Breeding, Rearing, and Feeding Horses, Cattle, and Sheep. 87 
the other day refused 80Z. for a 2-year-old colt of his own 
breeding, which was about double his yearly rent. There can 
be no mistake about horse-breeding paying such a man. The 
expense of rearing is of course much less on these farms than 
on stronger soils. The deterioration of the mare and loss 
of work would not exceed 10/., the first year's keep of the 
colt 8/., the second 13/., the third 15/., and the fourth 6/. This 
gives a total of 52/., which would rear the animals well. 
Thousands of good horses I know are brought to the yoke at less 
than 50/. each. In fact, on moderately sized farms of lightish land 
horses work for their keep the fourth year, which would reduce 
the above estimate by 6/. The service-fee has not been taken 
into account, but a few pounds would cover that. In many 
instances every shilling beyond 50/. obtained for young farm- 
horses is clear profit to the breeder and rearer. A glance, then, 
at current prices should satisfy any one of the profitableness of 
agricultural horse-breeding under the favourable farming circum- 
stances described. 
The occupiers of very large holdings, even with a good run of 
pasture and moderately rented land, cannot breed horses to the 
same advantage as the smaller farmers. With the former, the 
proportion of miscarriages and the percentage of loss from 
I accidents to foals and colts are much greater than with the latter. 
' That arises, as most practical people will understand, from the 
inability of the larger holder to extend that amount of careful 
treatment and close personal attention to the tender animal 
which is characteristic of the smaller occupancy. The ordinary 
large farmer considers he does very well if he manages to breed 
and rear as many horses as will keep up the necessary stud. 
Colts, to be sure, are very troublesome, hard on fences, and 
injurious often to grass. In many ways they are more or less 
mischievous and annoying about the farm ; but all that can be 
borne with when, between the ages of three and four, they can 
fill a vacancy in the regular staff", thus saving a direct outlay of 
80/. or 100/., or realize that amount if they can be spared for 
the market. The horse-market, by the way, is not the safest 
place for a farmer to invest. !Many have dire experience of the 
trickery and the misrepresentations that characterise the British 
horse-market. It is quite a common thing, when a horse or two can 
be spared, to draft away animals that are subject to any ailment, 
or about which there may be preliminary symptoms of hereditary 
or other defects. This gives a somewhat rotten tinge to the 
horse-market, and lends an additional incentive to home- 
breeding wherever it can possibly be carried on. It should have 
been mentioned that in many parts of the Midland counties of 
England horses do a little work between the ages of two and 
