;ch of the Development |j the ^Modern Horse BY F. S. COOLEY ^ickmofe's Horse Book IRLF 277 Mil PUBLISHED BY IE GALL CURE COMPANY OLD TOWN, MAINE, U S, A, c " LIBRARY OF THE ., UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. GIFT OF" Sketch of the Development of the Modern Horse BY F. S. COOLEY Bickmore's Horse Book COMPANY OLD TOWN, MAINE, U. S. A. Copyright 1906 by Bickmore Gall Cure Company Old Town, Maine, U.S.A. CONTENTS Page Development of the Modern Horse 5 Classification of Improved Domestic Breed: 12 Bickmore's Gall Cure, an advertisement 13 Arabian and Barbary Horses 14 Bickmore's Gall Cure, how put up 18 English Thoroughbred 18 The American Saddler 23 An Apt Trade Mark ( 26 The American Trotter 28 Pacing Horses 37 Orloff Trotter 39 Further Uses for Bickmore's Gall Cure \ 40 French Coach Breed .41 German Coach Horse 43 Oldenburg Coacher / 45 Cleveland Bay 45 The Hackney 47 Bickmore's in the Boer V/cr 50 The Ptrcheron 51 French Draft Horse 55 Belgian Draft Horse 56 Clydesdale Draft Horse . 57 English Shire Draft Horse 59 Suffolk Punch 60 The Mustang 62 Bronchos or Indian Ponies . 63 Shetland Ponies 64 Welsh or Exmoor Ponies 65 The 101 Ranch, a testimonial 66 Market Classes 66 A Warning to Buyers 72 Points of a Good Horse 73 Horse Breeding 76 Foreign Agencies Bickmore Gall Cure Co 82 Trial Offer .83 c\ A Sketch of the Development of the Modern Horse Many authors have sought to enlighten the minds of people in regard to the horse, and valuable books not a few treat of his his- tory, present status and management. By no means, however, has the subject been exhausted, and even had it been there would still exist the conditions that prompt the present effort. It is our purpose to present in a brief and concise form a reliable and accurate summary of the best information concerning the horse as he now exists and some of the stages through which he has passed in his development. Few if any of our domestic animals present subjects of greater interest to the scientist or to the general public than horses. While they have come into man's service more recently, perhaps, than any of the animals in the group with which they are com- monly associated, their story as now told extends farther back into the recesses of the past than that of the others. Their history and development has been better worked out, and abounds in facts of exceptional interest. They were among the earliest animals to receive the attention of progressive breeders. Their improvement antedates that of cattle, sheep or swine. Their pedigrees were much earlier recorded and pure breeding among them preceded that of any other class of animals. Nor do we wonder at this when we con- sider the intimacy of horse and rider, their constant companionship and the dependence of man upon his horse in the chase, in the pursuit of his foes, or in the escape from his enemies. Indeed, man's relative dependence upon his horse was formerly far greater than now. Bed your horses with clean, dry straw. 6 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE To-day steam, electricity, and other sources of energy have ren- dered man in a degree independent of the powers of the horse, so that mechanical enthusiasts are heralding the coming centuries as the " horseless age." Commercialism has also greatly increased the relative importance of cattle, sheep and other farm animals on account of their wealth- producing qualities. Yet never has the horse had more faithful champions, more ardent admirers or competent historians than at present, and within a decade only have we heard of a horse sold for $191,500.00, and several have brought upwards of $100,- 000.00 each. If we read the signs of the times aright, far from declining into "innocuous desuetude" the horse is still making progress towards the zenith of his prosperity. Natural Relations The genus EQUUS, to which the horse family belongs, com- prises twelve named species and what were formerly three different genera. These are the horse, E. CABALLUS and E. PRE- JAVALLSKI1, from which the domestic horse is thought to have descended, now represented by the Tarpan of western Asia, and Prejavallsky's Horse of Siberia ; the ass, E. ASSINUS and E. ASSINUS SOMALICUS, found in Africa and in Abyssinia; the Asiatic ass, E. ONAGER, E. HEMIPPUS and E. HE- MONIUS ; the quagga, intermediate between the ass and the zebra, now nearly if not entirely extinct ; and the zebra, E. ZE- BRA, E. BURCHELLII, and E. CHAPMANII, of central and southern Africa. In domestication the horse has so far developed in speed, beau- ty, and strength as to make his natural derivation somewhat doubt- ful. The family Equidae, which includes the horse, ass and zebra, "Have been in the stable business 30 years and tried every remedy for sores, but found nothing that gave the satisfactory results your Qall Cure does. J. L. Godfrey, Virginia, Net). " NATURAL RELATIONS as noted, is grouped naturally with the tapir and rhinoceros families in forming the PERISSODACTYL (odd-toed) UNGULATES (hoofed animals). Away back in the Tertiary times the ancestors of these families more closely resembled each other than do the present representatives. And yet many important points of resem- blance are now presented to the keen observation of the naturalist. For example, the prehensile upper lip of the horse and the exten- sible snout of the tapir may have been developed from the same ancestral features. The rhinoceros family is steadily diminishing in numbers and BURCHELL'S ZEBRA (Courtesy Scientific American) will one day be only a tradition of former times, while the tapir is already coming near to its extermination. The horse, however, appea/s to be assured of a perpetual place as one of man's most valued subjects. The greater portion of hoofed animals in domes- tication as well as in a wild state belong to the pair-toed branch, admit the light. 24 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE paths through the forest and wheeled vehicles were rare ; just as the Cleveland Bay, developed as a public post-horse in coaching days before railroads were built, was nearly lost when his place was taken by the steam locomotive, but has lately been revived for the growing needs of express delivery ; so the American Saddler is becoming an established breed to meet conditions demanding riding animals of the qualities he possesses. GORGEOUS GIPSY QUEEN, AMERICAN SADDLER His history as a breed is short, being practically measured by a quarter of a century of time, for the American Saddle Horse Breeders' Association was not organized until 1 89 1 . The Ameri- " / Jon 't hesitate to recommend your Gall Cure. I have used it on saddle horses on large ranches in the West and know its merits. Fred P. Jones, {Bradley, Ind. Ter. " AMERICAN SADDLER' 25 can seat, as represented by the cowboy of the western plains with long stirrup straps, and no daylight between the horse and his rider, differs essentially from that affected by the English rider, with his short stirrups and constant up-and-down motion. That the Ameri- can seat is easier to both horse and rider and more elegant hardly needs assertion. The trot has been