70 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES. 



Mr. Vidal also says that the tendency of the American breeder, 

 judging from the draft stallions he has sold for America, was to 

 increase the size of their horses without regard to the quality, the 

 natural result of which was a rough ungainly horse, that the people 

 of Prance do not like. He suggests that now, since we have the size,, 

 we should pay more attention to quality than we have heretofore 

 done. 



The scale of prices for similar horses seems to range about the 

 same in Paris as in London, and practically the same kind of horses 

 seems to be in demand, the high-acting carriage horse always having 

 the preference. In general, prices in France are the same as they 

 have been for years. 



There are not as many American horses used on the omnibuses of 

 Paris as of London, but I am told that where they have been tried 

 they have given entire satisfaction. The average price of the bus 

 horses in Paris is $200. Fifteen thousand are now in use, and the 

 companies buy about 3,000 annually. 



It will be seen that there are fewer horses used in Paris omnibuses,, 

 in proportion to the size of the city, than in London, but it will also 

 be observed that Paris, in proportion to the size, has more cabs than 

 London. The cab horses of Paris come principally from the Norman 

 provinces, comprising the following departments : Calvados, Manche,, 

 Orne, Seine-Inferieure, and Eure. The prices paid for them differ 

 little from the prices paid for the Irish cab horses of London, but are 

 some higher, being from $125 to $150 each. There are about 40,000' 

 cab horses in use in Paris all the time, it being estimated that there 

 are about the same number of cabs as in London; but the horses, as 

 a rule, are not so good, and lack much of being kept in the same 

 condition as the cab horses of the latter place. I was shown 25 

 horses which Mr. Vidal had just imported expressly for one of the 

 cab companies of Paris, but I can see little in it for the American 

 breeder at $150 per head in Paris, when losses are sustained and 

 freights, duties, commissions, etc., are paid. 



We will next consider the requirements for cavalry horses in France. 



For the following figures I am indebted to "Le directeur des 

 Haras," Mr. P. Plazen (in charge of the Government breeding stables). 



The entire number of horses in France is 2,943,668. The entire 

 number used for army purposes is 127,000 and the number annually 

 purchased for remounts is from 12,000 to 13,000, 10,000 of which are 

 for saddle purposes. The average price is $200 each. The different 

 grades and sizes are as follows : 



Price. 



Dragoons (5 feet 0.6 inch to 5 feet 2.2 inches) §200 



Small cuirassiers (5 feet 2.2 inches to 5 feet 3 inches) 200 to 230 



Cuirassiers (5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 4.6 inches) 220 to 250 



Artillery (5 feet 2.2 inches to 5 feet 3 inches) - 150 to 190 



Officers' horses (5 feet 1.4 inches to 5 feet 5 inches) 220 to 400' 



(In computing the above, 5 francs to the dollar only was allowed.) 



