HONDURAS. 35 



have been had not mules been generally preferred for such ser- 

 vice, yet they still show considerable power of endurance. As 

 a rule they are larger than the mustangs of the southwest. The 

 chief value of the mares will be found in their use as foundation 

 stock from which to breed animals of the Morgan type active,, 

 bright and good tempered family horses. Grades got by Cleve- 

 land bays, French coach, or other horses of like size and style 

 would sell freely for general use, and would beyond a doubt be 

 sought for cavalry service, while the get by stallions of the 

 heavier draft breeds would be desirable for artillery and for team- 

 ing in cities. 



Mares of fair size and quality can be bought in Honduras for 

 $10 to $12 each. The cost of establishing and managing a stud 

 in Honduras need not be nearly as great as that of keeping a 

 stud of like numbers in any part of the States. As the mares are 

 healthy and perfectly sound, accustomed to taking caie of them- 

 selves and their foals, and will never suffer from lack of food or 

 water, nor from exposure to storms, they may be confidently ex- 

 pected to breed surely and well. Probably fully seventy five per 

 cent, of a stud of such mares would each year produce foals 

 which would sell for an average of at least $75 each v\hen four 

 years old. By using stallions of high breeding and uniform size, 

 style and color, selected as far as practicable from one family, a 

 large number of almost perfectly matched spans would be got 

 each year from a stud of say 1,COO such mares as can be bought 

 in Honduras. From the grade fillies which would come of the 

 use of such a lot of stallions a large percentage of the foals will 

 match very closely, and would bring higher prices than un- 

 matched spans would. The results which can be obtained by 

 proper management are approximately indicated by the subjoined 

 estimate, based on the assumption ihat of a stud of mares sixty 

 per cent, will each year drop foals that will be sold at an average 

 of $75 each, or come into bearing at the age of three years. It 

 is also assumed that the money received for half of the male 

 get will be used in the purchase of native mares at the prices in- 



