HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS ALFRED E. PEASE ^ ^7 Ifl^M '"'TfirlT '- fff.'gt i' ..'(.. wj JOHNA.SEAVERNS t^l\kh 5. moRtom. O yuyU UIH- OO^ UIO \AM8ler Family library of Veterinaiy Cummings School o^ Veterinary MecScmfl TufiS Univarsity 200 Westboro Road North Grafton. MA 01536 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS BY ALFRED E. PEASE AUTHOR OF "the CLEVELAND HOUNDS AS A TRENCHER-FED PACK," ETC. ILontron M ACM ILL AN AND CO. AND NEW YORK 1894 Ailrio-hts rcse7i'ed CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE Introduction ....... i CHAPTER II The Oriental, the English Thoroughbred, and OTHER Breeds . . . . . . 14 CHAPTER III Agricultural Horses . . . . . . 34 CHAPTER IV Vardy, Chapman, Cleveland, and Yorkshire Bay ........ 50 CHAPTER V I Heredity. Hackneys, Hunters, Weight- Carriers ....... 60 VI HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS The Mare CHAPTER VI PAGE 71 The Sire CHAPTER Vn 81 The Foal CHAPTER VHI 90 CHAPTER IX Mouthing, Breaking-in, Cost of Breeding 99 CHAPTER X Ailments and Diseases CONCLUSION . . - . APPENDIX 116 132 135 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The object of this book is to show the British farmer who has not yet seriously attempted the breeding of horses as part of his business that horse- breeding is a profitable pursuit, that it can be practised with general benefit to other departments of the farm, and that it may, if wisely followed, do much to mitigate the hard lot of the agriculturist, suffering as he is at present from bad seasons and low prices. With this end in view the various breeds of English horses will be considered with regard to their adaptability to the farm. The manner in which sires and dams should be mated, the treat- ment of in-foal mares and foaling mares, the way in which young stock should be brought to maturity and marketed, will be amongst the subjects dealt with, always giving full weight to the requirements of the farm and to that economy which, in such times as these, every tenant-farmer is bound to consider and to practise. The greater portion of the book was originally written during a prolonged stayin Algeria in i 892-93, & B 2 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. and naturally I touched upon some of the lessons to be learnt from the Arabs amongst whom I was so- journing. I mention this as an excuse for leaving unaltered certain passages which may appear to deal with matters somewhat foreign to the subject in hand. One of our national faults, due to our insular pre- judices and to that self-confidence which has never- theless done so much for our race throughout the world, has been our slowness to learn lessons from abroad. We have for so long been the schoolmasters of Europe in all equine matters, that it is difficult for us to believe that we can learn anything, or have anything to fear from the foreigner. But other countries have been learning from us in a few years the knowledge we have gained through two centuries of experimental experience. Other nations have been taking our best blood to put into practice the lessons we have taught. Now we are waking up to find that in some respects the pupils have beaten their masters, and are able to compete successfully in many directions with us in the horse markets of the world, and we are warned that we must look to our laurels. It is not too much to say that the French, Germans, Belgians, Russians, and Hungarians have already flogged us in the general carriage horse, omnibus horse, and tram horse trades. Germany and France have long devoted attention and public money to the production of superior classes of these animals, and the great majority of the better bays and browns for harness work in London and else- where now come from these countries. Many have the idea, for instance, that the Frenchman knows INTRODUCTION little about horses ; yet I say, without fear of contra- diction from any one who has had experience of them, that in some respects their knowledge is superior to our own. Take, for example, the scientific aspect of horse-breeding, or veterinary science. In the latter case the average French veterinaire is a far neater and far more carefully trained and skilful operator than his English confrere. Far too often the English " vet." is a rough man with rough ways, who presents himself with a few dirty knives or locally-made instruments in his pockets, and proceeds with unwashed hands to operate, as if less delicacy and cleanliness were necessary in the case of a horse than in that of a human being. Contrast such a condition of things with that which exists in France or even in Algeria, where such " vets." as I have seen were not a bit behind the surgeon in the manner of dealing with the animal under their charge. Under such men a cure is more certain and much more rapid, to say nothing of the alleviation of suffering, than under the rough and horny-handed man with a dirty knife. I have often wondered how it is that in these days, when it is said to be so difficult to find a profession for young men, this important and honourable one does not obtain more recruits from amongst the higher ranks of society. There is no doubt that in' this country, as abroad, if we had more highly-trained, clever, and neat practitioners, they, in many districts, could make a better living than the average country doctor, besides being an incalculable influence for good. It is not part of my purpose to dwell either on the Arab or the English Thoroughbred, beyond using 4 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. the history of these breeds to illustrate the science of breeding. Scientifically speaking, there is no such animal in existence as a thoroughbred horse. The term is only relative, and indicates that inbreeding and interbreeding have been restricted within certain limits during a number of generations. The mistaken idea is still prevalent in some quarters that the " pure " Arab horse is the one thoroughbred horse, cast in the same mould as the first created one, retaining the same original qualities without deterioration or alteration, and the eternal prototype of the species ; — that as he was in the beginning, so he is and ever shall be, — or, as some French writers have described him, the " natural horse " (cheval de la nature). No, — no one has yet discovered where the original ancestor of the horse lived, or what the equine father Adam was like. The cradle of the species may have been in Tartary, Siberia, or in America, but certainly not in Arabia. It is certain that the horse could not live in Arabia without the attention and care of man. Perhaps in no country is the horse more dependent on his owner for water and food. It is indisputable, however, that the Arab horse is the result of cultiva- tion of the inferior original type or types through thousands of years under favourable conditions. No one can doubt but that the Orientals had brought the horse to a degree of perfection long before his history was written. In the time of Mohammed, of course, he had reached a very high development, and hence the preference shown by the Prophet to him above all animals in creation. Ages before, he must INTRODUCTION have been a noble animal, possessing beauty, strength, and quality, as no one can doubt who reads the Book of Job. Hast thou given the horse his might ? Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane ? Hast thou made him to leap as a locust ? The glory of his snorting is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength : he goeth out to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed ; neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the flashing spear and the javelin. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage ; neither believeth he that it is the voice of the trumpet. As oft as the trumpet sotmdeth he saith Aha ! And he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. Job xxxix. 19-25. From a practical point of view, the Arab may be regarded as the one pure race in the world, having become saturated with his peculiar and superior qualities by centuries of inbreeding under careful selection. The impressiveness of the Arab sire is due (and this is mentioned in order to guide those who desire to maintain or cultivate other " pure breeds ") to — (i) The jealous care bestowed in selection and mating during hundreds of generations. (2) The conditions of his life and habits — bred for one trade, namely, to be the war-horse of the desert, he must have strength, pace, endurance. (3) The purity of the air and climate, as well as the wonderful pasture of the Euphrates valley, which assisted in no small degree his development. We find that even in some 6 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. minor details the Arabs of to-day may teach us something, and that the Arab horse, if inferior in size and pace, has other quaHties in which, for cavalry purposes at least, he is superior to our own. Our horses would be better if they had more of the endurance, the hardihood, and the wear-and-tear qualities of these wiry " drinkers of the air." A French cavalry, Arab, or Barb horse will carry above 24 stones on a military expedition, counting his rider, accoutrements, arms, and five days' provisions ; and is required to do it equally under a hot sun in the sand of the desert, or on rocky ground amongst the snow-clad mountains.^ 1 The following is a table given by General E. Daumas as to the regulation allowance of weight carried by an Algerian trooper. I give it as it stands, an order, given by Colonel Duringer, on the departure of a column. POIDS PORTE PAR LE ChEVAL d'UN ChASSEUR d'AfRIQUE PARTANT EN EXPEDITION. (Weight carried by the horse of a Chasseur d'Afrique departing on service.) (Trooper) Cavalier armd et en tenue . (Accoutrements) Harnachement avec le pistolet (Bread) Pain pour 2 jours (Biscuit) Biscuit pour 3 jours (Coffee) Cafe pour 5 jours (Sugar) Sucre pour 5 jours (Bacon) Lard pour 5 jours (Rice) Riz pour 5 jours (Salt)Sel (Forage) Fourage roule pour 5 jours (Barley) Orge pour 5 jours (Cartridges) Trois pacquets de car touches (Shoes) Quatre fers Kilogr. (i kilogr. = 2.046 lbs.) 82 Hectogr. D^cagr. (3.527 oz.) (.353 oz.) o 24 • I I 5 6 5 6 6 25 159 6 3 = about 352 lbs. This weight is 19 kilos, more than a carabineer's horse and 26 more than a cuirassier's horse carries in France. INTRODUCTION (4) The high place always accorded him in re- ligious writings and by religious teachers amongst the Mohammedan peoples. Before I formally enter on my subject, I would commence by expressing a hope that my readers may experience the blessings Mohammed has pro- mised to all lovers of horse-flesh in the following description of the creation of the horse, taken from the Prophet's Conversations : — And God said unto the south wind, " I will bring out from thee a creature. Be thou condensed." And the wind was condensed. Then came the Angel Gabriel and took a handful of this material and brought it before God, who formed therewith a horse — bay, with black points. And the Lord cried, " I have called thee a horse (' frass,' signifying pride). I have made thee Arabian, and given thee the colour of bay. I have given happiness to the hairs that fall between thine eyes ; thou shalt be blessed above all other animals ; men shall follow thee wheresoever thou goest. Fitted for pursuit, as for flight, thou fliest without wings. On thy back licth weatth, a?id through thee riches are i7icreased.^^ And the Lord placed upon his forehead a star for a sign of glory and happiness. It is scarcely necessary to warn any one so taught by hard experience as the farmer that success in an}- undertaking on the land depends on personal atten- tion, care, and thought. The man who would breed horses with satisfaction and profit must take as much trouble and expend as much time as in any other branch of agriculture ; and though those who are ready to do this may no doubt suffer vexations, disappointments, and make mistakes such as attach to all human efforts, yet they will derive a greater interest and a greater profit in the raising of horses HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS CHAP. than in any other branch of stock-rearing, if they pursue it with intelHgence, care, and perseverance. If we consult the returns of the Board of Agri- culture, it will be seen that each year shows a tendency towards increase in the number of horses imported to this country. Thousands of good serviceable foreign horses are sold in England annually. An idea of the number thus sold will be gained from the following figures : — No, of horses imported. 