history of the country. The demand for horses made it possible for breeders to get rid 

 of almost anything that might be given that name. Good animals, whether light or 

 heavy, brought good prices. Comparatively speaking, the poorer animals brought 

 higher prices than the better classes, and often very much more than they were worth. 



The Light Horse Period — From 1903 to 1908 the light horse came into his own. 

 The good and the bad were in demand at fair prices, while the choice animals were 

 eagerly sought after, and readily picked up at unheard-of figures. The amassing of 

 wealth by many of our citizens, the desire to obtain publicity and to achieve fame in 

 the show-ring and the scarcity of show-ring winners, together with the advent of the 

 automobile, were factors that, in the end, proved the undoing of the light horse. During 

 this period some of the best of our light sires were taken out of the breeding studs and 

 gelded, in order to make show-ring winners of them. Wealthy men, after having achieved 

 the successes which they had set their hearts upon, and, having no further interest in 

 the horse industry, quickly disposed of their large stables and dropped out. Others, 

 unable to secure the class of horse they desired turned to the automobile. It might 

 further be explained that automobiles cost much less than it would to establish a first 

 class stable of horses and properly equip it, particularly for city use. The stringent 

 laws and restrictions, imposed by city health departments against the building of 

 stables or the keeping of horses within certain areas, also had a detrimental effect. 

 Thus the demand for, and the number of light horses, by which is meant particularly 

 the carriage horse or high-stepper, also, but in a lesser degree, the saddler and hunter, 

 has slowly but steadily lessened year by year, and it would appear that their day for city 

 use has largely passed. Before they could again take their former place, it would take 

 years of breeding to get a sufficient number, and years to train and fit an entirely new 

 set of grooms and coachmen. Nevertheless, a number of people will continue to use 

 these horses and there will always be a limited market for choice animals, at fair prices. 

 However, as experienced breeders well know, but a small percentage come up to the 

 standard. The everyday farmer should leave this field to the expert. 



The Heavy Horse Period — The demand for heavy horses grew with the increase in 

 population and the consequent development of the country. The high water mark was 

 reached in the years 1911 and 1912. Up to this time draught horses, of any kind, found 

 a ready sale at good paying prices, while the good, big ones were eagerly sought for and 

 quickly picked up at figures heretofore undreamed of. In the opinion of many, the 

 middle class and poorer draughters brought a price much beyond their intrinsic value, 

 but this was largely through the supply not being nearly equal to the demand and also 

 to the fact that often the source of supply was far removed from the centres of 

 demand. 



During these years heavy horse breeding took a decidedly onward and upward 

 trend. The free circulation of money made it possible for the people to buy and use a 

 better class of sire than heretofore. Consequently the importers were not only enabled 

 butf compelled to bring a rather better class to the country. In certain sections the 

 improvement that took place was truly wonderful. Unfortunately, however, this 

 applies only to certain sections of our country. It was not uncommon to find that, 

 while one district impVoved the conformation, quality and size of its horses very materi- 

 ally, others adjoining went on using inferior sires and poor mares, just as they had done 

 in previous decades. Nevertheless, there is in Canada to-day a great deal of high class 

 foundation stock, both imported and home bred, which if properly handled will prove of 

 inestimable value to the country. 



Conditions in Canada — The outbreak of the war found the country with a 

 very considerable surplus for which there was little demand. Since that date 

 practically the only demand had been for remounts. Up to the end of the Fiscal 

 Year 1915-16 in the neighbourhood of 50,000 horses had been purchased. Of this 



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