found unsuited to the saddle by comparison with other gaits, such as the pace and canter, and most emphatically as compared to the single-foot or running walk. The main elements of blood in the American saddler are the Thoroughbred, especially that of the stallion Denmark by imported Hedgeford ; and American trotting mares, particularly those of pacing families like the Tom Hals. To this blood has also been added that of some of the best saddle horses of the western plains and Kentucky. Among the mustangs there has been found occa- sionally a beautifully gaited single-footer, whose character has aided in transmitting the gait to the new breed. It will be seen that the saddler is strictly a warm-blooded horse, somewhat of the Thoroughbred type, but rather more compactly made and lofty in carriage and action. Elegance of manners and style of action are esteemed of greater value than finish and smoothness of conforma- tion ; and yet in these last particulars he is more uniformly excellent than the Thoroughbred or the American trotter. It is mainly the ability to go the regulation five gaits that deter- mines the eligibility of a saddler to registration in the stud book of the breed. Concerning gaits, we are familiar with the walk and canter, and the trot, which is sometimes called the diagonal gait because the legs on opposite corners move in unison, i. e., the left fore leg with the right hind leg, and the right fore leg with the left hind leg. In the pace both right legs move in unison and both left the same, which has given rise to the term " lateral gaited," or " side-wheelers." The pride of all the gaits is the single-foot, most elegant and essential to standing in the breed. In this gait there is the same Ventilation is very important ; eep the air in the stable pure. 26 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE interval between each of the footfalls. In the fox trot the fore foot touches the ground slightly in advance of its opposite hind foot ; and it is, like the fast walk or slow pace, an all-day gait of six or seven miles an hour. In the running walk the hind foot strikes the ground slightly quicker than its opposite fore foot. In it the head is carried higher and the rein tighter than in the fox trot or rack. The single-foot and running walk are fast elegant gaits and capable of ten miles an hour up to a mile in tliree minutes. In the rack or slow pace the hind foot strikes the ground an instant before the fore foot. Here then is an assortment of eight gaits, five of which, including the pace and single-foot, are required for admission to the breed. Of the conformation of these horses little more need be said. They are in a sense between the Thoroughbred and the trotter. They ought to be of \5/4 to 1 6% hands in height and of a de- sirable color, and up to weight for carrying a two-hundred pound man, but gaits and manners are the prime essentials of the breed. An Apt Trade Mark To select a trade mark for our new possession, n Bickmore's Gall Cure," was a puzzling task for us in 1 892, when we com- menced business. The ointment had shown itself to be good and we were anxious the packages should have some distinguishing feature that would enable them to be recognized at sight by any and every one, whether ignorant or informed. A happy thought came to us : Use Doctor's picture and have it taken when he was in action drawing a load. How simple, yet how plainly it would illustrate the then unheard-of fact that a gall could be cured by using our salve while the horse was worked. This we did and our old Gall Cure is a very excellent article for wounds or sores on animals. Have found it a very good salve for "mounds on humans. Martin Esser, 'Poseyville, Ind. " DOCTOR 27 friend's picture proved to be one of the happiest hits for a trade mark ever recorded. THE OLD GRAY HORSE AT WORK Doctor Doctor came to us from the West, a barefoot youngster, fresh from the farm. He was a dapple gray, of good height, with a deep chest, powerful legs and broad back, one of that type of heavy draught horses developed by Western breeders. He was tractable, good natured and willing. Strength he had in abun- dance, coupled with the good horse sense to use it to advantage. The numerous requirements of a large manufacturing business and training in good hands speedily brought out his many good qualities, so that when any special hard task was to be accomplished no other horse but Doctor would answer. One of his tasks was to draw coal from the pit up into the boiler room. Small dump cars were used, running over a narrow guage track that ended directly See that the collar fits your horse 's shoulders properly or you Will have to buy a box of ^ic^more 's Gall Cure. 28 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE in front of the boiler doors. On the inside of the track, some five feet above the coal heap, was a plank just wide enough for a horse to stand upon while the cars were run by him and dumped before the further boiler. To see him drag in the heavy load and, with- out word from the driver, step aside upon the narrow bridge out of the way of the cars was enough to cause one to form a higher opinion of man's most faithful servant. On cold, stormy days in winter his warm perch on the plank was so much more to his liking than the outside air that in the lulls of the work it was customary to allow him to stay inside. The glare from the open furnace doors so near, the roar of the escaping steam when the boilers blew off were not enough to disturb his period of rest. It was interest- ing to see him handle a loaded freight car. The magnificent ex- hibition of strength to start the ponderous load along the rails, and the nicely applied and steady pull to barely keep the car in motion afterwards was but another evidence of his unusual intelligence. In common with some of the other horses, Doctor soon learned the meaning of the noon whistle, and the hungriest man in the crew was not more averse to working over time than was he. Doctor has passed to his well-earned rest. A busy life he had, crowded with hard tasks well performed. He was worthy of the honor we bestowed upon him. His picture has interested many a horse owner in Bickmore's Gall Cure ; has been seen and recog- nized by thousands in other lands who can not read these words, but who can and do remember " The Old Gray Horse at Work." We revere Doctor's memory. The American Trotter The standard trotting horse of America is essentially the product of American notions and of conditions developed by American ' ' One o/' my customers has just cured his horse of a stick fast. After using other cures I induced him to try $ickmore 's. Inside of ten days the horse was well ; worked him continually. E. T>. Baum, 326 Flushing Ave. , Brooklyn, 3\. Y." THE AMERICAN TROTTER 29 institutions. Harness racing is more than anything else responsible for the present characters of the trotter, just as saddle racing in England gave his qualities to the Thoroughbred. There are cer- tain institutions that are peculiarly American. The great national sport of baseball is a notable example, and it differs essentially from the