SELECTION, CARE AND MANAGEMENT 581 



"So far as the trade is concerned, the chief de- 

 mand for good, big horses comes from the eastern 

 states. The big packing companies of Chicago are 

 about the only ones that will take first-class geldings, 

 as most of the Chicago trade is for a rather common 

 class of big horses which can be bought more 

 cheaply. The packing companies will not take a 

 horse that is in the least degree unsound, but a 

 small sidebone will pass the eastern buyers without 

 much objection, and some of the eastern buyers will 

 take a horse with a hock that is a trifle coarse, 

 providing he does not go lame on it. We do not 

 find many horses that are wrong in the wind, but can 

 sell a horse on the eastern market that is a little 

 off there if he will take a big load and walk along 

 at a reasonable gait and make no noise about it. But 

 if he does make a fuss, a $300 horse would bring not 

 more than $150. 



' ' Geldings on feed will make much more satisfac- 

 tory progress if they are well curried every day, as 

 this loosens up their skins, cleans out the scurf and 

 makes them, feel better. A stiff brush should be 

 used, with plenty of elbow grease put behind it. 



"Never try to feed horses where there are chick- 

 ens, because with chickens there will be lice and 

 they will get on the horse in spite of everything 

 one can do. If you buy a horse that has lice, use 

 kerosene and lard, half and half; kill the lice just 

 as quickly as possible. 



"Close attention should be given to the feet of 

 the horses that are on feed, particularly in the 

 summer, when the atmosphere is hot and dry. I 

 prefer to pack my horses' feet in packing clay, but 

 the ordinary kind of blue clay will serve the pur- 

 pose. Make a good paste and plaster it over the 

 horse's feet on the frogs. It is well to use some 



