m( ■:. ■ :..:■:,: :.,i^UU^,iy.

NEW BOLI ^

Un32 :^H

LIBRAKY
UNIYERSITYy-

PENN5YL\^\NIA

FAIRMAN

ROGERS

COLLECTION

ON

HORSEMANSHIP

DATE DUE

1 1

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2009 with funding from

Lyrasis IVIembers and Sloan Foundation

http://www.archive.org/details/specialreportonmOOunit

SPECIAL REPORT

^<^d^.4T^,^^ixM^r-^

ON THE

MARKET FOR AMERICAN HORSES

IS

FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1898.

NEVM B^

jv^on

To the Congress of the United States:

I transmit herewith for the information and use of tlie Congress a
communication from the Secretary of Agriculture, which is accom-
panied by a report on the market for American horses in foreign
countries.

William McKinley.

Executive Mansion, December 14, 1S98.

UNIVERSITY

OF

't-i^NivLVANIA

LIBRARIES

LETTEE OF TRAI^SMITTAL.

U. S. Department op Agriculture,

Office of the Secretary,
Washington, D. C, December 12, 1898.
Mr. President:

I have the honor to transmit for your information and that of the
Congress of the United States a report consisting of a number of
communications on the subject of the demand for American horses
in certain countries of Europe.

At the time of assuming office as Secretary of Agriculture I was
" ah-eady much impressed witli the necessity of an output abroad for
our surplus horse production. For some time previous extraordi-
narily low prices had prevailed for horses in this country, and horse
breeders and horse raisers througliout the country were correspond-
ingly depressed. It is quite i)ossible that in this apparent cause for
discouragement there really was a blessing in disguise, for it is prob-
ably due to these extremel}^ low prices that the first impetus to the
foreign demand for American horses was due. Whatever tlie cause,
the figures which I have the honor to submit at the close of this com-
munication will show that the export trade in American horses, hardly
more than begun some five years ago, lias advanced with rapid strides.

My first thought was that to develop this opening, which presented
itself so opportunely to our much discouraged horse raisers, was a
duty which this Department owed to them, and I was convinced that
the most useful service it could render them was to gather from all
available sources whatever information could be j)rocured as to the
character and extent of the demand existing abroad for horses of all
kinds. Without such knowledge it was obvious that many unprofit-
able shipments would be made, and not only cause a loss to the sliip-
pers and consequent discouragement, but, by placing undesirable
animals, undesirable at least from tlie Euroj)ean standpoint, in foreign
markets, dissatisfaction among foreign buyers would be generated
and opinions unfavorable to the American horses would result, thus
perhaps seriously retarding the development of this export trade, if
it did not altogetlier arrest it.

Actuated by this thought I endeavored to interest our represent-
atives abroad and American citizens going abroad in the gathering of

3

4 LETTER OP TRANSMITTAL.

information as to the extent of the demand in horse-importing conntries,
and as to the various kinds of horses wanted in tliose countries, and
the distinguishing cliaracteristics to which foreign buyers attach
importance. As a result, a large number of communications have
been received at this Department from a variety of sources, and I
have, after some reflection, concluded that the best way to present
this information to the public is to submit all these communica-
tions, in tlie form of a special report to you, for transmission to
Congress with the recommendation that that honorable body should
order the same printed for distribution to their constituents. As
a convenience to the reader of this report, I i)resent here a sum-
mary of the information collected by these various correspondents,
but as each one pursued his own investigations independently and
presented such facts as he was able to gather, often accompanying
them with a statement of his impressions on the subject, I have
deemed it best to present each communication in full, eliminating
nothing save in the case of a few correspondents who added other
matter not strictly pertinent to the subject of this report, viz, the
demand for American horses in European countries. Following the
summary already referred to, I present some tables showing the num-
ber and value of horses exported from this country to Europe dur-
ing the past five years. These figures are amply sufficient to satisfy
everyone who studies them that a demand exists in Europe, which
should not only afford encouragement to American horse raisers, but
should convince them that it is well worth their while to study closely
the character of this demand in order that they may be prepared to
meet it. I can not reiterate too strongly my conviction that in this,
as in all the other branches of our export trade, the needs, the tastes,
and even the fancies of the foreign consumers must be carefully
studied, and every effort should be made by American producers to
meet them. There is little doubt that we can raise as good horses and
raise them as cheaply in this country as in any European country,
and far more cheaply than in those countries that are obliged to
im]3ort horses to satisfy their own requirements.

Another point deserves attention. It is of paramount importance
that no diseased animals should by any chance be landed in foreign
ports from these shores. Under the present law the authority to inspect
horses for export is vested in this Department, and the Chief of the
Bureau of Animal Industry has already taken the necessary steps to
establish a proper system of inspection. Not only is this precaution
due to the foreign buyers who seek to enlarge their trade relations with
us, but it is also due to our reputation. In these days, moreover, when
producers in many countries seem animated by a determination to
obstruct by every means available to them the imports into their own
country of American products, it becomes an absolute necessity for us,

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. O

if we are to successfully develop an export trade for any of our pro-
ducts, to be prepared to guarantee their wholesomeness, soundness,
and perfect freedom from every sort of contagion.

Should Congress conclude, in accordance with my earnest recom-
mendation, to publish this report for general distribution, I have the
honor to request that not less than 20,000 copies be placed at the
disposal of the Secretary of Agriculture for distribution through this
Department.

I have the honor to remain, respectfully,

James Wilson,

Secretary.

OOKTEJSTTS.