games of ball played in other countries. Harness racing, mile heats, best three in five by classes, is another great national sport. To play this game, speed at the trot (or pace) is the prime requi- site. The bike-sulky, appliances of harness and boots, parlor tracks, a perfect system of training and conditioning, skilful driving, all important factors in winning the game, become impotent with- out the inherent ability of the horse to trot fast. Every effort on the part of those engaged in the trotting game has been bent toward producing a horse that can trot a race of mile heats faster than his competitors. Hundreds of local and state associations hold race meetings, at which liberal purses tempt the efforts of trotting-horse men to win, and even racing circuits of national character engage the interest of horsemen week by week for a season of several months each year. It has therefore become the regular business of a prominent class of men to develop and race the best of our trotting horses, and it has become the business of a still greater class to breed and rear horses of the type that wins races and which command long prices as a racing prospect. It is not alone the race tracks that make a demand for trotting horses. Many men of wealth enjoy light buggy driving behind a good stepper, and a n brush down the road " with a rival. In America racing horses in harness is a mania, and thousands of young horsemen take delight in " giving their dust " to others whom they come across upon the road. Many of these live upon farms with more or less favorable opportunities for breeding their own horses, which are embraced with alacrity. There is always the added reason, or excuse, that the successful venture will bring a good price when sold. The American Trotter is more than any- "Oariety in feed is most agreeable and in evert/ way best for the horse, 30 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE thing else the legitimate product of these conditions. The blood elements in his formation are also of great interest to the student. It is mainly to the Thoroughbred influence that the speed of the trotter is due. We have already seen that the Thor- oughbred has been bred and developed for centuries for his supreme speed at the running gait. From him the American Trotter gets speed. By careful training and selection the gait has been changed to the trot, which is more suitable to harness uses. MESSENGER, TROTTER Of the noted individuals that have contributed to the blood of the trotter, imported MESSENGER, stands first and foremost. Per- haps it would not be inaccurate to assert that the influence of Mes- ' ' Have been selling your Qall Cure for eleven years and have never yet found a case it did not help. \V. IV. Stevens & Co., Danbury, Conn. " ^^P^v OF THE " ^JL UNIVERSITY! :HE AMERICAN TOOTTER senger surpasses that of all other horses in producing trotting supe- riority. Messenger was foaled in 1 780 and imported to America in 1 788. He was a Thoroughbred by Mambrino, by Engineer, by Sampson, by Blaze (?), by Flying Childers, by Darley Arabian. Messenger's dam was by Turf, by Matchem, by Cade, out of dam by Regulus, both by Godolphin Barb. Perhaps the trotting propensities of the Messenger family come through Sampson, who is described as a horse of unusual size and power, with a marked preference for the trotting gait. So strongly was this trotting ten- dency displayed that when considered with his size and conforma- tion, it has caused some horsemen to question his breeding, sug- gesting that he may have been got by a coach horse instead of a Thoroughbred. BELLFOUNDER was another trotting Thor- oughbred, foaled in 1815, imported in 1 822, got by Bellfounder out of Velocity by Sir Peter, out of Miss Hervey by Eclipse. The great HAMBLETONIAN family of trotters was founded by Rysdeck's Hambletonian out of Bellfounder mare by a grand- son of Messenger. MAMBRINO, a son of Messenger, was the founder of the Mambrino family. Space forbids us to dwell at length upon DUROC, son of Diomed, a Derby winner, and Pilot, a French Canadian pacer, foaled in 1 826, and Grand Bashaw, a Barb brought from Tripoli in 1820 ; but we must pause to make mention a little more fully of JUSTIN MORGAN, the progenitor of the Morgan line. JUSTIN MORGAN was foaled in 1 793 near Springfield, Mass. He was probably by a Thoroughbred horse (True Briton or Beautiful Bay) and out of a mare said to carry the blood of Lindsey Arabian in her veins. Justin Morgan was owned for many years in Middlebury, Vt, where he was employed about a saw mill, in addition to other duties. He must have been a marvel of versatility, for he is said to have been able to outwork, outtrot, outrun, and outpull any horse in the region. Though he weighed Drainage 'is important give the stall flooring a slight incline. 32 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE but 950 pounds he performed, in addition to his stud duties, regu- lar work at the mill, was a favorite buggy horse, was used in run- ning races by the boys, and at militia muster was in demand as an officer's mount, and considered the handsomest, proudest charger in the troop. Through his three sons, Sherman, Bulrush and L RYSDECK'S HAMBLETONIAN, TROTTER/ Woodbury, he left a highly-prized family. The Sherman branch was represented by Black Hawk, Ethan Allen and Daniel Lam- bert. The Morgan family, although not so extremely fast for a single mile as the Hambletonians, are generally of better conformation for service, have a high degree of mettle, and remarkable bottom for long drives or years of use. I have among my notes the tale ' ' / have been selling Bickmore 's Gall Cure for ten years. The ranchers here won't buy anything else. John 3&adison, Saticoy, Cal. " THE- AMERICAN TROTTER 33 - 'of Old Billy, as furnished by the West End Street Railway Co. of Boston whose skeleton is now in the Boston Natural History Rooms. Old Billy was a gray horse bred in Vermont, of Morgan stock, and weighed 1025 pounds. He'jran on a stage until nine years old and then passed into the railroad company's hands, where he ran between Boston and Brookline for 2 5 years. He DANIEL LAMBERT, MORGAN never lost a trip through sickness or disability, and is computed to have traveled over 125,000 miles ahead of the company's cars. At 34 years old he passed into the hands of the American Express Co. and did duty on a feed truck in their stablps until he died eight years later in his forty-second year, Christmas, 1 890. jl horse stall should be nine feet long and five feet Wide. 34 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE The Hambletonian family, already alluded to as founded by Rysdeck's Hambletonian, is the most important family of trotters. Indeed, practically all American trotters now carry a considerable portion of this blood. The leading sons of Hambletonian were, George Wilkes, Electioneer, Alexander's Abdallah, Dictator and Happy Medium. Among the greatest breeders of trotting horses the late Hon Leland Stanford of Palo Alto, Cal., and Cicero J. Hamlin of Buffalo, N. Y., were conspicuous. Trotting speed has developed within a century in a marked degree, as shown by the following records for one mile. Although many trotting horses in America and Europe had shown ability to trot races of four to twenty miles at good speed in the eighteenth century, and perhaps earlier, no record of a mile trotted faster than three minutes was made before 1 806. That year Yankee trotted a mile over the Harlem, N. Y., half-mile track in 2.59. This record was gradually lowered till in 1 845 Lady Suffolk trotted a race mile at Hoboken, N. J., in 2.29%. Flora Temple was the first horse to beat 2.20, which she did in 1859 at Kalamazoo, Mich., trotting in 2.19%. In 1867, Dexter trotted a mile in 2.17J In 1874, Goldsmith Maid trotted a mile in 2.14 In 1878, Rams trotted a mile in r 2.13J In 1879, St. Julien trotted a mile in . . . ... . . . . 