Madison, WI 53706-1293 550 Babcock Drive University of Wisconsin-Madison Steenbock Memorial Library FIG. 1. THE AMERICAN STANDARDBRED HORSE This breed of trotting and pacing horses is the outgrowth of the American people's love for stylish driving horses. Management and Breeding of Horses By Merritt W. Harper Professor of Animal Husbandry in the New York State College of Agriculture New York ORANGE JUDD PUBLISHING COMPANY London Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company, Limited 1924 Copyright, 1913, by ORANGE JUDD COMPANY All Rights Reserved ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL, LONDON, ENGLAND Printed in U. S. A. PREFACE This book is an attempt at arranging information useful to the farmer, breeder and student. It is the outgrowth 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 includes a discussion of the methods of training, overcoming undesirable habits, fitting, harnessing and the like. Because of the increasing popularity and field of usefulness, 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 valuable 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 judging considerable space is given to the history and development of the several breeds of horses, each breed being discussed in a separate chapter. Farmers and |