CHAPTER XXX 

 BREEDING HORSES FOR FARM AND MARKET 



Since the mass of horses that supply our markets and 

 do our work are produced upon farms, we will consider 

 the breeding of horses for farm work and for the market. 



Farm breeders' limitations. — The farmer should under- 

 stand from the beginning that his task is the production 

 of common working animals. He should understand 

 that it is not possible for him to successfully produce 

 race horses, coachers and saddlers. The production of 

 these types must be left to the horse breeder who has the 

 capital, time and facilities to put his stock into market 

 condition. This is important and must be appreciated 

 if farmers are to succeed as horse breeders. No other 

 class of horses has been so extensively produced by our 

 farmers as a low grade of speed horses, that is often so 

 nervous as to be worthless upon the farm and that is 

 not wanted upon any market because of the small size. 

 True, there is an occasional horseman who may be 

 classed as a farmer, and who is making a success of breed- 

 ing and fitting these light types, but if his business be 

 carefully examined it will be observed that he is placing 

 his major efforts into the breeding and preparing of 

 horses, while farming takes second place. 



While a well-bred and fast trotter or runner, a fashion- 

 ably bred, well-educated and active coacher, and a well- 

 trained and stylish saddler may command a fancy price, 

 especially if a buyer can be located, yet the capital, time 

 and skill required to breed and condition such animals are 

 far beyond the average farmer. The production of these 

 types is the work of skilled horse breeders, whose lives 

 are wrapped up in their work, and who are located at 

 great breeding establishments, where every circumstance 

 favorable to development is provided. 



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