2.12^ In 1884, Jay Eye See trotted a mile in 2.10 In 1885, MaudS. trotted a mile in 2.08 f In 1889, Sunol (3) trotted a mile in . . . . . ;i . 2.10^ In 1892, Nancy Hanks trotted a mile in -,. . .," . . 2.04 In 1894, Alix trotted a mile in . . . ..... 2.03 f In 1900, The Abbott trotted a mile in 2.03 In 1902, Cresceus trotted a mile in 2.02 In 1903, Major Delmar trotted a mile in 1.59| In 1903, Lou Dillon trotted a mile in 1.58 " Your Bickmore's Qall Cure is the only Qall Cure I ever used that would cure uf> collar galls while I continued to work the horse. the animal heat with clapboards and blankets than with feed. THE MUSTANG 63 capacity to carry weight is out of all proportion to size, and they make excellent cow ponies, and many are high-class polo ponies. Their reputation for meanness is doubtless mainly due to their nervous tempers and the system of breaking (without real domesti- cation) in vogue. BRONCHO INDIAN PONIES, or BRONCHOS, belong to a region farther north than the Mustang, and carry the blood of French stock brought from Canada separately, or in conjunction with Span- ' ' / would rather have one box of Bicf^more 's Gall Cure than ten of any other kind for mff own use. Will C. 3\Cord, Louisville, Ky. " 64 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE ish blood. They are, as might be expected, of easier tempers, more compact build, and generally darker colors than the Mustang. Shetland Ponies Originated on islands north of Great Britain and are a very old breed. Their characters are probably due to centuries of gradual SHETLAND AND CLYDESDALE variation to meet the conditions of an island habitat, a bleak cold climate and a sparse supply of food. They are of diminutive size. Their feet are very tough, seldom needing shoes. They have very thick, long coats of hair to protect them during those northern winters, and generally have very bushy manes and tails. When turning out horses to pasture in summer, two feeds of grain each Jay should be given. WELSH AND EXMOOR 65 They have quiet tempers and good intelligence and make toy horses for children, of unsurpassed excellence. In color they pre- sent almost everything that goes, black, white, bay, chestnut, dun and piebald all being common. Welsh and Exmoor -;;>;, WELSH PONY. TALLY HO Characteristic of the poor, bleak highlands of Wales, they are of small size, weighing 400 to 800 pounds, standing 1 to 13 hands, are more slender in build than the Shetlands, rather taller, and run more to the dark colors. " Haoe just tried Bic^more's Gall Cure on a horse, booing tie scratches, that could hardly walk. Used one box on him and cured him perfectly. Isaac Zuercher, Pandora, Ohio. " 66 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE The 101 Ranch A Testimonial The 1 1 Ranch, located in Oklahoma, is one of the best-known in the United States. It contains 87,000 acres, enclosed by 1 50 miles of wire fencing. There are three towns within its borders, Bliss, Red Rock and White Eagle. It contains thousands upon thousands of acres of corn, wheat, alfalfa, oats, melons, fruit trees and small fruits, besides thousands of acres of range, over which graze cattle, horses, mules, hogs and buffalo. It has a telephone system, with thirty-five miles of private wire. Five hundred hands are employed during the busy season. Fifty " cow punchers n attend to fifteen thousand cattle and five hundred mules. There are three hundred work horses and a herd of thirty-five buffalo, preserved as curiosities. This well-known ranch is used for agricultural pursuits and as an immense stock-breeding farm, raising everything from buffalo down to chickens. Its work is conducted upon strictly business lines ; its purchases are of articles known to be good. A letter giving the experience of the proprietors of this immense ranch with Bickmore's Gall Cure should be read with interest by every stock- man, and we take pleasure in printing it here : " White Eagle, Okla., July 14, 1898. " 'Dear Sirs : 'Please find enclosed $5.00, for which send us that amount of your Gall Cure. Would just as soon have it in hulk, as it is for our own use. We Toork ooer one hundred head of horses, and it takes quite a lot to go around. Have used it, and like it splendid. " We buy all our supplies at wholesale, so will expect dealers' prices. *Please send by Wells, Fargo 6- Co. gxpress. Yours truly, THE 101 LIVE STOCK CO. " Market Classes Horses present greater difficulties in grading for the market than almost any other product. In modern markets the grains are graded so accurately that any given class is as standard as govern- jl neglected gall or cut will lead to trouble later. MARKET CLASSES 67 ment bonds, and is traded in many times between producer and consumer, without ever being seen by most of its buyers and sellers. Beef cattle obey the same law, and when one properly understands the method of classification he can tell very accurately what the price of any given lot will be by reading the market quotations. It will be found that there is just about fifty cents per hundred weight difference in price between extra choice and choice, choice and good, good and medium, medium and fair, and fair and com- mon steers. Market horses obey the same law, but as intimated they are harder to grade because their qualities vary more widely and their adaptability to any purpose is far less uniform, and consequently the prices obtained present greater contrasts than do other market products in general. The greatest horse markets are New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. St. Louis also handles a great many horses, and perhaps more mules than any other trade center. Chicago is typical as a well-systematized market, especially of the heavier grades of horses, although New York and Philadelphia perhaps excel in classes of quality and action. A characteristic Chicago market quotation is as follows : Poor to Fair. Good to Choice. Drafters $1 10 to $160 $165 to $240 * Loggers and feeders . . 75 to 1 45 1 50 to 1 90 Chunks 75 to 100 110 to 145 Expressers 110 to 150 150 to 170 Farm mares and chunLs . 60 to 90 90 to 125 Light drivers .... 65 to 1 30 150 to 400 Actors and coachers . . 