Btio gorfe S>tatc College of Agriculture at Cornell ?a:ntber«itp 3(ti)aca, M. S. ICifirarp Cornell University Library SF 285.H4 Management and breeding of horses, 3 1924 003 160 508 The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003160508 o X a: a OS < • a z , < Id 3 I .2 ^ O Management '^^^ and Breeding of Horses By Merritt W. Harper Professor of Animal Husbandry in the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University New York ORANGE JUDD COMPANY London Ke£an Paul. Trench^ Tnibner & Company. Limited 1915 Copyright, 1913, by ORANGE JUDD COMPANY Ail Rights Reserved Entered at Stationers' Hall, London, England Printed in U. S. A. PREFACE This book is an attempt at arranging information use- ful to the farmer, breeder and student. It is the out- growth of experience both as a practical horse breeder and an instructor. The book includes a discussion of the economic usefulness, judging and allied subjects, early history, a study of the breeds, breeding, feeding, care and management of both horses and mules. Special emphasis is placed on the management of the brood mare as well as that of the colt from the time the mare is bred until the colt is ready for farm work or the market. This in- cludes a discussion of the methods of training, overcom- ing undesirable habits, fitting, harnessing and the like. Because of the increasing popularity and field of useful- ness, the mule is given prominence. This necessitates a consideration of the several breeds of jacks, as well as special suggestions on the care and development of the mule-breeding jack, as not all jacks are suitable for siring mules. In choosing the subject matter a wide search has been made and it has been necessary to eliminate much valu- able data, as there is quite an accumulation of material upon the production, care and use of the horse. In this elimination, the author has attempted to keep in mind the needs of the farmer, breeder and student. The arrangement of the subject matter in a book of this class is important. The outline employed has been chosen because in experience it seems the most favorable for the presentation of the text. Following a discussion of judg- ing considerable space is given to the history and de- velopment of the several breeds of horses, each breed being discussed in a separate chapter. Farmers and VI PREFACE breeders are interested in the history and description of the breed with which they are working. Possibly they may not care for the detailed description of the other breeds and may wish to proceed with the breeding, feed- ing, care and management. The subject matter has been arranged with this thought in mind. On the other hand,the student of horse breeding is interested in a comparative breed study and no doubt will wish to consider each breed. In this breed study, the several breeds have been arranged in sequence, as far as possible, and not in order of importance. This is necessary, as some of the older breeds were important factors in forming the more recent ones. To facilitate a comparative breed study and to promote interest in correct type, many photographs of horses of the various breeds have been used. Untouched photo- graphs have been employed, as they show natural char- acteristics. Realizing the many difficulties that present themselves in the management and breeding of horses, the writer will be glad to correspond with those into whose hands the book may fall concerning such difficulties, and also to receive suggestions that will make the book more useful as a practical guide and text. M. W. HARPER. Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., August 6, 1913. — CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I The Horse and His Master Saving human time—Horse labor and man labor—The horse cheapens production—The horse as a pleasure ani- mal—Number and value of horse stock in the United States. CHAPTER II Judging a Horse 7 Requirements of a good judge—Method of judging a horse—The score card—Rules of scoring—Types of horses —Method of scoring—Comparative judging—Examine the horse in his stall and in harness. CHAPTER III Proportions and Mechanics of the Horse 26 Dimensions of the parts—Measurements of the horse The unit of proportions—Dimensions of articular angles Mechanics of the horse. CHAPTER IV Anatomy, Unsoundness and Age of a Horse 34 Anatomy of the horse—Common unsoundness and faults—Estimating the age of a horse. CHAPTER V History of the Horse 56 Antiquity of the horse—Distribution of prehistoric horse —Evolution of the horse—Cause of the evolution—Exist- ing species of horses—Ancestors of modern horse. —— via CONTENTS CHAPTER VI Page The Breeds of Horses 67 Establishing a breed—The light breeds—The draft breeds—The coach breeds—The pony breeds—The breeds of jacks—The mule. CHAPTER Vn The Arabian Horse 78 The native home—Origin—Families—Arabian in Amer- ica—Breeders-^Description of the Arabian—Popularity Organizations. CHAPTER Vni The Thoroughbred Horse 88 The native home—Origin—Early racing—Foundation stock—Improvement—Famous animals—Thoroughbred in America—Description—Speed records—Popularity of the Thoroughbred—Organizations. CHAPTER IX The American Saddle Horse 106 The origin—Influence of the Thoroughbred—Denmark, F. S.