1841 339 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 1892 3,443 1,595 3,448 9,950 21,715 21,026 The great majority of carriage horses to-day are foreigners, nearly all the omnibus and tram horses are from abroad, and many hundreds of trappers, vanners, cart horses, trolly horses, cab horses, etc., are brought from the Continent to supply the enormous and ever-increasing demand in our large towns and great centres of industry. Even the Queen's stables are full of horses from Oldenburg and other horse- breeding districts of Germany and Prussia, and the majority of the high-priced horses seen in the London season in the carriages in Hyde Park are foreign importations. Is it not time to put the question — How is it that we leave it to the Frenchman, the German, the American, the Belgian, and the Dutch- man to supply our Queen, our nobility and gentry, our brewers, millers, tradesmen, and the millions who INTRODUCTION travel by tram and omnibus, with horses for their work ? Why should all these hundreds of thousands of pounds go into the pockets of the foreign breeder and importer? Are not our pastures, is not our climate, are not our native breeds, more suitable ? and have we not the best markets at our door ? These last questions are answered for us by the foreigner, who breeds to sell here, and buys from us the foundation to improve and recuperate his native stock. Who is to find the remedy for this condition of things ? Surely the British farmer. And it is no unkindness to tell him that he ought to be ashamed of himself for not attempting to secure a share of the piles of gold that are being held out at home and abroad to be exchanged for good, sound, serviceable horses, fitted for every trade. I can picture a reader saying, " But we do export great numbers of horses." Yes, we do ; but look once again at the returns of the Board of Agricul- ture, and it will be seen how few we sell abroad in comparison to those we buy abroad, and how great is the difference in their average values. No. of horses exported. 1841 4,538 1851 1,526 1861 2,960 1871 7,172 1881 6,108 1891 1 1,238 1892 11,232 The value of the horses imported in 1892 was ^425,336, or i^20 : 4 : lO per head; and of those exported, ;^563,097 : 12s., or ^^50 : 2 : 8 per head. lo HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. And what are the horses we send away all over the world ? Stallions and mares form an enormous proportion. In 1892 there were 872 stallions exported; in 1891, 1103; in 1890, 2308. In 1892, 3015 mares were exported; in 1891, 3436; in 1890, 4156. Of the 21,026 horses imported in 1892, 17,147 were geldings. What does this mean ? Nothing else but that we are sell- ing the picked sires and mares of our best breeds to supply the foreigner with the necessary and in- dispensable material to produce the article he sells in the British market. What are the horses we import from Normandy, Hanover, Mecklenburg, Oldenburg, and even from America ? They are the horses got by exported English sires or out of exported English dams. The American carriage horses are the best — the result of great and long- continued importations of English blood into the States. The Oldenburg horses that draw the Queen's carriages are of the Yorkshire bay or Cleve- land type bred in Germany. So, examine the problem how we will, we are driven to the humiliat- ing confession that we have allowed the foreigner to do to our loss what we could have done to our profit, and that which could be done more easily and successfully at home. One of the curious things that strike the inquirer into this subject is that in certain parts of the United Kingdom the farmer is a horse-breeder, and in other parts naturally more favoured and nearer the markets, he seems to know and care little about it. Ireland contains perhaps the best horse- breeding districts ; and high-priced, well-bred young INTRODUCTION ii Irish carriage horses and hunters are bred by small farmers who would be poor men but for this source of income. Why is the average Irish half-bred or hunter superior to the English half-bred or hunter ? In my judgment it is the sense, knowledge, and appreciation of the breeder rather than anything in soil or climate that gives the Irish horse his well- deserved name for substance, quality, and hardihood. The Irish breeder knows that there is no more valuable animal than a strong, well-bred horse, and he sets himself to produce one full of activity, quality, and strength. By avoiding hairy -legged mares, and by using the best sires he can obtain, he succeeds in turning out the best and hardiest carriage horses and hunters. I regard the average superiority of Irish half-breds over English as being due to their keeping clear of cart blood. Many English farmers make the mistake of thinking that they can breed good half-breds off cart mares. Here and there there may be a high- couraged cart mare with quality that may breed a useful half-bred, but cart mares had far better be kept for the propagation of their own kind. I have little hesitation in saying that 80 per cent of English weight-carriers are bred this wa}^ ; and a more ugly, unsatisfactory, dangerous, slovenly, faint- hearted animal than the average English weight- carrier it is hard to imagine ; and for real wear-and- tear harness work the carting strain is equally bad. Such horses not only soon work out their legs and lives in fast work on hard roads, but wear out their drivers' whipcord arid temper into the bargain. The Irish and American carriage horses, free 12 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. from all cross of cart blood, can do more work, do it faster, do it more cheerfully and courageously, and will wear far longer than the carriage horse which has that cross of cart blood which, if even two generations back, will show itself in gradual loss of courage, in fast work, and general want of bottom and wearing qualities. Whilst the Irish and Americans can beat us with the average half-bred, there is nothing to compare with the Yorkshire bay horse and the best Yorkshire hackneys ; indeed the most praiseworthy examples of horse-breeding are probably in Yorkshire, Cumberland, and Durham. But when these counties, with the addition of Northumberland, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Devonshire, have been mentioned, you have almost exhausted the real horse-breeding counties. And yet there are grass counties far exceeding in their proportion of grass to arable some of those I have mentioned, such as Cheshire, Wiltshire, and the Midlands generally, where very little is done by the ordinary farmer to take advantage of the natural facilities he has. Even in the north, in those districts where horse- breeding is general, there are so much carelessness, so much want of thought, so much happy-go-lucky sort of breeding, so much undersized rubbish, and so many unsound horses reared, which, with just a little more forethought, might have been valuable, that even the north-countryman has something to do if he desires to encourage and partake of a profitable trade in horses. You will find in the best districts some men who do not breed at all, others who breed rubbish from valuable mares, others still who