PRACTICAL HORSE BREEDING 



269 



should be a perfect representative of the breed to which 

 he belongs. The pedigree alone -does not guarantee his 

 worth, as many inferior pure-bred animals find their way 

 into the stud books. The conformation, quality, action 

 and temperament should be carefully considered. Note 

 the condition. Stallion owners like to have their animals 

 very fat, as this covering often conceals many defects. 

 When possible it is preferable to patronize stallions that 

 are worked moderately. This exercise serves to keep the 

 animal in excellent condition and a better grade of colts 

 will^e obtained than if this exercise is withheld. It is 

 not sufficient that he simply be jogged, as this does not 

 stimulate proper development. 



The stallion fee. — Perhaps 

 no single factor has done 

 more to discourage profit- 

 able horse production than 

 the low service fee of the 

 grade or scrub stallion. The 

 services of a desirable stal- 

 lion cannot be had for less 

 than $15 without the owner 

 losing money ^n his invest- 

 ment, yet many cheap and 

 inferior hoi;ses stand for less 

 money. The common farm- 

 er, not appreciating the value 

 of good blood, patronizes 

 the inferior animal because 



of the low fee, with the result that the offspring is a 

 nondescript and not worth the food required to raise him, 

 while the superior animal is driven from the locality for 

 lack of patronage. 



There are three methods of charging stallion fees in 

 common practice : To insure a living foal ; to insure the 

 mare in foal ; and by the service. Often a stallion stands 

 at a certain fee for a single service and at a higher one 



Fig. 132. — Percheron Stallion 



