502 



Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



must be sound; and this is a matter to which many farmers pay too 

 Httle attention. Buyers offer the best prices for sound stock, and the 

 farmer has too frequently sold his young mares that were sound, and 

 has retained those with sidebones, ringbones, spavins, curbs, etc., for 

 breeding purposes. This is radically wrong and a very short-sighted 

 practice. Soundness is of very vital importance in every type of horse, 

 and especially in animals used for breeding purposes. The individuals 

 should also be true representatives of the tj^e to which they belong. 

 Whether or not the brood mares should be purebred depends on the 



Fig. 197. — Correct type in the draft mare. Coldham Surprise, champion 

 Shire mare at the International, owned by George M. McCray, Fithian, 111. Note 

 her roomy middle, faultless top line, symmetrical form, abundant muscling, and large 

 bone. She has size, ruggedness, and strength combined with quality and feminine 

 character. 



amount of capital available and on the type of horse selected. If 

 possible, it is preferable that they be purebred, registered mares. How- 

 ever, some very profitable work in producing drafters for the market 

 has been done with good grade draft mares. In such cases, these 

 mares have shown excellent draft type, even though they were not 

 eligible to registry. Registered purebred draft mares cost considerably 

 more to buy, but have the very great advantage of having their foals 