INTRODUCTION 13 breed and rear good foals, but by mismanagement and bad breaking send them away at unprofitable prices ; all of whom yet continue, year after year, turning out useless, undersized, and unclassed brutes from mere habit. It is preferable even to see this than the custom of not attempting horse-breeding at all. How many farmers use the first horse that passes their gates ! And when a foal has somehow or other been got, they practically leave it to shift for itself, and you may see the unfortunate little animal wandering in a bare pasture, in a tight, staring' skin, and as it grows older but not much bigger, huddled in with anything else into some foul and unventilated outhouse, out of which it emerges after its first winter in a half-starved condition, and is then left for a couple of years more to lead a dirty, neglected, half-fed existence. Yet some of these turn out remunerative enough to encourage the breeder (but no true lover of horses) to " chance t' awd mear " again and to let " t' faul tak its chance " after. CHAPTER II THE ORIENTAL, ENGLISH THOROUGHBRED, AND OTHER BREEDS The following is a brief survey of certain foreign breeds of horses that have influenced British breeds in the past, or might be advantageously used to improve certain classes of horses at home. The Arab and Barb The influence of the Arab in our country can never be calculated. Centuries ago he was intro- duced, with the result that most of our native breeds were entirely transformed. If any of the pedigrees of the most noted sires of the past amongst our lighter breeds, such as the founders of the hackney or coach horse, are examined, we find, as far as pedigree is recorded, the undeniable existence of Arab or Oriental blood. It was this cross which remained recorded, the owners of such sires dwelling on the existence of the blood cross as specially recommending the sires they owned. Take, for example, the breeding of the Original Shales or Marshland Shales in the hackney breed, and it will readily be seen how much Oriental blood there is in CHAP. 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'rt '" t« ^ ^ g S J^ b^^ • s • • M • § • c i« ^ *j >-, ^ c/3 >-,0:; , ^1 ^, »> ^ ^ "^ G " " " " |B ° ^^:s^ e.^ ^ ^ ^ ^ '^ ^ C ^ -l NH HH N VO O fO ^1 m c^ 01 M r^ O Ph o W t^ i- cS ■I-" /^ .y vi c p3H 02 H o it; ^ , rt ^ 'vJ in a CO 'O ^ ~, '-^ •tJ ^ U5 VO a; rt t/) c/5 to T3 ys ^ ^ C/3 c/5 u .S ^ ^ rt XT) V "^ *^ U-i a rt ->-> k4 'S C 3 ^ 5: -3 "^ •"H -4—* ^ (U T^ ^ ^ C *-• rt tl-l tfl 1— I t/3 'w > ^ c3 ^ (U a. > jS >> ^ H rt C 1 ■TS ;3 1 :» ,^ ^' a, ^ __■ rt V5 VO d O O C4 w o O O N 0) 4-) O O t^ O O O LT) u-1 a 13 > . . . .... •1 . . . .... bJ5 •»s c ?2 0) , 0) ^ J;? , s ^2 1-1 a ll ►^i cr <*-( m o ^C >^ 'V H o o o C^ o M Q O u o o o O G • » 'O (L) G • 5 • . rt Oh 11) y3 . . . o , .... o * Vh 'J-* Oi •4-> 3 <*H O a. o o 6 G O S-l 13 bJ3 C5 C3 . ^H "^ .6 •s >H tfl "rt > OJ w rt S^ aj (/J in lU .2 > (u o 3^ '•*j .s Oi; <-i-i c3 ^4-1 d ^*^ l*H <+H en s 'j-l o 1) -5 b t/3 0) o o ^ ^ V* c Cj ai S-l 0) C rt " -S S <" <" (^ Offi>^ CO 1:4 o>ffi IX COST OF BREEDING 109 O O O O VO O O O O c^ O O O O f^ VO VO VO N N M 00 1^ "o old *\ t/2 < > VD c^ Ph S2 l-H 1-1 M VO ^ 00 "o 2 2 • ^ • ■yea ear- ear- HJ "^ '*^ ^_^ rt S^ i ' ^ ? ^ ^ s < (/) Vh w h4 zs 7. 7. 7:'^ ^, 'U > ^ Pi < > VO VO m c^ N H 04 M Cl '^ t-* M 1-1 CO N ^H M 1—4 s? • s? • year-ol ung ho (I) to <1) one- 2 yo foal CJ Ui u_ n ,4_» e <1) r/1 , > 3 - Ci ^ c ci C rn ri r-i ^ rt ;-i ci <1) 1) >^ >^ V. V Si •-i c •)-> o o no HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS CHAP. .Si c o o o o o o o o o o o o CO o o o o o ►-I C^ •* ro hH S^ S ^ 2 ci ci ear- old o < o Pi 0) o > if tf) < ^c (4 o o o VO O O O O o o >^ '5 K o o O N O O O M o o < (N o CO CO ^ -c c oJ . . +J yir o ;-! ' ' • • • Oh 23 ?1 in O . . • ? 2 O . a ^ g b/3 4.J ^ ^ ^ c a . ^i ^^ B '^ 5 ^ p o • -t-> . ,-i f— 1-1 O o 1 J-, ^- (A cS >H c3 CO >- % O >^ ?i in o a 1;5 o'H b^ ^ ;-■ .rH (D ■ 1 O .-^ o tin cn H t^ fe M ►5 'is a, 112 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. // is over a course of years rather than in any one year that horse-breeding yields its profits. Farmers in Yorkshire often sell their foals, especially Cleve- land and coaching colt foals ; they are sold on the farm or at local shows, at the dam's foot in the summer, and are usually delivered in October. The price obtained from the foreign and home buyer for such colt foals in the last few years has averaged over £^0 apiece ; whilst I have seen prize foals sold for as much as £6q. When this can be done, as it is done in Cleveland, horse-breeding is often very remunerative and risk is reduced to a minimum, the whole price for such a foal being practically found money, as, except the original service fee, he has cost very little. With regard to selling young hunters, a farmer who hunts himself, or whose sons ride the young horses, should ride to sell ; he should go out often for an hour or two rather than try to distinguish himself and his horse in long days with hounds. He should be careful and bold, riding fearlessly but with judgment ; and when hounds are not running, teaching his horse to stand still at covert side, to go kennel fadge with the hounds, as well as to be in the first flight in a fast run ; having had one good spin and jumped a few big places, he should take his hunter quietly home without paying calls on the way. A young hunter should be taught to be handy at opening gates, and to jump anything and everything in reason on the farm before he sees hounds, as nothing is more likely to earn a good horse a bad reputation as to see a conflict of opinion between him and his rider in the hunting field. Many a brilliant and promising young horse has IX COST OF BREEDING 113 been ruined in the attempt to teach it the most rudimentary lessons in the hurry of the mounted field ; that is not the place for elementary instruc- tion, but where the education should be completed. Through the market, the fair, the dealer, and the private buyer, there is seldom wanting an opportunity to sell a good horse, but the saying is true that you may run to buy, but you must stand to sell, and each man must judge for himself when it is wisdom to take an offer and when it is wise to wait The men who do best are those who take a fair profit as soon as they see it ; many too often forget how soon the expense of keeping a horse on, the loss of interest on the money, and the want of the money, run away with any extra price that is afterwards obtained. It is seldom worth while to lose a customer for a difference of ^5 between the buyer and seller, especially if there is a