34 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES. 



powerful horses, for which an average price of 1,200 marks is paid. 

 In some cases from 1,300 to 1,400 marks have been paid for American 

 horses by these companies, but it must be stated that the omnibus 

 people have not been satisfied with their American purchases. Height 

 of omnibus horses is about 1.53 meters. 



The firms carrying on the freight-delivery business pay, as a rule, 

 from 1,200 to 1,500 marks, and prefer horses raised in the northern 

 part of Germany, France, Belgium, and Denmark. For a good work- 

 ing horse about 1,000 marks are paid. 



Horses for private carriages command a very different price. Com- 

 paratively there is no great luxury indulged in horses by the carriage 

 owners in Germany. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but 

 they are hardly worth consideration. It may be taken for granted 

 that for horses used for private carriages 1,500 to 2,000 marks per 

 head are -paid on an average. 



Of the prices paid for American fast trotters no statement can be 

 made, because that depends entirely on the record, the pedigree, and 

 similar points, by which the price changes from horse to horse. 



The Berlin fire department and the mounted police in the large 

 cities buy their horses from dealers with whom they have contracts. 

 The fire department expends from 1,000 to 1,200 marks for a horse. 

 In some cases they go as far as 1,350 marks, but this is seldom done. 

 They prefer horses bred in Mecklenburg or in the eastern part of 

 Prussia. The mounted police in the larger cities, especially in Berlin, 

 are spendidly mounted on very heavy horses, measuring not less than 

 1. 54 meters. As a matter of principle, gray horses are rejected as well 

 by the fire department as by the police authorities. The mounted 

 police pay about 1,000 marks for a horse. Only very gentle horses 

 are taken, and none with faults which would be an obstacle to their 

 use in crowded streets; so all biting and kicking horses are rejected, 

 and the contractor is bound to replace them by other animals. The 

 horses of the mounted police are put into service at the age of 5 to 

 7 years, very seldom younger, often older. As a rule they serve four 

 years, then they are returned to the contractor. Under certain stip- 

 ulated conditions he has to take those horses in partial payment for 

 new ones, which he has to furnish. It may be stated here that the 

 price paid for horses in the southern part of Germany is about 15 per 

 cent higher than in the northern part. 



A duty of 10 marks is levied for colts, yearlings, and horses of the 

 age of 2 years; for horses older than 2 years, 20 marks have to be 

 paid. A certificate of health, issued by the authorities of the country 

 from which the horse is exported, is indispensable. At the arrival on 

 German soil a veterinary inspection of the horses takes place. Quar- 

 antine for horses is abolished and only takes place when horses are 



