BREEDING HORSES FOR FARM AND !\[ARKET 



307 



longevity. The various parts siiould be in the proper 

 proportion, thus improving the general symmetry. 



Education. — The horse that is sent to market should be 

 well educated to do the tasks he is expected to perform. 

 The draft horse should be a fast walker and a good puller. 

 He should be free from vice and bad habits. Among 

 light horses education is of first importance, as the car- 

 riage, coach and saddle horse will sell in proportion to 

 their training. In this day of motor-driven carriages too 



FIG. 145.— BELGIAN MARES FOR BREEDING 



much stress cannot be placed upon the horse's education. 

 The disposition is also very important, as a kindly dis- 

 posed animal will outsell any other. This is emphasized 

 in the case of branded horses, which do not command 

 as high a price as native animals because of their timid 

 and uncertain disposition. 



Soundness. — Perhaps no market requirement is of more 

 importance than that of soundness. The market horse 

 should be serviceably sound, or free from unsoundness 

 that interferes with service. Such a horse may have 

 slight blemishes, as small splints, puffs, and the like, 

 but nothing is permitted that is likely to cause lameness 

 or soreness in any way. 



Quality. — In market horses quality is of prime im- 

 portance. In animals of quality the muscles stand out 

 prominently and are clearly defined, which aids in giving 

 a horse finish and indicates endurance. 