100 to 175 200 to 450 To discuss these several classes under their respective heads, we shall learn as follows : 's Gall Cure has become a necessity toith our farmers. W. S, Worthington, Neshaminy, Pa, " 68 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE DRAFTERS are horses of size, finish and condition, and of the muscular, weight-pulling type. They must not weigh less than 1 600 pounds in good condition. They must be smooth, compact, symmetrical and well-turned, and must be well covered with flesh, often to a point of over-fatness. With condition and quality, the greater the weight the higher the price. Good drafters weighing a ton will often bring $400 to $500 and are eagerly sought after. SIX-HORSE TEAM OF CLYDESDALES The competition among buyers for the n good big ones n is very sharp and prices realized very remunerative, while anything falling below 1 600 pounds must go into another class. LOGGERS and FEEDERS are horses of large size, but lack- ing in quality or condition. For the lumber camps big horses, even if rather coarse, are just as useful, and the investment is less. The risk of loss or injury and small advantage of fine appearance gener- ally decide the lumbermen in favor of the coarser grades of large horses. At the same time many big horses come into the market JXColasses, from one to three pints twice each day, mixed with grain, is an economical food. MARKET CLASSES 69 having plenty of quality but poor condition. Now fat is requisite to top prices in the horse market, so that many farmers make it a business to buy horses in thin flesh and feed them for a few months, and then return them to be sold, when fat, for a good advance in price. The FEEDERS of good quality when fattened become DRAFTERS in the market. CHUNKS are horses of the draft type, but under weight. They are compact, well-made horses, in good condition and weighing from 1 300 to 1 550 pounds. EXPRESSERS are of about the same weight as chunks, or possibly rather less in most cases, a little more upstanding and rangy in build, with quality, finish and considerable action. The expresser, in his best estate as to quality, mettle, size and finish, becomes the best type of fire horse, while the slightest and smallest of the class find use for the general delivery work on grocery teams, &c. FARM MARES and CHUNKS are a still 'smaller type of animals useful chiefly for farm work, weighing from 1 1 00 to 1 300 pounds ; they are equal to any kind of work. They are of the compact draft type, and therefore economical, easy keepers, quiet in temper, and strong for their size. It is from this class of mares that many drafters are bred by the use of big stallions of a ton weight. LIGHT DRIVERS are an entirely different class of horses, of slender build and nervous temperament. It will be seen that their prices vary widely according to quality and speed. A light, slender horse, without quality and speed, is a cheap horse indeed ; but with a high degree of finish and quality, and the speed that the best ones possess, they cease to be a market factor and are sold at private treaty for prices up in the four figures, occasionally in the five figures, and one or two stallions of this ' ' We have used your Gall Cure for the past three years and find it the best cure for old sores we can get. American Lead & Baryta Co., Old Mines, Mo, " 70 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE type even for six figures, e. g., Axtell $105,000 and Arion $125,000. ACTORS and COACHERS comprise a class with more substance and weight than light drivers, rounder in form, more bone and bigger muscles, with the same quality and finish, and high, trappy action instead of extreme speed. This class varies less than the preceding, for it requires a good horse to make the class. On the other hand they do not command such remarkably high prices as speed horses of the highest quality. PLUGS are com- monly found in markets and comprize second-hand horses, gen- erally old, or unsound, or otherwise inferior, and command very low prices. Saddle Horses Besides the foregoing Chicago market classes, saddle horses are found in numbers to supply the large demand in many places. The two types of saddle horses are "WALK TROT CAN- TER " and the GAITED saddler. The former is similar in type and price to either the light driver or the actor and coacher, and his usefulness for saddle purposes detracts nothing from his carriage qualities, but may add slightly to his value. The gaited saddler, already described as a breed, has a high value because of his special qualities, the limited numbers in the market and the ability of people who want these qualities to pay well for them. A COMBINATION horse is one that is adapted to both saddle and carriage uses. To bring the highest prices in the market certain requisites per- taining to age, soundness, training and condition are observed. Unsound horses are not wanted, and it will not pay to market them. Horses with spavins or curbs, or ring bones, or any un- soundness of legs which may produce lameness, command very low prices. The same may be said of defects in the wind, which incapacitate animals for the best service. The stall window should be so placed that the light will not shine directly into the horse 's eyes. SADDLE HORSES 71 The best market age is five to eight years, after seasoning and development is complete, and before the best useful period of life is very far advanced. Unbroken horses are not very salable, and it will not pay to market them until they have been well broken, thoroughly accus- tomed to use, and even seasoned to work. Finally, however useless fat may be as to its intrinsic value, fat horses sell better than poor ones, and it will pay well to have horses fat before attempts are made to sell them on the general market. Horse Sales The great horse sales are very interesting in many ways, chiefly on account of the rapidity and volume of business. None but experts can follow them, and yet in spite of the rapidity and seem- ing recklessness of these sales, every obligation is strictly carried out and the buyer has a certain time in which to prove his pur- chase and return it for a refund of the price if it does not prove as represented. A common method of description is to hang out a placard with one or another of the following legends : "At the halter," " Worker only," " Wind and work," "Service- ably sound," " Sound." T^ie sign " at the halter " guarantees absolutely nothing. The buyer takes his horse as he finds him and runs his own risk. His purchase may be blind, lame, fitly or wind broken, and he may balk, kick or run away. The bill of sale does not recommend him as having a single useful quality, and there would be in this case no " come back." If " worker only " is the tale, the horse may be blind, lame or wind broken, but will work as well as he is able and does not or- dinarily balk. It is the least that can be given by way of guarantee. " We are using Bickmore 's Gall Cure on our own teams. It is for supe- rior to any remedy we have ever tried for sore shoulders on horses, fyeimer B'os, , Winnipeg, Man., Canada.'' 