CHAPTER XXIV 



FITTING HORSES FOR SHOW AND SALE 



Horses may be well bred but they must be well fed, 

 fitted and shown in order to receive the recognition that 

 they deserve. In addition to bettering the appearance 

 of the individuals, the practice of properly fitting and 

 showing animals is a custom which the public expects. 

 The majority of people are not able to recognize the 

 real value of a horse if he is thin in flesh, and even 

 those that do recognize this value feel that their expert 

 knowledge entitles them to buy for less than the true 

 value. 



FATTENING 



The most important point to be considered in the prep- 

 aration of horses for market is to have them properly 

 fattened. INIany breeders keep their horses until they 

 are ready to sell them, and then turn them to the first 

 buyer that comes along, regardless of whether they are 

 fat or not. Many horse buyers, however, will not buy 

 horses if they are thin, regardless of the price. If they 

 do buy them, they will not pay the price they would 

 otherwise. Horses should have at least fat enough to 

 give them a smooth appearance and considerable weight. 

 Experiments show that the value in the weight of a horse 

 above 1600 pounds is worth from 25 to 50 cents a pound, 

 and as this weight will cost but 8 to 11 cents a pound 



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