THE PERCHERON REVIEW 
31 
pound stallion. They are regularly producing him 
a pair of good mare colts. He has been lucky in 
having eight mare colts straight. 
In 1912 we secured a pair of purebred Percheron 
mares with foals by their sides for $1,700, and those 
who thought me a good subject for the "bughouse" 
are beginning to think differently since we refused 
$2,050 for a yearling, 2-year-old and a 3-year-old 
out of one of the mares. 
A fact that is well known to draft horse breeders 
and one that is worth mentioning, is that a draft 
colt can pay his way from 2 years old on. Carefully 
handled they can do a lot of work, while it usually 
takes a 4-year-old of the light breeds to do a like 
amount. Then the breaking of a drafter amounts 
to but little, while the others are quite different, and 
must be thoroughly broken to everything and 
perfectly mannered before they command a good 
remunerative price. 
Some have the erroneous idea that millionaires 
alone are able to raise" purebred drafters. It seems 
to me that it is just the opposite, they don't have 
to, but we do. 
Some argue that just as good mules can be raised 
from saddle and harness mares, but I have never 
yet seen a champion from such parents. Mr. Ira 
G. Sharp of Illinois, who showed the champion mule 
in 1914, said she was from a 1,900-pound grade Perch- 
eron mare. Breed good mares to good horses, and 
take good care of the colts, and you needn't worry 
much about the outcome. W. L. McIlroy. 
By courtesy American Breeder. 
Courage in Horse Production 
"I never saw a better opportunity to start pro- 
ducing good horses, especially purebreds, than there 
is to-day," said an experienced and successful horse- 
man, who believes that it pays to stay with his 
business through periods of depression and inaction 
as well as when it is prosperous. This man be- 
lieves that some lower prices which have been mani- 
fested this year are scarcely in proportion to the 
lower prices for other classes of livestock. He says 
that we speak of prices of horses in dollars, which 
makes a reduction in price much more pronounced 
than is the case where the price is stated in cents 
per pound. 
We could divide stockmen in general and horse- 
men m particular into two classes: those who stay 
with the business continuously and those who rush 
in while prices are highest. Outstanding success 
is found almost absolutely in the first class. Men 
who have fought stubbornly but purposely during 
hard times and depression are the men who are in 
the limelight now. The market for good draft 
horses will never be really shaken by the motor truck 
or by any other means. Men fearful of the future 
have predicted that the draft horse would be put 
out of business by the steam railroad, by the electric 
street car, and more recently by the cross country 
interurban. In spite of predictions the drafter is 
still m the forefront. He will continue in spite of 
inventions and other means of transportation. One 
of the most extensive as well as one of the most pros- 
perous breeders of purebred horses in the West has 
gone through hard times and discouragements 
many times worse than any breeder is encountering 
to-day. Two things carried him through and en- 
abled him to win — dogged determination and faith 
in the future. 
The present time offers a splendid opportunity 
to go into the purebred business. Prices are not 
quite up to the standard of the past few years 
and the future is all that any man could ask. Europe 
will never send the thousands of high-priced stal- 
lions to our country as before. European countries 
may again produce good horses but by that time 
American breeders will be more than equaling the 
best efforts of European farmers. The spring of 
1916 will see a shortage of good stallions on the mar- 
ket. Doubtless during the following year the short- 
age will be more pronounced. American breeders 
must produce purebred stallions. They will be 
paid well for their young stock. 
An Indiana farmer has a big purebred mare 
that works regularly on the farm and produces 
a colt annually. There is a two-year-old stallion 
on the farm that the mare has produced. The 
owner prices the youngster at $800 and doubtless 
will get it. He spent almost his last available 
dollar for the mare when he bought her. At the 
time his neighbor said: "Too much money to pay 
for any mare. She might lie down and die, then 
it would be necessary for you to start over again 
to get money enough ahead to buy another." 
Faith in the future coupled with courage and de- 
termination to brave through hard circumstances 
of any kind have been characteristics of success- 
ful breeders. One old-fashioned man has said, 
"Courage, grit, and gumption are the qualities that 
make for success." These qualities are just as 
necessary in horse production as in any profession. 
In no other line will a man be more surely rewarded 
for a generous and liberal use of courage. 
By courtesy of Breeder's Gazette. H. E. McCartney. 