72 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE " Wind and work " guarantees the animal to be sound in wind and a willing worker, but may have unsoundness in his legs or be blind or blemished. " Serviceably sound " means having no defect that lessens his capacity for work. The horse may have soft puffs on the joints, or wire cuts or blemishes that only injure his appearance ; he may even be a little thick in wind, if not wind broken, but can do as much work as though he were perfectly sound. n Sound " is the highest possible guarantee. It is equivalent to a statement that the subject has no defect in wind or limb, is well broken, kind and free from vices, and if not so found within time allotted for trying him out, he may be returned for a refund of the purchase price. Very commonly horses so purchased can be returned within twenty-four hours and money received on mere statement that the buyer does not like the horse. Warning Influenced by the large sale which Bickmore's Gall Cure has, there are now on the market many new makes of Gall Cure, the makers of which claim them to be " just as good as Bickmore's." The thinking man will realize that when a manufacturer or a dealer makes this statement he acknowledges that Bickmore's Gall Cure is the standard. Some dealers will offer a box containing more salve. Quantity does not count; it is the quality, the healing properties of a salve that make its value to the stockman. Use but a little Bickmore's Gall Cure, follow our simple directions and it will give you satisfaction. We ask our customers to always insist upon having Bickmore's Gall Cure ; to always look for our trade-mark, the old gray horse at work, which is on every box and all of our advertising matter. Bickmore's Gall Cure, wherever bought, is warranted satisfactory or money refunded. Avoid substitutes, which are seldom satis- factory. Send your orders direct to the factory if your dealer is Tie disposition of a horse is moulded by that of the driver. WARNING 73 trying to push the sale of a new Gall Cure upon which he proba- bly makes a larger profit. United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Experiment Stations. Porto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station, Office of Special Agent in Charge, JfCayaguez, Porto Rico, JfCarch 25, 1 905. Bickmore Gall Cure Co., Old 'Sown, Maine. Dear Sirs : I enclose voucher for your signature covering purchase of March 1 6. In the hot climate of the tropics we have more or less trouble from galled shoulders. We eep a supply of your cure on hand, having been familiar with its use in the states, and get admirable results from its use. "Oery truly yours, D. W. JtfAY, Special j4gent in Charge of 'Porto 'Rico Experiment Station. Points of a Good Horse The selection of a horse is an undertaking for which the average person has little confidence, and such would doubtless do well to employ a competent horse judge of known integrity. While horse traders have not a very enviable reputation, most of the large and well-known dealers are honest, not only as a matter of principle, but because it is a good business policy. The horse dealer, doing a large and increasing business for a series of years, finds the confi- dence and satisfaction of his customers among the most important of ttte factors contributing to his success. Many a wealthy person would do far better to entrust his purchase to a reputable dealer than to his coachman or groom, for the latter would be apt to sup- plement the first method by a liberal " rake off n for his personal share of the deal. If the selection of a horse or a carriage pair is beyond the powers of the average person, much more is the judging of relative merits and characters of an entire group. Horse judging is indeed expert work, requiring very special training and powers of discernment and its treatment in a sketch of this kind would be presumptuous. " Can recommend your Call Cure. It is as good for man as for beast, Q. 7). utler & Son. Yreka, Ca/. " 74 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE There are, however, certain points in a horse that any one can consider, and in their application learn much of the horse's value. The head is a valuable index to equine nature and quality, and tells more than anything else of the character of the possessor. A big, coarse head generally goes with a sluggish temper, while an over-fine head may belong to a very nervous and unsafe animal. A rather medium size goes with the best temper, and if more refined it will indicate good life. Lips rather firm indicate strength and determination. The eye is a wonderful indicator of temperament, e. g., a dull eye expresses want of action and life ; a mild eye, easy temper and good feeding quality ; a very prominent eye indicates nerve force, and if its expression is wild and restless, its possessor is apt to be unsteady and perhaps unsafe. An eye showing much white com- monly belongs to a horse of pronounced temper and great courage. Such a horse, ill treated, might become balky or vicious. The ears, if small and wide apart, indicate fine quality and high mettle ; if too large they show a dull, sluggish character. When pointed forward they indicate a pleasanter disposition than when laid back upon the neck. A forehead wide between the eyes betokens intelligence, while if it is narrow, a sullen, dull character is indicated. Prominent but fine under jaws indicate power and energy, and a wide intermax- illary space, good wind. The angle of the head with the neck indicates breeding and quality, and should be rather wide to recommend it. While the mental traits of a horse are of great importance his body mechanism is equally so. A strong horse would not be very useful if he was too sullen to work or too excitable to be safe, neither would a courageous, good-tempered horse be worth much without good legs and a strong body. The neck should be strong, set on rather high and well back and carried high. The shoulders should be long and oblique, ex- The mangers should be regularly cleaned out and e/t>/ clean POINTS OF A GOOD HORSE 75 tending well into the back to give activity and reach. The back should be short and well-muscled. The hips smooth and not too prominent. The quarters should be long and muscular. The tail should be set on high and carried well up. The set and carriage of the tail indicate in a noticeable degree the manners and style of the horse. The legs should be set straight, well-muscled above the knees and hocks, and wide and lean below. The pasterns should be strong and supple and set at the same angle as the shoulders and thighs. The feet are of great consequence, and should be of medium size, well formed and dense as to horn, elastic as to frog, concave as to sole, and full and strong as to the bars of the heel. The body should be deep in the chest, and in width according to breed, to give room for breathing and the vital organs. A close- ribbed body is a strong body, and a body that is low in the flank indicates great bottom and endurance. The legs should be well under the body, particularly the fore legs, which indicate stiffness or unsoundness if projecting ahead of a vertical line from the elbow. It goes without saying that the legs should be smooth and free from blemishes, and wind should be good ; but an extended dis- cussion of these points would be out of place in this paper. Wov.28, 1905. The &ickmore Gall Cure Co., Old Town, MCe. Gentlemen : On Sept. 24 I received from you half dozen boxes of your Qall Cure with instructions, which I followed out, using one, box on a mare that had made the trip to the Uinta Reservation and back, 500 miles, and had eight bad saddle and collar galls. They isere completely healed in ten days under daily use. I then used it on an old saddle gall which an attack f distemper had caused to break ou t> forming a spot the size of a hen 's egg. ^his entirely disappeared and the horse is sound. Your cure is all that you claim for it and more. Many thanks for your courtesy. I find that Parson 's Drug Store, T^urango, Colo. , handles it. "Oery truly, ROBERT SWARTWOUT, Hermosa, Colorado. 