60 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES. 



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pany remarked, "Then he has not far to fall nor far to get up again 

 The best types weigh about 1,300 pounds and are compactly built, 

 with good feet, that is, a well-shaped foot, with good shell and a high 

 heel, that will keep him off the pavement. Avoid a large flat foot 

 without any heel, for, though good otherwise, a horse with such a foot 

 is of no use on the pavements of a large city. His bone must be heavy 

 and his joints sound. His cannon bone short and his pastern joint 

 straight. He must have strong, thick hips, with a short back and 

 round ribs, and should be built on the "chunky" order. Flat-sided 

 horses with long backs, and that stand on their hind legs like a cow, 

 are of no use in England and of little utility anywhere, except on the 

 farm — avoid them. 



The horse I have attempted to describe will always sell for a fair 

 price in England, as there are many uses for which he is wanted 

 besides drawing omnibuses. Thirty years ago this horse was unknown, 

 but is now the medium between the carriage and the heavy cart horse, 

 and sells in London for from $175 to $225, usually at about $200. 



It is impossible to mention all the uses to which this horse is put, 

 but to describe some branches of the work which he may be called upon 

 to perform may give the American breeder a better idea of what his 

 conformation should be. The bus, which a team of these horses draw 

 and handle so well upon the slippery pavements of London, is a very 

 heavy machine. Hence the name "heavy machiner" is applied to 

 this horse. A team draws the heavy omnibus, containing, inside and 

 on top, 26 people, at the rate of from 6 to 8 miles per hour. They are 

 always shod, and handle such weighty vehicles, stopping and starting 

 so suddenly, with apparent ease, and seldom slipping or falling. The 

 age at which this horse sells best is 5 years, and being too plain in 

 appearance and too heavy in his action for a high-class carriage horse, 

 he is admirably adapted to the work which he is asked to do in Eng- 

 land. Canada is now supplying the English markets with a large 

 number of these horses, and is at the present time our most formi- 

 dable competitor for this trade. 



There is, however, no overproduction of this sort of horses, and 

 there is not likely to be for many years to come. I base my predic- 

 tion upon the present demand and the general utility of such a horse. 

 I have before me the last semiannual report of the London General 

 Omnibus Company, Limited, and from it I learn that this company 

 now has in daily use 1, 100 omnibuses and keeps 14, 000 horses. It carries 

 per week, in round numbers, 3,500,000 people. The average working 

 period of their horses is about five years, and when we consider that 

 this is but one of eight public bus lines in the city of London alone, 

 we can form some idea of the immense number of such horses required 

 each year. 



The next question which naturally arises in one's mind is, Should 

 we attempt to breed the bus and van horse in the United States to 

 the exclusion of other types, and do the prices paid for these horses 



