50 



FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES. 



since we began dealing in American horses, in 1894. For four years we kept an 

 agent in the United States, but gave it up, as the animals were disappointing. 

 The best horses we get come from Michigan— not Kentucky. The Canadian 

 carriage horses are not as good as the American; they are still more deficient 

 from our standpoint. The American breeders have almost ruined the English 

 horse breeders. English farmers formerly got £90 or over for a good carriage 

 horse, but American horses coming in at £60 to £65 competed so disastrously that 

 the English farmer has practically given up breeding. Let me repeat and empha- 

 size, and strongly as is possible, "Breed from action," and for carriage pur- 

 poses breed from an American trotter; the get of English hackneys crossed with 

 American animals is not nearly so good as the pure American-bred horse. First, 

 last, and all the time, breed from action if you breed for profit. 



The demoralizing effects of the voyage to England reported by- 

 Messrs. Kingham, Duff, and others prompted an inquiry concerning 

 the methods of transportation of American horses coming to this 

 country. Mr. Thomas L. Field, of Messrs. Williams, Forrey & Field, 

 Limited, managing owners of the Atlantic Transport Line, said : 



Of the 17,000-odd horses brought to Great Britain in 1896, we brought quite 

 10,000. When we found the horse trade assuming respectable dimensions, I made 

 a special investigation and found it was suffering from mismanagement. Ship- 

 pers did not really know what it cost to send a horse to London. They employed 

 men who were willing to take care of the horses for the sake of a voyage to Lon- 

 don and back. The horses had no expert care, generally were neglected, as these 

 amateur stablemen were seasick. I introduced a rate which provides for expert 

 attention en route by a properly qualified veterinarian and trained stablemen, 

 who are also good sailors. The rates I quote include insurance during the pas- 

 sage and for ten days after landing. This system saves money to shippers and 

 enables them to export the animals at a profit. In regard to the statement that 

 horses brought from the United States to this country suffer some sort of demor- 

 alization, I do not think that is true. I have often seen horses landed in London 

 in very much better condition than when they went aboard the vessel. Of course, 

 if the seeds of pneumonia are implanted before the animal comes on board in 

 America it will develop on shipboard or after landing; but in my experience it is 

 much more often the other way — the horse is bettered by the voyage to this 

 country. I have seen hundreds of American horses go direct from the ship to 

 their owners' work, being perfectly fit. 



HORSE TRADE "WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 



[Extract f i-om report of Dr. W. H. Wray, Inspector United States Bureau of Animal Industry, 



London, England.] 



Numbers and values of horses imported into Great Britain. 



Country. 



Russia _ 



Denmark- 



Germany 



Hblland 



Belgiunv 



Prance 



United States - _ 



Argentine Republic 

 Canada 



1894. 



Number. Value. 



3,653 



1,803 



4,687 



1,129 



258 



315 



4,843 



525 



5,425 



£34,686 

 13,860 

 50,476 

 45,591 

 10,168 

 17,143 



178,148 

 9,920 



181,079 



1895. 



Number. Value. 



2,427 



2,202 



3,765 



1,285 



148 



250 



10,351 



491 



12,903 



£27,104 

 15,898 

 45,236 

 50,718 

 4,805 

 19,356 



345,375 

 11,632 



369,157 



1896. 



Number. Value. 



3,198 



2,567 



3,025 



923 



179 



242 



17,930 



558 



11,852 



£33,445 

 21,686 

 33,159 

 35,084 

 7,073 

 11,931 



532,623 

 11,947 



318,639 