76 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE Horse Breeding Without going into the principles of animal breeding as a science, we will consider horse breeding as practiced and practicable, alluding to some of the well-known laws and rules as they suggest themselves, when having a bearing upon the particular problems under consideration. Probably the first question that concerns the horse breeder is the kind of mares to breed from, and it indeed merits much more careful thought than it frequently receives. The fundamental principle of breeding, " like begets like," applies to the brood mare with the same force that obtains with other animals, and if it is true, as it undoubtedly is, that it does not pay to produce inferior horses, then it obviously does not pay to breed poor mares, with the certainty that their inferiority will be repro- duced. The mare must be a good animal of her kind. She must be free from defects of size and conformation that may be transmitted to her progeny. She must not have unsoundnesses of a hereditary nature. Her temperament and intelligence are also as subject to the laws of heredity as any other qualities. Broken down and unsound mares are not desirable breeding propositions. Age is no bar to the desirability of a brood mare ; in fact, an old mare, if sound and of the right type, presents distinct advantages by way of guarantee of stamina and longevity, and freedom from predispo- sition to unsoundness. There are, however, certain difficulties and even added risks in breeding old mares. Their fecundity is lessened and difficulties of parturition are somewhat increased by old age. So long as breeders generally must select from among animals considerably short of perfection, and we advise discrimination against the defects mentioned, it may well be asked " what mares then can we breed ? " Probably the defects of lack of refinement, a rather open conformation bordering on coarseness, and other characters xercise your horses before putting them into the hard spring n>or. HORSE BREEDING 77 peculiar to the female sex are the least objectionable and most easily counteracted by care in the selection of the sire. If the mare has strength, good constitutional vigor, is of good size, and free from constitutional defects or unsoundness, she will do to breed. THE SELECTION of the SIRE is of much consequence and is frequently too little considered. It is chiefly through the sire that improvement in our domestic animals is secured. We should at the outset select a stallion that is better than the mares bred to him. He should be in the first place of the breed best suited to the conditions of the breeder's business and market, and of a breed and type that will cross well with the mares chosen. He should not be of an entirely different class from his mares, or un- certainty and much variety of progeny will result. In size he should generally be larger than the mare, for improvement in size is by no means the least object in breeding. A good big horse is better than a good little horse. The draft sire should weigh a ton, the coach sire 1 300 to 1 500 pounds, and the speed sire about 1 200, so that he may add something to the size of his colts, as well as to their other points of excellence. The stallion should be more compactly and strongly made than the mare, not only as a sex characteristic, but that he may beget rugged, strong foals. He should be finely finished, upstanding, stylish, and superior in action, for all these characters are valuable and need to be improved in breeding. His temper, courage and intelligence are also important, and particularly his prepotency. Prepotency is an individual characteristic that can only be de- termined by test ; but the sire that has the prepotency to stamp his virtues uniformly upon his progeny is an animal of rare value. Pedigree is valuable chiefly as an indicator of prepotency, for the pure-bred sire is usually more prepotent because of his lineage. The kind of a pedigree that is most certain to produce prepotent "/ have used the Bicfcrnore Gall Cure ever since it came out, and it is good. <%. 7. Reynolds, 'Perry, III." 78 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE animals is the one that is most uniform, not only in the kind of characters of the animals included, but in their degree as well. The horse breeder, to be successful, should select a sire better than his mares, of larger size, compacter build, finer finish, superior action, and as prepotent as possible. In regard to the season of the year, spring is the natural breeding season, and the natural instincts of the mares to breed in spring and summer are very firmly fixed. It often happens that the mare can be spared from work at other times more easily, and when this is the case the greater advantages will warrant an effort in that direc- tion. Mares may be successfully bred to foal in late summer or early fall, or in late winter or very early spring, so that their use on farms for spring and summer work is not seriously interfered with. The Brood Mare Needs Exercise and Liberal Feeding The exercise should be in kind adapted to her capacity ; draft work for draft mares, carriage work for lighter mares ; and farm work can be found suitable to almost any kind of a brood mare. The amount of work a pregnant mare -can safely perform is the same during the first six or seven months of pregnancy as with a mare not with foal. As the time for parturition approaches and she grows heavier, the pace will be gradually slackened and the working hours shortened. She may perform work at a moderate pace up to two or three days before foaling without prejudice to the foal or herself. Indeed, she will be stronger and parturition easier because of the regular work performed. Very fast or heavy work, heating unduly, heavy backing, sharp turning, &c., are to be avoided by mares near to parturition, after the seventh or eighth month. FOR PARTURITION a loose box or paddock should be provided and the mare left to herself for the most part, the groom merely informing himself whether she is doing well or other- wise, and giving assistance only when needed, which is very rare. If you want strong, healthy colts, use strong, healthy horses for breeding. EXERCISE AND LIBERAL FEEDING 79 A cooling, laxative ration before foaling is of much value. Pasture grass or carrots, bran mashes, or dry