HORSES AND MULES 



301 



which are brought to market in Chicago 

 correspond to any recognized market 

 class, leaving 40 per cent as nondescript 

 or unclassed. "From the nature of 

 the case the market classes repre- 

 sent all the types and classes for which 

 any general demand has asserted itself, 

 and if a new use should arise, demand- 

 ing a new type of horse, the attempt to 

 secure it would immediately give rise to 

 a new market class." It is apparent 

 therefore, that if a horse is to be sold 

 promptly and at a profitable figure, he 



about 75 per cent of cases. From a 

 financial standpoint that is a very differ- 

 ent thing from 60 per cent. Buyers can- 

 not be blamed for not offering good 

 prices for unclassed horses. In fact, the 

 farmer is himself responsible for the 

 existence of so many unclassed horses. 

 He can produce the horse which he de- 

 sires. In other words, nondescript horses 

 are the result of breeding without any 

 method or aim. 



Naturally, if a good price is expected 

 for horses, they must be sound, free 



Fig. 214 CHAMPION SJORE STALLION 



(Rolleston Wonder, No. 7,931; three years old) 



must fill the requirements of one of these 

 classes. All horses are classified as soon 

 as they arrive in Chicago and the price 

 finally paid for them depends upon their 

 individual excellence in the class to 

 which they are assigned. 



Hundreds of stock judges, as well as 

 buyers have told us that there are alto- 

 gether too many nondescript horses sent 

 to market, and still more on farms. 

 When the farmer uses the same care 

 and intelligence in breeding horses 

 which he devotes to the breeding of 

 sheep, cattle and pigs, he succeeds in 



from blemishes and defects. They 

 should also be mature, that is, five years 

 old or just past that age. It pays to 

 have the horse in good condition or 

 reasonably fat. A fatness in heavy 

 draft horses adds greatly to their market 

 value. In fact there are a considerable 

 number of feeders who have developed 

 the special industry of buying promising 

 horses which are too thin for market 

 requirements and putting them in an 

 overfat condition. Such animals satisfy 

 the market men and buyers, but they are 

 soft and must be .trained down before 