—Famous animals—Description—Classes—Gaits Popularity—Organizations. CHAPTER X The Standardbred Horse 115 The origin—Source of Standardbred blood—Hamble- tonian 10—Families—Famous animals—Description Trotting and pacing records—Famous drivers—Organiza- tons—Orloff Trotter. CHAPTER XI The Hackney Coach Horse 135 Native home — Origin — Development — Shales—The Hackney_ in America—Famous stallions—Description- Distribution—Organizations. ^ CONTENTS IX CHAPTER XII Page The French Coach Horse 143 Native home—Origin—French methods for improving horses—French Coach horse in America—Notable animals •—Description—Speed records — Distribution — Organiza- tions. CHAPTER XIII The German Coach Horse 151 Native home—Origin—German methods for improving horses—Types and breeds of German horses—German Coach horse in America—Description—Distribution—Or- ganizations—Criticisms. CHAPTER XIV The Cleveland Bay Coach Horse 161 Native home—Origin—Decline of Cleveland Bay— Yorkshire Coach-7-Cleveland Bay Coach horse in Amer- ica — Description — Distribution — Organizations—Criti- cisms. CHAPTER XV The Percheron Draft Horse 169 Native home—Origin—Early development—Deteriora- tion of the La Perche horse—Improvement—Government methods—Endurance of the Percheron—Percheron draft horse in America—Famous Percheron sires—Notable breeders—Description—Distribution—Organizations. CHAPTER XVI The French Draft Horse 183 Breeds of French Draft horses—Organizations—Criti- cisms. CHAPTER XVII The Clydesdale Draft Horse 188 Native home—Origin—Early development—Famous Clydesdale sires—Clydesdale draft horse in America- Famous American animals—Description—Criticisms—Dis- tribution—Organizations. —— X CONTENTS CHAPTER XVIII Page The Shire Draft Horse 199 Native home—Origin—Bakewell methods—Early types Famous Shire sires—Shire draft horse in America—De- scription—Criticisms—Distribution—Organizations. CHAPTER XIX The Belgian Draft Horse 208 Native home—Origin—Early types—Belgian methods for improving horses—Belgian draft horse in America Growing popularity—Description—Criticisms — Distribu- tion—Organizations. CHAPTER XX The Suffolk Draft Horse 217 Native home—Early origin—Crisp's Horse—Foreign tribes—Modern Suffolk—Suffolk draft horse in America Description—Criticisms—Distribution—Organizations. CHAPTER XXI Ponies 225 Shetland pony—History—Shetland in America—De- scription—Welsh pony—Exmoor pony—New Forest pony —Dartmoor pony—Irish pony—Polo pony. CHAPTER XXII American Horses 233 Early importations—-Colonial horse-breeding centers Virginia—New York—New England—Canada—Indian pony—Mexican pony. CHAPTER XXIII The Domestic Ass 240 Species of the Ass—Early history—Breeds of Jacks Jacks in America—Characteristics of the Jack—Jacks for mule breeding—Organizations. CONTENTS xi CHAPTER XXIV Pago The Mule 248 Mule a hybrid— _ History—Mule in America—Character- istics of the mule—Endurance of the mule—Distribution- Organizations. CHAPTER XXV Principles of Horse Breeding 252 Variations in horses—Causes of variation—Selection— Heredity—Prepotency—Fertility — Sterility — Systems of breeding. CHAPTER XXVI Practical Horse Breeding 263 Number of horses produced—Conditions favorable to horse breeding—Practical plan for breeding horses—Co- operative horse breeding—Selection of animals for horse breeding—Uniformity. CHAPTER XXVII The Brood Mare 274 Care of brood mare—Productive period—Breeding two- ^ year-old fillies—Spring and fall foals—Barrenness—Abor- tion—The pregnant mare—Working—Feeding—Gestation period—Foaling time. CHAPTER XXVIII The Foal 287 Ailments of the young foal—Feeding—Weaning-^Man- agement of the weanling—Care of feet—Castration of male foals. CHAPTER. XXIX Practical Mule Breeding 295 Number of mules produced—Breeding Jacks and Jen- nets—Selecting breeding stock—Raising a mule—Breed- ing Jack—Mule breeding—Selecting mule—Breeding stock. • Xll CONTENTS CHAPTER XXX Pago Breeding Horses for Farm and Market 302 Farm breeders' limitations—The farmer's horse—The ' market horse—Market requirements—Value of matched teams. CHAPTER XXXI Market Classes of Horses and Mules 33.0 Draft horses—Chunks—Wagon horses—Carriage horses —Road horses—Saddle horses—Draft mules—Farm mules —Mining mules—Cotton mules—Sugar mules—Export mules—Rules of auction. CHAPTER XXXH Principles of Horse Feeding 323 The animal body—The food; its composition—Uses of the food; digestion—Kinds of rations—Balanced ration— Nutritive ratio—Computing a ration. CHAPTER XXXni Practical Horse Feeding . .^ 334 Regularity of feeding—Order of supplying grain, hay and water—Food required to grow a horse—Method of feeding work hprse, driving horse, idle horse, stallion, muies—Cost of ration—Sample ration. CHAPTER XXXIV Grain and Concentrates for the Horse 346 The cereal grains—Oats—Corn—Oats and corn—Barley, rye and wheat—Leguminous grains—By-products and commercial feeds—Patent stock foods.