HORSES FOR SMALL HOLDINGS. 55 



horses occurs at the sales held on farms, ^vhell a tenancy is 

 given u|>. Tliese faini sales generally take place at ^lichael- 

 nias, but they are also held about Lady Day. Auction sales 

 of agricultural horses are also held from time to time at the 

 large horse repositories in provincial toAvns, which sales are 

 advertised in some of the leading agricultural journals. 

 Finally, the intending buyer of farm horses or light draught 

 horses has ample opportunity of buying privately. On the 

 who^le, horses can be bought comparatively cheaper at a 

 public sale than privately, tliough it is not an uncommon 

 occurrence for the bidding at a sale to be so livelv that the 

 price paid foi- a horse at auction may be dear. 



The Cost of Farm Horses varies a great deal, ac- 

 cording to their (piality and age. A young horse, in its 

 prime, naturally is worth more than an older animal. If a 

 horses i)0sscsses any unsoundness, it market value will be 

 decreased considerably thereby, even though the unsoundness 

 may not actually interfere with its working capacity. A 

 heavy, big, and powerful farm horse is worth more than a 

 smaller and less weighty animal. The heavier and more 

 powerful a horse is, the greater is its value. The price njay 

 range from £20 to £40, while unsound, inferifi' light drauglit 

 horses suitable for farm work can be picked up at prices 

 under £20. 



Age when a Horse is in its Prime. A farm horse 



is in its prime from five to nine years old, but it Avill remain 

 serviceable for many years longer, after passing its prime. 

 The length of service of the horses depends, to a considerable 

 extent, upon the treatment they receive. 



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