The Belgian 85 



run from $15 to $S*U in value. Any owner not bringing his 

 stallion for examination and show, or having a rejected stalliou, 

 cannot stand his horse for public service or collect any fees. If 

 this regulation is not obeyed he may be fined. This insures the 

 use of sound sires. 



In ^faroh a similar examination and show is conducted for 

 l)oth stallions and mares that were too young for the October show, 

 and similar prizes are aw^arded. These tw^o shows are to eliminate 

 the undesirables from Belgian breeding stock. 



There is also a pension system which is both national and pro- 

 vincial. Six national pensions of $1,200 each and tifty-four pro- 

 vincial pensions of $1.")0 each, are offered by the government for 

 mature stallions. 



The big show of the year is held in Brussels the second Thurs- 

 day in June, and lasts four days. This show is a national and 

 social event and has the enthusiastic support of all Belgian 

 breeders and farmers. It is the largest and most important draft 

 horse shov; in the world, and also the largest show of one breed 

 that is held in Europe. At the 19 11 Brussels show there w^ere 

 !»08 entries. Three types are shown separately — the Ardennais, the 

 low-set Brabacon of sixteen hands, and the taller Flemish over 

 sixteen hands. For each type there are eight classes, — one each 

 for both stallions and mares in two-, three-, four-, and five-year- 

 olds — and from ten to fourteen prizes are provided for each class. 

 There is also a class for champion stallion, champion mare, and 

 for the best four mares owned by one breeder ; also a class for 

 get of sire and for produce of one mare. Competition is keen, 

 most of the classes having from thirty to eighty entries. One 

 especially interesting feature of the last day of this show is a 

 review of the prize winners by the king with his officers and min- 

 isters, lietween three and four hundred prize winners and cham- 

 pions are led before the king who distributes the prizes and 

 medals and congratulates the fortunate owners. The Brussels 

 show is also of great interest, and is well attended by draft 

 horsemen and buyers from Xorth and South America as well as 

 all other European countries. 



Of the three recognized types of the 'Belgian breed, the Arden- 

 nais are the smallest. They average from 1.400 to 1.000 pounds, 



