STALLION LAWS AJSTD REGULATIONS 435 



tion was formed, to be known as the National Association of 

 Stallion Registration Boards. The chief purpose of this 

 association is to harmonize the efforts of the various 

 state boards and to encourage the passing of similar laws 

 in other states in order that the legislation may be more 

 widespread. This association has adopted recommenda- 

 tions embodying the essential principles to be observed 

 in the adoption or amendment of state stallion laws, and 

 the list of stud books to be recognized in determining a 

 pure-bred animal (Table I of the Appendix). 



The result of state stallion laws. — "As a result of the 

 public advertising of licensed stallions, required by the 

 law, which has been in force in Wisconsin since January 

 I, 1906, it may be safely asserted that owners of mares are 

 more than ever before patronizing pure-bred stallions, 

 while grade and mongrel or scrub stallions are becoming 

 less popular. Progress in the improvement of our horses 

 is, however, greatly retarded by the indifference of many 

 owners of mares who persist in using grade and scrub 

 sires for the insufficient reason that the service fees of 

 such horses are comparatively cheap. Such practice is 

 poor business policy. The cheap sire means cheap 

 progeny and loss of profits at selling time. The higher 

 fee of the pure-bred sire is returned tenfold or more 

 when the colt is sold ; or if retained for work, the colt 

 proves of greater practical value than his base begot 

 mongrel rival. It is deplorable, too, that year after year 

 men persist in licensing grade and scrub stallions. It is 

 noticeable, however, that most of the new licenses go to 

 new owners. Presumably, these are not aware of the 

 state-wide effort being made toward the improvement of 

 our horses. They have still to be educated to under- 

 stand that by offering a grade or scrub stallion for public 

 service they are working against the best interests of 

 their neighbors and retarding the progress of state horse 

 breeding. Their work also invites criticism from inter- 

 ested people throughout the country who are looking to 



