76 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES. 



To show how the Belgian Government is protecting her draft-horse^ 

 breeding industry, I will state that all breeding stallions in Belgium 

 must be approved by a Government commission. They are only 

 approved for one year at a time, and while they may continue to be 

 approved for many years, they must pass their annual examinations, 

 as will more fully appear hereafter. Stallions in Belgium do not 

 travel about the country as iu France, but their territory is usually 

 circumscribed by the department in which they are approved. These 

 departments ave subdivided into " arrondissements," and here the 

 approved stallions meet to contest for annual prizes. The first prize 

 awarded to stallions 4 years old is $120 and the second prize $100. 

 The first-prize winners at these concours or fairs of the different 

 "arrondissements" then meet at another place in the province to 

 compete for. other prizes, those of the first quality being awarded 

 another premium of $160. These are all the prizes the horses can 

 receive at 4 years old, but when 5 years of age fresh honors await them 

 if again approved by the Government commission. The commission 

 selects a certain number of 5-year-old horses in each province, which . 

 number varies according to the needs, and awards them each $200 

 per year for five years ; but the horses must pass their regular examina- 

 tions each year, and if bad from any cause will be cut off. After a 

 stallion has drawn this pension or premium for five years he may still 

 be approved from year to year indefinitely, while he is considered good 

 for a sire, and draw from the Government various sums, ranging from 

 $60 to $150 per year. 



There are four places appointed in the Kingdom for the meeting of 

 stallions that are over old and have won first prizes. The Kingdom 

 is divided into these districts for convenience, and the stallions from 

 them meet at their respective places in July of each year. At each 

 of these meetings four prizes of $300 each are awarded the four best 

 stallions, thus making 16 additional prizes of $300 each, or $4,800 

 more in prizes which the Government pays. Anyone parting with his 

 horse before the expiration of the year forfeits his prizes, and thus 

 the Government makes it difficult and expensive for anyone to buy 

 and take away the stallions which it wants for breeding purposes at 

 home. 



IN GERMANY. 



In importance as a market for our horses Germany ranks next to 

 Great Britain, and in speaking of it we come to consider one of the 

 largest horse-producing countries in the world. Especially is it noted 

 for its lighter types ; but notwithstanding this fact, we find that Ger- 

 many is one of the largest horse-importing nations. 



If the greatest horse-producing countries can not, or do not, supply 

 their own home demands, what are we to expect from those which do 

 not produce horses at all? When I speak of the production of horses 

 I mean large, useful horses, as distinguished from small, inferior ones, 

 or ponies. 