probability that the horse may have to wait six months without any certainty of making its price, putting aside altogether risks of accidents and illness. We have all of us often seen an owner proud of his horse, when offered a good price which would leave him a large profit, stand out for a bit more, and, in the end, after keeping him a year or perhaps two years, sell him for less than he had had originally offered ; or, worse still, the horse has become damaged or gone amiss, and has to be sold at a heavy loss. It is no new criticism to pass on farmers that they are bad hands at combining to protect them- selves, and in co-operating to push their own interests. The butcher, the miller, the brewer, the dealer, and others are generally able to take advan- I 114 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. tage of a divided and undisciplined host. Hard times and the spread of co-operative principles have taught farmers in some districts that they must depend mainly upon themselves for any development of their interests. Co-operation has been applied with success in some parts of England to horse- breeding by the formation of stallion clubs, which have for their object the procuring of suitable sires to travel certain districts. This policy is most commendable, and is simple and practicable any- where where there are two or three enterprising men with the question at heart. In my own neighbour- hood good agricultural stallions have been provided in this way for some time past, and it may possibly be useful to describe the method, or one of the methods, of procedure. A few farmers meet together, review the position, discuss the necessity of a first-rate sire and the means of procuring one, and the sources from whence funds can be obtained, and then call a meeting of farmers, landlords, agents, and others to consider their suggestions. It will be a poor district indeed that cannot find a few landed proprietors willing to subscribe their £^ or i^io apiece to so excellent an object. If there is not enough subscribed at once, with a little organisation and going round with the hat amongst those inter- ested in horses, ;^ioo to ;^2 00 is raised without great difficulty. The subscribers meet to decide on the class of horse that is most required, and there are generally two candidates — the Shire and the Clydesdale — which go to the poll. Supposing the Clydesdale to have got the majority of votes, a committee of two or three is appointed to go to IX COST OF BREEDING 115 Glasgow, Dumfries, or some other suitable place, to hire the best horse they can find for their money for the ensuing season. This horse then travels the district at a reasonable fee — say £1 at the end of his season, and £1 when the mare proves in foal. Where such a horse proves a good sire an effort should be made to continue its services if sufficient funds are not forthcoming to purchase it. There must be many districts in which this principle might be adopted, and where funds could easily be raised for placing Shire, Clydesdale, or other stallions of the highest class within the reach of tenant-farmers. If this were done, it would result in a great im- provement in agricultural and heavy horses. CHAPTER X AILMENTS AND DISEASES In all serious ailments and accidents a veterinary surgeon should be called in. But a few brief notes indicating the direction in which " first aid " should be given may be of use to those who are unable to obtain the services of a good veterinary without delay. To this is added some information with regard to those maladies or misfortunes which an owner of horses is competent to deal with himself. Shoeing A horse without sound feet is useless. The utility of thousands of horses is impaired or destroyed by bad shoeing. The knife should be used very spar- ingly if at all on the sole and frog of a healthy hoof The frog should be left, if possible, so as to touch the ground with the shoe on. The bars and heels should not be weakened and opened by the knife. Shoes for light horses should be light and open at the heel, and the inner heel of the shoe should generally be thicker than the outer heel, as the former is the weaker and usually a little farther off the ground. The walls of the hoof should never be CHAP. X AILMENTS AND DISEASES 117 weakened by rasping. For cart horses, if caulking is necessary, the caulks should be the same height as the toe-piece. Lameness 171 Horses For the purpose of examining a horse as to the soundness of his feet and limbs his step may be divided into four separate actions, namely — (i) The " lift" — The moment the foot leaves the ground. (2) The "step" — The moment the foot comes forward in lifting or falling. (3) The "pose" — The moment the foot reaches the ground. (4) The " rest " — The time during which the foot is placed on the ground and receives some of the body's weight. In a sound horse these four movements are equal when he walks or trots with his head free, but pain will make the "lift" quicker, the time of the "step" longer, the " pose " slower, and the " rest " as quick as possible. It is usually easy enough, if the lameness is well marked, to see that the horse is lame, and where or when he is lame, but in slight lameness it is often difficult to detect the seat or cause. In such cases, the horse should be trotted slowly at first on hard ground, with his head as free as possible, and the " pose " of the sound as well as of the suspected leg watched carefully ; he should be turned round to the near side and afterwards to the ii8 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. off slowly and then sharply. If the seat of mischief is not then detected go through the same process with a man on his back, who must sit still without touclmtg his head, for the head often indicates the unsound limb. The head drops when the sound forefoot is on the ground, and lifts when the lame forefoot goes down, in order to put the weight of the head and neck on the sound foot. But the order is reversed if the horse is lame behind — that is, the horse's head " bobs " on the lame side and lifts on the sound. The crupper may also show unsoundness by a " wobbling " or irregular balancing. In shoulder lameness, the leg is lifted and comes forward with difficulty with a tendency to " mow " or to describe a curve. Clean, well - lighted, well - ventilated but not draughty stables, clean habits in those attending to horses, good food and pure water, will keep off most diseases, maintain horses in health, and prove true economy. A little extra care in keep- ing the litter and bedding dry and sweet, a little extra trouble bestowed