the average quality of the stock has increased in- 

 respect to uniformity of type, soundness of feet and limbs, and gen- 

 eral wearing capacity. (Wis. B. 158.) 



MARKET HORSES. 



For a number of years there has been an increasing demand in 

 the United States for the various classes of work horses. As these 

 horses have been bred more extensively in certain parts of the Mis- 

 sissippi valley than elsewhere they have for the most part passed 

 through some of the large cities where open markets have been estab- 

 lished, in which horses are bought and sold as a commercial com- 

 modity at values regulated by supply and demand. 



It should not be inferred, however, that the supply equals the 

 demand, particularly as regards the quality or perfection of the 

 animals desired by the purchaser, neither is this condition of affairs 

 likely to be realized for years to come. There are two causes which 

 tend to delay the breeder in fulfilling the demands of the prospective 

 purchaser. First, many horses that eventually find their way to 

 the market were not bred for any particular class, in other words, 

 many breeders have not been striving to produce horses that would 

 meet any particular market requirements, consequently many, 

 horses pass through these markets that fall far below the expectation 

 of the intending purchaser; second, the horse market is of such re- 

 cent origin that the standards set and classes made by these open 

 public markets are not clearly understood by all breeders whose 

 horses eventually find other owners through the medium of the 

 markets. 



While horses cannot be classified in the market as definitely 

 as can some other market commodities, for where two classes meet 

 there is no distinct line of division, yet the establishment of these 

 classes has made it possible for the farmer to better understand the 

 use for which his horses are best adapted and also enables him to 

 better estimate their true value. 



No better advice can be given the farmer and horse-grower than 

 to become better (best) posted as to the requirements of the horse 

 markets. The average farmer now understands well enough how to 

 raise horses of the best breeds, but he may not understand that cer- 

 tain markets are steady in their demands for horses of certain types, 

 breeds or ages. By studying these markets he learns what is wanted. 



