Horse Breeding for Farmers

Abstract

THE aim and object of this little work is to impress upon the impecunious present-day farmer the pecuniary profit which is to be derived from horse-breeding; and if the balance-sheets which Mr. Pease produces are to be relied upon, it undoubtedly constitutes a profitable pursuit. Unfortunately, however, so much depends upon the judgment, care, and skill bestowed by the individual in the purchase of suitable mares, the selection of proper sires, as well as upon the business capacity of the breeder, when the time arrives for placing the produce upon the market, that a profit on paper may readily be converted into a loss in practice. More particularly is this so in the case of the lighter breeds, such as the hunter and high-class carriage horse, whose value is largely dependent upon the thoroughness with which they have been trained and schooled. Mainly for these reasons we believe that the average farmer will be best advised to confine his horse-breeding operations to the heavier or agricultural breeds. They possess the additional advantage of being more docile, less trouble to break in, more useful to the farmer whilst young, and, finally, are more readily disposed of. The other breeds are best left to the landowners and so-called gentleman-farmer. Holding these views, we regret Mr. Pease should devote twenty pages to tracing the origin and history of the English thoroughbred, the Arab, the Barb, and other Oriental breeds. Horse Breeding for Farmers. By Alfred E. Pease. (London: Macmillan and Co., 1894.)