190 How THE FARM PAYS. 



The second requisite is a good mare. For a roadster or a carriage 

 horse a large mare should be chosen; it does not matter if the bone 

 is rather coarse if the sire is a thoroughbred, or even a well bred 

 horse of thoroughbred lineage. It is a characteristic of a thorough- 

 bred that the bone is hard and solid, and although fine, it has more 

 strength than the coarser bone of the common stock; and it is also 

 characteristic of the higher bred sire that he will confer this property 

 upon his colts. Some time ago a few Russian horses, known as the 

 Orloff breed, were imported into this country. These were fine 

 specimens of sires for roadsters or trotters, and as they have been 

 bred and kept for this purpose in Eussia for many years, they would 

 be of great value for breeding here. The Orloff horse is very com- 

 pact, and has great endurance and considerable speed, with a remark- 

 ably good constitution. An excellent portrait of one of these horses 

 is given on the opposite page. 



After the breeding, the managemen of the mare is the next 

 important point; for while the sire gives the general form and consti- 

 tution to the progeny, the dam gives the disposition and temper. 

 The mare should, therefore, be treated with good judgment, and her 

 feeding should be generous and regular. The training and feeding 

 of the colt must, of course, be equally well managed, for many good 

 colts are spoiled by bad management, in spite of all the previous care 

 in the breeding. This is also true as regards horses, for the value 

 and profit of a horse depends quite as much upon good treatment in 

 its use as in its breeding. Many horses are injured by carelessness 

 in shoeing, by which the feet are ruined, and, as is well known, * ' no 

 foot, no horse," for the feet of a working animal must be sound and 

 in good condition, or the horse soon becomes entirely useless. Til 

 fitting harness is another frequent cause of injury to horses, by which 

 its ability to work is greatly reduced. 



The farmer who makes a special business of rearing horses must 

 necessarily study special works on this subject, and be a close and 

 thoughtful observer for himself. All that can be done in this work 

 is to call attention to these special points, that they may not be over- 

 looked. 



There is considerable profit in rearing the small breed of horses 

 known as Shetland ponies. This is a very diminutive animal, as may 

 be seen by the engraving, which shows its relative size as compared with 

 the Orloff stallion. They are in demand near the large cities for chil- 

 dren's use, and usually sell for $100 each and upwards. A pair makes a 

 very good team for a small carriage, as these ponies are strong and stout 

 and of great bottom. The engraving represents one "in the rough," 

 as it was imported a few years ago in a herd of about twenty. These 