in grooming and washing horses' feet out, will keep the skin healthy, and prevent the risk of thrush and cracked heels and many other evils that lead to loss and expense. Spavin {Bone Spavin) Spavin is a bony enlargement on the inner and lower part inside the hock ; and the higher up the bony deposit is situated the more serious it is. A small spavin in an old horse that goes sound may be of little consequence, but any appearance in a X AILMENTS AND DISEASES 119 young horse is reason for anxiety, as the spavin is liable to grow. The disease can be detected by the eye, the hand, and by noticing the flexion of the hock. A horse with bad spavin may, when warm, walk into a stable sound, but if he is brought out cool an hour after he will be certain to betray his unsoundness. Cause. — The result of a strain or injury ; or heredity. Treatment. — The best cure for incipient spavin is complete rest, good nouritiLre, and blistering. If there is inflammation, apply hot fomentations or poultices. In worse cases a seton may be tried, or firing, or punching. Curb Nine horses out of ten with curb can be made perfectly sound for practical purposes. Curb is, whatever its cause or nature, observed by a bulging- out or filling on the back of the hock. Cause. — Strain ; formation ; heredity. Treatment. — Complete rest. Remove hind shoes and replace with high - heeled shoes to relieve tension on' the back sinew ; keep plenty of cold water going on the affected part ; cold bandages ; and cold hose pipe. When swelling is reduced and heat gone, blister ; if one blister does not remove the curb repeat it up to four or five times. If this treatment fails, fire. Personally, in any serious case of curb, I would fire at once, my experience being that firing has never failed to remove all future liability to lameness. Firing is the most certain remedy. I20 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. ThorougJipin Thoroughpin is shown by swellings, soft or hard, on both sides of the hock, under the tendon which is attached to the cap of the hock. If they are soft, they are usually wind-galls, and except in appearance, of little moment. They are the result of strain, overwork, or constitutional local weakness. Treatment. — Rest ; cold water ; friction ; pressure by truss or bandage. Bog Spavin This disease resembles a wind-gall in its character and is situated inside the hock joint. For practical work it is of no great consequence ; it is, however, an unsightly sign of local weakness that pulls down a horse's value. Capped Hock Capped hock is due to kicking in the stable, or in harness, or to standing and slipping in badly-paved stables. Treatment. — Cold water and friction ; hobble the hind legs if a kicker. Sandcrack This is generally a crack from the coronet down the hoof Treatment. — Pare out the crack and cut off the crack above and below by searing with a hot iron ; rest, and keep the crack clean with antiseptic lotion. X AILMENTS AND DISEASES 121 Seedy Toe This is a parting of the crust of the coronet from the soft horn at the toe of the foot. Treatment. — Send for a good farrier or vet. Navicular Disease Navicular disease of the foot is very serious, and is ulceration of the interior of the hoof. The symptoms are great lameness. There is always likelihood of recurrence when the horse is worked. Cause. — Blows or bruises on the sole ; concussion ; heredity. Treatment. — Hot baths for the feet ; hot swabs ; perfect rest for some months ; and a cooling diet. Laminitis Laminitis, or fever in the feet, may come on suddenly after a hard day on hard ground. The symptoms are great pain in the forefeet, and a continual endeavour to get the weight off the forefeet, which are thrust forward. Cause. — Concussion ; galloping on a hard road. Treatment. — Sling the horse if possible to stable beams with ropes, to take the weight off the forefeet, placing a rug under the body ; or use a pair of cart- shafts. Remove shoes if possible, if necessary by soaking feet in hot water, and send for a vet. Scour This disease is very common in foals, and serious if it lasts more than a few days. If scour continues, 122 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. attend to the feeding of the mare with care, and give the foal two tablespoonfuls from time to time of 2 oz. of camphor dissolved in 2 oz. of spirits of wine diluted in about half a pint of water. With this simple remedy I have saved the life of a foal almost reduced to its last gasp. Broken Knees Treatment. — Keep the wound clean, and bathe constantly every hour with arnica lotion. If badly broken send for the vet. Sore Withers and Back Treatment, — Complete rest till quite healed and sound is the only way. When there is an abscess or fistulous tendency send for the vet. Brushing Behind This is generally due to weakness. Young horses often grow out of it. Treatment. — On the first symptoms, before the skin on the fetlocks is injured, put on a cloth boot, tied above the joint so that it falls over it, and see that the hind shoes are slightly within the hoof on the inside, so that they cannot cut. Brushing in Fronts or Speedy Cut Treatment. — If a habit, sell as soon as possible. Thrush The symptoms of common thrush are soft or X AILMENTS AND DISEASES 123 rotten condition of the frog, with a fetid discharge from the cleft, which cleft is absent or nearly so in the healthy foot. Cause. — Due to contracted feet, or standing on rotten litter. Treatment. — Careful shoeing and paring of rotten parts ; constant washing and attention to litter ; and a temporary introduction of Stockholm tow and tar into the cleft, with or without i part to 10 of sulphate of copper. The cleft which appears with thrush will extend if neglected. To avoid thrush, the litter in the stable should be kept dry and clean. If it is desirable to save straw, great economy may be practised by the use of sawdust, which can generally be obtained at a nominal price. When this is spread thickly, all droppings removed daily, and the sawdust raked over every morning, it forms a clean, wholesome, and cheap substitute for straw, and does not require renewing for weeks. Sawdust manure is good for all soils on arable lands, and can be applied conveniently for top-dressing, or ploughed in with any crop, so that farmers who require their straw may use sawdust without hesitation. Tan and sawdust mixed also makes an excellent bed. AciLte Thrush Cause. — " Stopping " the feet with cow dung, clay, and other beastliness is often the cause of thrush. Treatment. — Fomentations ; poultices ; antiseptic lotions ; mashes ; green food ; constant washing of the feet. 