204 THE HORSE 



the price of the whole stock, but diminishes the num- 

 ber of customers. Having decided on the breed, I 

 cannot decide for you, hold honestly to it. If it is 

 not the best one, make it the best, if possible. Do 

 not attempt to breed a draft -trotting -coach -horse. You 

 will be fortunate if you do not make enough mistakes, 

 when breeding with a definite object in view, to furnish 

 all of this class of horses which the market will take. 

 The most difficult task of all will be to get together 

 a half-dozen or a dozen good brood-mares, but with- 

 out them failure is predetermined. It is assumed that 

 my reader lacks the means to purchase these animals 

 outright. Even if he had, he would then, with the 

 horses already possessed, have too many work -animals; 

 for the mares will be able to do the summer's work, 

 although they may be put to raising colts in the 

 winter. One of two methods may be used to dispose 

 of the geldings, unsuitable mares, the old and unsound 

 of both sexes. From time to time, quietly trade or 

 sell one of the undesirable animals. Give "boot" if 

 necessary money or a cow or a wagon, but trade 

 if a good and tried brood-mare is offered, or trade 

 for other live stock cows and sheep. Then trade 

 these for the brood-mare, or sell outright and take a 

 good promise to pay. Put the notes in the bank as col- 

 lateral security and borrow enough money to pay for 

 the brood -rnares. Such transactions will result in 

 developing the judgment and in increasing confidence 

 in one's ability to do business. If the trader is a 

 young man, he will soon acquire good "horse -sense." 

 There will be some tuition bills to pay, but we seldom 