bran, and oil meal being among the best laxative fodders. AFTER FOALING the mare should have a vacation, pref- erably in pasture ; but she must be liberally fed to secure the most rapid growth of the foal. Growth counts, and at no period can it be more certainly or cheaply secured than during the first months of life. WEANING takes places at five or six months, or much earlier if the mare's work is needed. It is better for the working mare to be relieved of the drain of milk secretion and better for the foal. Very good results may be obtained by weaning the youngsters at two months. Weaning should be sharp and decisive and not pro- tracted, to give the least set back. After weaning the colt's feed should be ample and varied. Plenty of grass or good hay, crushed oats, bran, and sweet skimmed milk are all good feeds and may be suited to the appetite of the youngster. The main point is to keep the foal growing rapidly and make him as large as possible. He will be more useful and bring more money if of large size than if stunted and small. TRAINING or BREAKING to the halter begins soon after foaling ; harness lessons at about two years old. In training colts, the teacher thust at all times command their confidence. Teach one thing at a time. Always use the same word or signal for the same movement. Drill each action until promptly and cleanly executed. Avoid confusing the colt with too many things at once. A few lessons well taught are better than many half taught. Do not make the first lessons too long. Colts learn faster when fresh than when tired. Tiring out a colt to make him manageable is a poor method. It is apt to spoil the temper and make him balky or sullen. Colts recuperate rapidly and may take two or three "We are located on the Gulf Cattle Range. The cow men all want Bicfymore 's Gall Cure for saddle galls. F. M. Du/;e, Alvin, Texas." 80 DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN HORSE short lessons daily, but half an hour is generally long enough at first. Avoid physical contests. The strength of the trainer is less than that of the colt, and once the latter learns the fact, he has learned a thing dangerous to all who handle him. It makes little difference whether harness training is given singly or with another horse at first. It should be both ways before it is finished. The horse selected as mate for the youngster should not be a dead- head, but as well suited in gait and temperament to the pupil as may be. DEVELOPMENT is consistent with profitable use, and the colt may be made to pay his way with work performed after he is two years old, provided he is well-grown and proper judgment is used in regulating the work to his capacity. Long hours, hard drives or heavy draft are not suited to the youngster. They tend to stunt his growth and break his spirit, both fatal to the best final product. On the other hand, short daily drives or light farm work, generally increasing as the youngster's muscles and appetite for work increase, not only do no harm but stimulate the appetite and promote the growth, so that in the end you have a well-grown, well-trained, seasoned horse, instead of a soft, flabby, green colt, which can only be made fit for hard use by months of careful handling and conditioning. Many horses are not unlike colts in respect to their powers of endurance. There is a vast difference between the horse in daily use, with muscles hardened and turned for heavy draft or hard drives, and the one that has stood in the stable on full feed in idle- ness. In the spring farm horses commonly are short of work and need to be gradually seasoned with easier tasks before the hard daily labors of tillage begin. Carriage horses that are little used are not fit for long, hard drives. A fat horse and one in' hard flesh are very different ani- mals. It is comparatively easy to fat up a horse inured to hard Condition powders are unnecessary if your horses are fed right and prope-Zy exercised. EXERCISE AND LIBERAL FEEDING 81 work ; but it is a slow, tedious process to replace soft fat with well-seasoned muscle. In CONDITIONING and TRAINING RACE HORSES it is the artist who brings his charges to the post fit to go the race of their life. Many fall by the way and break down under the strain of training. Many horses are called n quitters n because their tired muscles refuse to act towards the end of a bruising race, and they allow competitors to pass them and win. The Arab horse- man knows the value of a horse thoroughly toughened and ready to take his rider a hundred miles in ten hours. The truckman knows the advantage of having his team ready to go in the collar safely for every ounce there is in them when called on. The race-horse trainer knows that many a race is lost or won on the condition of the horse and its ability to carry the pace to the finish. Use does not hurt seasoned horses. Feed and use are both dangerous to horses in idleness. " Your Call Cure has given the best of satisfaction among farmers and horsemen. 3\C. H. Aamolh, Faith, Minn." The Bickmore Gall Cure Company OLD TOWN, MAINE, U. S. A. Sole Makers of Bickmore's Gall Cure BRANCH OFFICES AND AGENCIES Pacific Coast Fred P. "Winchester, 578 Mission St., San Francisco, California. Canada Wingate Chemical Co., 545 Notre Dame St. W., Montreal. Great Britain American Agencies, Ltd., 38 Shoe Lane, Lon- don, E. C., England. Qermany and Middle Europe Bickmore Gall Cure Co., J. A. Gray, Agent, Rittr. Strasse 42-43, Berlin, S. W. 68. France Agency now being arranged. Australia Bickmore Gall Cure Co., Abbott Richardson, Agent, 489 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. New Zealand Brodrick & Kinvig, Wellington. South Africa Lennon Limited, Cape Town and Branches. India Howe & Trunkett, Calcutta. Argentine Republic .... Miller & Cia., Rivadavia, No. 567, Buenos Ayres. ^ BUSINESS PROPOSITION. Buy a box of Bickmore's Gall Cure, use it according to directions, and if you are not perfectly satisfied that it is just as represented the dealer will pay you back your money. You run no risk, as we authorize the dealer to do this. Do not let a horse lie idle that you need in your business when the cost of a single day's feed expended in a box of Bick- more's Gall Cure will cure the sore, and from a constant bill of expense will turn your horse into a money earner once more. S* TRIAL OFFER If any reader of this book, who owns stock and has never used Bickmore's Gall Cure, would like to try it, we will mail a sample box free of charge upon request. The coupon below should be filled out, indicating how much stock is owned, and mailed to us : P. O. Address . F. D. route if any _State_ I own_ horses, cattle, mules, and if your sample works satisfactorily I will remember your trade-mark and ask for glCKMORE'S Qall Cure when I call for it at my dealer's place of busi- ness. Signed : __ 14 DAY USE RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED LOAN DEPT. This book is due on the last date stamped below, or on the date to which renewed. Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. LD 21A-60m-4,'64 (E4555slO)476B General Library University of California Berkeley 16361' / 156219