THE BELGIAN 



123 



The sum of about 350,000 francs (^70,000) is annually expended 

 in behalf of this work. This money is used to meet the ex- 

 pense of shows of foals and mares, which are fixed by provincial 

 regulations and which occur in some forty-four different places. 

 Stallions are also submitted for examination at this time. At each 

 of these shows two classes of prizes are awarded : (i) a first prize 

 of 400 francs (^80) and a second of 300 francs for the first- and 

 second-prize three-year-old stal- 

 lions ; (2) a first prize of 550 

 francs (^iio) and a second of 

 400 francs for the first- and 

 second-prize four-year-old or 

 older stallions. Other smaller, 

 extra prizes may be awarded 

 on stallions of rank subordi- 

 nate to the first and second. 

 To promote home horse im- 

 provement the examining 

 committee- may award a main- 

 tenance bounty of 700 francs 

 to the owner of each stallion 

 not under four years old that 

 has won a first prize at a pre- 

 vious annual show. A similar 

 prize of 500 francs is awarded 

 the owner of the stallion which 

 has won for two years the 

 second place in the class of 

 stallions four years old or over. 

 If the committee regards as of 

 exceptional value a stallion that has won a maintenance prize, it 

 may nominate him to compete for a bounty of 6000 francs ($1200) 

 payable annually by fifths, so long as the horse remains approved 

 by the committee and retains its value. At the end of five years 

 the owner of such a stallion, if it remains approved, may continue 

 to enjoy an annual maintenance of from 600 to 800 francs. In 

 case a stallion that has received the 6000 francs' bounty is sold 



to leave Belgium, the fifths alreadv received by the owner must be 

 ° Digitized by microsoft® 



Fig. 45. A Belgian stallion of quality. 



From photograph by courtesy of M. A. 



Van Schelle, Belgian commissioner to 



the Louisiana Purchase Exposition 



