stable keeper of experience will testify that 

 when a pair of horses is broken up, one be- 

 ing sold or otherwise disposed of, the one 

 that is left behind will lose fiesh and spirit, 

 and it will be long before he recovers from 

 his silent grief at the loss of his mate. 



To sum up : — The best thing that can be 

 (lone for the old, worn-out horse is of 

 course to give him a good home in the 

 country — such a home as it is exceedingly 

 hard to find. The next best thing is to keep 

 him in his old stall in the city stable, where 

 he becomes a guest — no longer a boarder, 

 hut practically a pensioner, freely supported 

 in consideration of his past services. The 

 third best fate for the old horse is the 

 ■ swift bullet that saves him from a slow 

 death by semi-starvation, cold, pain and 

 homesickness. 



]\Ian works for his living, 

 I work for my death. 



Shall we refuse him even this? 



HEXRY C. MERWIN. 



SUMMARY. 



In making this investigation 76 concerns 

 were interviewed. Of these 16 sell their 

 horses while still comparatively young. 

 The remaining 60 are classified as follows, 

 a few appearing in more than one of the 

 groups. 



1 Concerns which never sell a horse 



below $75 I 



2 Concerns which never sell a horse 



below $50 5 



3 Concerns which put worn-out 



horses on their own or relatives' 



or carefully selected farms 15 



4 Concerns exercising care regarding 



whom they sell to 16 



5 Concerns which keep old horses 



until their condition is such that 

 they must be killed 14 



6 Concerns which kill their horses 



when no longer fit for the work 

 required of them 14 



7 Concerns which sell to the first 



comer 11 



8 Unclassified concerns, from new- 



ness of stables, deficient informa- 

 tion, etc 5 



