Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 August 1909 — Draft Horses Are Big Money Makers For Farmers. [ARTICLE]

Draft Horses Are Big Money Makers For Farmers.

The demand for draft horses was never so great as it is today, especially for draft horses of good breeding, which factor gives improved size, bone, action and quality. Every since the panic of 1893 horseraisers and farmers generally have seemed to fear overproduction of horses and the supply of horses has not pace with the growth of population while industries requiring horses have multiplied. There has developed especial need for more good draft horses in the city, while improvements in farm machinery have required heavier horses for country use. The result of these conditions has been an inadequate supply of heavy horses and a remarkable increase in the market value of draft horses, the very kind which the farmer can raise with the greatest ease, use and profit. 'uIt is no unusual thing for a well bred draft horse, with plenty of size, bone and action, to sell for $350 to SSOO on the Chicago market, while a well-matched team of such horses will bring from $750 to SI,OOO, and entire carload lots have been sold at such prices. The greater advances are, of course, paid on the better kinds of draft horses, though all heavy horses adapted to farm work bring good prices also, but in no industry does superiority of product bring greater rewards than in that of raising draff horses best suited to market demands.

Every farmer should, therefore, make a study of this industry. He should attend stock shows, state and county fairs, and shows where draft horses are exhibited, and study the different types until he has fixed in his eye and mind the main characteristics that win premiums. Then he should procure mares for his farm work that approximate as nearly as possible these characteristics, and breed them to the best registered draft stallions within reach.

Such horses as farmers having good mares can raise with the aid of stand&rd-bred stallions, will prove to be the 'most profitable things produced on ttye farm. The useful work which they can do will not only pay a large share of their cost, but is just the thing most needed to develope their desirable market qualities, such as wind, muscle, obedience and steady, free action in walking, leav- / ing mostly for profit the handsome pMce obtained for that kind of horses at market. *

The supply of such horses is not nearly equal to the* demand at present, and buyers of the very best draft horses for use in this cohntry are now in Europe trying to buy them there, where the supply is none too great -for home demands.. The farmers throughout this country seem not to have realized the situation in the horse industry, and in many instances Jiave been obliged to send to city markets to buy horses for their own farm work.

If the supply of draft horses is now materially below the demand, notwithstanding the reduced volume of manufacturing and other business since the panic of 1907, how will it be when the full tide of manufacturing, etc., is resumed, as bids fair to be the case before the present year is out? While the rapid increase of automobiles has lessened the demand for driving horses, and the abolition by law of betting at races has lowered the prlceß for racing horses, the invention of motors has had no effect whatever upon the demand and values for draft horses, which are higher today than ever before. No special skill is needed to train and fit a draft horse for market, as

is required with driving and race horses, the successful raising and preparing of the latter kinds being really a profession in itself. In fact, the greatest injury ever done the horse industry of the United States was the general craze for speed of two or three decades ago, which resulted in the deterioration in both size and working qualities of farm horses throughout the whole country. On the other hand, no greater service can be rendered horse users in both city and country than to encourage farmers in every state to raise improved draft horses, and the latter will be rewarded in many ways for so doing.

The more desirable and profitable types of draft horses are much more easily produced by the average farmer, where he can procure the service of a certified and registered draft stallion of outstanding merit for his mares, than would be trotting, pacing or running stock, in the value of which the fancy of the buyer and expert training become such determining factors.

Practical usefulness is the main determining factor in the market value of a draft horse. Aside from the initial service fee, it costs no more tc raise a steer of the same age, while the former gives his work in return for bis keep and when sold will bring as injjch money as two or three steers

These are very important considerations which the practical farmer may turn to his advantage and profit. No better opportunity exists today for Jasper farmers to make money than that offered in raising improved draft horse/