124 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. Splints Cause. — Bony deposits that come or are the result of blows, accidents, or concussion on the foreleg below the knee, also hereditary in tendency ; and are the cause of lameness or not, according to their situation. If situated near a tendon or the knee- joint a splint may be serious. A small splint often gives more pain while growing than when formed. Treatment. — Rest and cold water. If there is heat and inflammation, fomentations and poultices. If the splint does not yield to this treatment, blister. In bad cases the splint can be removed by a surgical operation. Ring-bone and Side-bone The following are the symptoms of this disease : A filling or rising of the hoof ; inability to flex the pastern joint. Cause. — Heredity. Treatment. — Poultice ; rub in iodide of lead ointment. Colic Symptoms. — Head hangs ; breathing laboured ; rocking and restless motion of legs and body ; pawing ; swelling of the belly ; sweating ; intermit- tent or palpitating heart; head from time to time turns to his flank. Treatment. — If the result of over-eating green food, etc., a vet. should be sent for at once. Mean- while give three balls, at intervals of half an hour each, composed of sulphuret of ammonia (2 drachms). X AILMENTS AND DISEASES 125 extract of gentian, powdered quassia ; and endeavour to keep the horse on his legs and walking about. If the abdomen is enormously distended and death imminent, as a last resort take a long, fine, narrow knife or instrument, and after nicking the skin on the left side below and well in front of the hip, make a deep narrow puncture and the accumulated gas will rush out of the colon. If an attack of colic continues, water and food should not be given. In a case of ordinary colic, shake up 2 oz. of sulphuric ether and laudanum in half a pint of water, and give three doses at ten minutes' interval ; if no improvement, double the doses. InflaiiiDiation of the Bowels SyjHptonis. — Horse off his feed ; shivering fits ; colic ; quick, wiry pulse. Cause. — Unsuitable food ; gorging after fasting and fatigue ; chill ; constipation. Treatment. — Send for the vet. Meanwhile give drinks of the colic dose (sulphuric ether and laudanum) in smaller quantities and at slightly longer intervals. Hot fomentations, and rugs wrung out of very hot water, should be applied to the belly. Sore TJiroat Treatment. — Rub the throat outside with mustard and olive oil for ten minutes. Chronic Cough Treatment. — Clothe warmly ; give the horse some cut grass and rock-salt to lick. 126 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. Roaring and Whistling This is detected in the stable by taking hold of the horse's head, and making a feint at him as if about to strike him on the flank. If a roarer he will snort or grunt — but some horses will grunt at this process when sound. Unsoundness in the wind is detected easily by listening to the " inspiration " in breathing after a good gallop or ten minutes' lunging. Cause. — Heredity ; strangles ; influenza ; and bearing-reins. Crib-biting and Wind-sucking Cause. — The habit is fostered by impure or heated stables, or by anything likely to prejudice the horse's digestive powers ; but it is also due sometimes to " want of work " ; one crib-biter may often infect a whole stable with the habit. Treatment, — This tiresome fault may be cured if the habit has not been too long indulged in. Pre- vention is better than cure, and mangers and racks should be made of iron or so constructed that a horse cannot lay hold of any part of the stable fittings within reach of him, with his teeth. Influenza This complaint is highly infectious and con- tagious. Symptoms. — The white of the eye becomes yellow or red or both. The horse blows more or less and appears weak and lethargic ; runs at the eyes ; sore X AILMENTS AND DISEASES 127 throat ; looks " tucked up " ; discharges from the nose ; pulse low. Treatment. — Never purge. Keep the horse warm, and give him good tepid gruel (linseed or oatmeal) whenever he will take it. Staggers Cause. — Over-feeding ; over-feeding after fasting, and over-drinking after over-feeding. Treatment. — In violent cases send for the vet. In less violent cases, a quart of any oil, such as olive oil, should be given. Lockjaw Treatment. — Send for the vet. Affections of the Eyes Treatment. — Send for the vet. Lampas Treatment. — Do not operate for lampas ; give soft and cooling food ; consult a vet. Inflammation of the Kidneys Symptoms. — Back set up ; short breathing ; head frequently turned towards the loins ; head hanging ; a straggling gait ; and urine scanty. The test usually employed is pressure with the hand on the loins, when the horse will bend under or crouch. Treatment. — Rub in mustard over the loins, and send for the vet. 128 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. Ringworm Treatment. — Cleanliness. Wash with soap and hot water twice a day, and after drying apply an ointment made of oil of tar, ^ oz. ; glycerine, i oz. ; spermaceti, i oz. Warts Treatment. — Where warts are numerous and small on young horses they often vanish with as much rapidity as they come, but where they are large and unsightly they can either be removed by a vet- with the knife ; strangled with a ligature of horse-hair or whip-cord till they drop off; or burnt down with caustic, nitrate of silver, or sulphuric acid and sulphur powder mixed together. Grease and Hmnour in the Legs Catise. — Generally the result of dirty stables and neglect of cleanliness. Treatment. — Apply as a lotion externally with a sponge, sulphate of copper, 2 oz. ; burnt alum, i oz. ; hot water, I pint ; dissolve the copper in the hot water and when cold add the alum. Give a dose of physic and follow with this powder after the physic has worked off : nitrate of potash, 4 oz. ; sulphur, 8 oz. ; black antimony, 2 oz. ; the three ingredients to be mixed and one tablespoonful given daily. Cracked Heels Treatment. — If bad, rest. Wash with soap and warm water, dry, and apply as a lotion several times X AILMENTS AND DISEASES -129 daily : glycerine, half pint ; chloride of zinc, 2 drachms ; solution of oak bark, i pint ; dissolve the zinc in water and mix together. Strangles This complaint is contagious and serious. Symptoms. — Cough ; discharge from the nostrils ; a dull eye ; hot mouth ; listlessness ; after two days, swelling under or behind the jaw ; fever ; swelling forms into an abscess ; fever and disinclination to swallow continue till the abscess bursts or is lanced. Treatment. — Give a generous diet if he will eat ; if not, thin gruel and green food ; general care and good nursing. The throat may be rubbed with camphor and spirits of turpentine, or fomented with hot water, the throat after each fomentation being carefully covered up. Do not purge. Send for the vet. to lance the abscess when ready. Glanders Symptoms. — In early stages glanders may be difficult to detect, but the first symptoms are ulcera- tion of the inside of the nostrils, with running from the nose and staring coat ; then the symptoms change to a regular stream of nasty matter from the nose. Treatment. — Generally useless. Worms — Tapeworm The tapeworm should be got rid of at once, but should never exist in a colt that is bred from healthy stock and well done to. K 130* HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS chap. Symptoms. — Starved appearance ; anus projects ; eye too bright. Treatment. — Turpentine (spirits of) beaten up with yolk of egg, and mixed in tepid water given on an empty stomach. A foal should have 2 drachms of turpentine (spirits of) ; six months, i oz. ; one- year-old, I J oz. ; two-year-old, 2 oz. ; three-year-old, 3 oz. ; four-year-old, 4 oz. Give a generous diet without hay for a while. Worms — Lumbricii Syutptoms. — Easily detected in the dung ; are long, round, pointed worms, very common, but not so serious as tapeworms. Treatment. — Give 2 drachms of tartarised anti- mony in a ball every morning before feeding till they are got rid of. Worms — Stronguli These worms are difficult to detect. They are about the size and appearance of hay chaff. Treatment. — If suspected consult the vet., who will doubtless give an injection or worm powder. Wtnd-galls Treatment. — Rest ; cold bandages ; indiarubber bandages with flat corks to press on the wind-galls. Wounds Treatment. — Keep the wounds clean and do not AILMENTS AND DISEASES 131 sew them up unless absolutely necessary, as the process of healing commences or should commence at the bottom of the wound. Dentition in Horses Much the best work for practical purposes that I know of on this subject is that by Mr. Sidney Galvayne, published by Murray and Son, 6Z Buchanan Street, Glasgow. When Professor Galvayne was in this country he taught me more on this and other subjects in a couple of hours than I had learnt in ten years. To him and his works I would refer my readers for a simple and practically infallible method of telling the age of horses up to 30 — as to describe his methods would in equity if not in fact be to infringe his " patent " and rights. The ordinary methods of reading the marks are so well known by every horse-owner that it would be idle for me to set them forth here, and if any reader is ignorant of this art he will learn more in one practical object-lesson from one who knows than from any amount of reading or looking at book plates. FAIRS, ADDRESSES OF BREEDERS Every good agricultural almanac publishes a list of the Fairs held in the United Kingdom, the addresses of Breeders of Horses^ and a list of the various Horse Shows. CONCLUSION And now let me, in conclusion, summarise very briefly the facts that I have endeavoured to set forth. Times are bad and the agricultural interest is suffering acutely from the low prices of stock and produce, and from bad seasons. Farmers must leave no stone unturned to find a profitable expen- diture for their time and capital, and must work out their salvation by wise enterprise. Horse-breeding, properly conducted, is now a profitable pursuit in many parts of the country, and therefore might be made remunerative in other parts having equal or superior advantages of climate, pasture, and proximity to markets. Horse-breeding should be made a part of the business of farming, but should be kept in its proper place as an accessory. The demand for good horses of every class is very great, and leaves an ample margin of profit. Our climate, soil, pastures, and breeds all give us a great advantage as horse- breeders, and therefore foreign competition need not be feared so long as horse-breeding is pursued by Englishmen with zeal equal to that of the foreigner. Thought and patience are requisite in this as in any other business, but few occupations afiford so much CHAP. X CONCLUSION 133 interest and pleasure. There is a wide choice of breeds to select from, and as a rule success attends the man who breeds the sort his heart most delights in. Breed only from good sound mares that, if possible, fill a useful place on the farm and earn their own living. To whatever class they belong, let them have substance, courage, and quality. Hold fast to the mare that is a good breeder. Use the best sire that can be found. Be liberal and generous in the treatment of the foal, and do not keep the growing youngster on short rations. Afford proper and well-ventilated shelter for your young stock in winter. And when you have done all this, and fail after a fair trial — a day that is never likely to arrive — then, and then only, can you say that horse-breed- ing is an unprofitable pursuit for the farmer. APPENDIX During the eight months ended 31st August 1894, there were 9355 horses exported from this country, against 7503 in 1893. Of these 289 were stallions, against 467 ; 2053 mares, against 2098; and 7013 geldings, against 4938. Of the geldings, 3036 went to Belgium, 2533 to Holland, and 12 12 to France. The value of the horses exported was ^290,852, against ;^35 1,088 in 1893, and ^374,059 in 1892. The value of the staUions exported was only ;i^27,234, against ^68,951 in 1893 ; mares / 104,029, against ^133,734 ; and geldings ;^ 159,589, against /i48,403. In the same period 15,614 horses were imported, against 10,177 in 1893, and 21,026 in 1892. Of these 674 were stallions, against 402 ; 3077 mares, against 2240; and 11,863 geldings, against 7535. Of the geldings 3305 came from Germany, 2759 (against 895) from the United States, and 2162 (against 863) from Canada. These last figures show where the increase in the imports has occurred, and they account for the superabundance of horses of a type suitable for the lighter town work which so seriously affects the demand for second-rate horses reared in this country. The value of the imports was ^360,913, against ;^2 89,600 in 1893, and ^425,336 in 1892. As regards the trade in horses between this country and North America, the tables are now completely turned. During the eight months the United States and Canada have paid us ^^34,150 for horses, while we have given them ;^2i9,o8i. Printed by R. & R. Clark, Edinburgh. \^ ^^yibster f^wifiy Uljraiy of Vetermaiy Mec^^ Cymmlngs School ef Veterinary Rtedtein^^ai Tufts University 200 Westbofo Road North Grafton. MA 01 5:^^