130 The House TxBrsTKY tx ISTew Yotik State 



mean of disposition, it was his record as a trotter tliat determined 

 largely whether he should he nsed as a hrceder. ]\Ineh that had 

 been gained through the preceding years to establish an ideal farm 

 horse was lost, for farmers bred their ideal farm mares indiscrim- 

 inately to the stallions that had the most speed. 



The Standardbred trotting horse of quality is to be recom- 

 mended when bred to mares of his own type. It is poor policy, 

 however, to breed a large farm mare to a little, runty stallion, 

 with nothing to recommend him but speed. The results of this 

 injudicious breeding are seen at the present time in the large 

 number of horses that are inferior in size, color, temperament, 

 soundness and c(Uifonnation. liaising trotters is all right for 

 pleasure, but the average farmer would better wait until the mort- 

 gage is paid and he has a good-sized bank account before com- 

 mencing activity along that line. 



With the increasing facilities for travel, the road horse is be- 

 coming less necessary; and the demand has increased for the 

 large, strong, active horse of drafty conformation. Moreover, the 

 growing importance of deeper and better tillage of the soil, to- 

 gether with the increasing amount of heavy farm machinery, such 

 as the binder, sulky plow, corn harvester and many others, require 

 horses of weight. 



VARIABLE WEIGHT FOR TTTE FAR:\r ITORSE 



Very wide differences of opinion exist among farmers as to 

 what constitutes an ideal weight for a farm team under present 

 farming conditions. Some individuals prefer the mettle, spirit 

 and nervous temperament that is characteristic of small horses; 

 while others choose the strength, docility and dependence of a 

 drafter. Conditions on various farm.s also differ, those having 

 rough, heavy land where nnich plowing must be done requiring 

 heavier horses than farms composed of lighter soils. Moreover, 

 horses vary greatly; and the reader has no doubt owned, or at 

 least known, horses weighing only 1,000 to 1,100 pounds that 

 endure more hard farm work and haul heavier loads than some 

 horses weighing 1,400 pounds or oven more. This is not an 

 argument to prove that the small horse excels the big one on the 

 farm; but it does prove that a small horse of good shape and 