Page.

Resume of individual reports 9

Introductory 9

The army liorse 10

Horses for business purposes 13

Importation of horses into Germany 18

Number and value of horses exported from the United States 20

Reports and extracts from reports relating to the use of American horses in

foreign countries ..- - 22

Great Britain's purchases of cavalry horses in Argentina 22

American horses in Belgium 24

Report of American military attache 26

Carriage horses, etc 27

Hackneys, coach horses, etc 27

Saddle horses 28

Hunters and jumpers 28

Draft horses 28

Requirements for German army horses 31

A statement of experience and observation in shipping horses to Ger-
many 35

Horses in France 39

Encouragements for improving the race and for breeding 39

Horses and their uses . . _ ■- 39

American horses 41

Summary of a communication regarding American horses used by the

large horse companies in Paris, France 42

American horse trade of Great Britain 45

Effect of a sea voyage 47

English opinions 48

Horse trade with Great Britain •. 50

American horses in Denmark 53

The demand for and kind of horses suited for European tises and the

present status of the horse trade in different countries 55

In the United Kingdom 56

In France 68

In Belgium 72

In Germany 76

In Russia and Italy 80

Summary 82

Export of horses from the Chicago market 84

Report regarding the export of horses from Buffalo, N. Y. , and vicinity. 88

Description of horses 89

Sources of supply of the different classes 91

Number of horses exported from Buffalo, N. Y 92

Prices paid by foreign buyers 92

Expense of shipping 93

Losses by death 93

Loss in weight 93

Remarks 93

7

ILLUSTRATIOJ^S.

Page.

Plate I. — Tram horse from the United States. Color, brown; age, 6
years; height, 151 hands; girth, 79 inches; measurement under
knee, 8f inches; weight, 1,250 pounds 50

Plate II. — Fig. 1. Tram horse from the United States. Front view;

Fig. 2. Tram horse from the United States. Rear view 50

Plate III. — Fig. 1. Black trotting "vanner,"6 years old, 16^ hands high,
78 inches around girth, and Hi^ inches around leg just below
the knee; Fig. 2. Army horse, not a very good type, 6 years
old, 15.3 hands high, 73 inches around girth, and 8i inches
around leg just below the knee 52

Plate IV. — Fig. 1. Heavy van horse, 4 years old; shipped from Boston; sold
for 50 guineas; height, 16^ hands; girth, 98 inches; leg just
below knee, 10 inches; Fig. 2. Heavy van horse, 6 years old;
shipped from Boston; sold for 60 guineas; height, 16^^ hands;
girth, 99 inches; leg just below the knee, 10^ inches 52

Plate v.— Carriage horses shipi^ed from the United States; 7 years old, 90
inches girth, and 9 inches around the leg just below the knee;
have plenty of knee action and are well bred; sold at auction
for 45 guineas apiece; are owned by W. Bruce Johnson, of
Corydon, and driven tandem and as a team to the pole 52

Plate VI. — Dark-bay gelding, 7 years old; shipped from Boston, Mass.; 17
hands high, 84 inches around the girth, and 12 inches around
the leg jiist below the knee; sold by Messrs. Pritchard &

Moore Bros, for 65 guineas 52

8

SPECIAL REPORT ON THE MARKET FOR AMERICAN HORSES
IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

Rl^SUM^ OF INDIVIDUAL REPORTS
INTRODUCTORY.

The American export trade in horses has made great strides within
the past five years. In fact, its beginnings were laid only during the
Chicago International Exposition of 1893. During the next year
there were only five foreign buyers on the Chicago market and only
2,000 horses exported from that city — twice as many as had been sent
in an experimental way the previous year — while in 1897 there were
seventy foreign buyers, and three-fourths of the horses exported to
Europe went directly from that market.

The European nations, with the exception of Hungary and Russia,
do not ]3roduce as many horses as they need, and of late years have
drawn largely upon America, particularly Canada and the United
States, to suppl}^ the deficiency.

This condition of affairs is due largely to the thickly populated
state of the countries, which also operates to prevent the production of
sufficient cereal and other food stuffs, creating a market for many
of our agricultural products ; but partly to the large number of horses
which are required by their armies and for the better part of their
lives are entirely removed from productive work.

Much that has been published regarding the kind of horse needed
for the export trade would lead one to believe that European horses
are entirely different from those raised on this side of the Atlantic,
and that they are bred according to a definite formula: Just so long,
so high, and so thick, balancing the scales at just so many pounds —
an ideal horse that America never has grown and never can produce.

The truth is, American horse raisers have just as good stock as that
of their fellow-breeders on the other side, where good, indifferent, and
inferior horses of draft, coach, and other breeds are produced the
same as in this country.

But when horses are selected for shipment 5,000 miles by rail and
sea, reason dictates a choice of those individuals, the best of their
kind, which will command a price sufficient to pay purchase money,
transportation expenses, and a profit. Besides, European countries
doubtless produce a sufficiently large number of inferior horses for

9

10 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

their OAvn use, and the demand is only for such animals as are the
best of their class. There appears, however, to be an exception to
this in the case of Denmark, which imported, in 1896, somewhat over
6,000 horses, mostly from Russia and Finland, valued at $80 per head,
and exported nearly 16,000, valued at $172 per head.

That the larger part of the horses offered for sale in the principal
horse market of the United States are not to be rated as first-class is
shown in a report* of a Government inspector at the Chicago stock
yards, who writes:

There were sold from this market in 1896 86,506 horses, 80 per cent of which
I find, by reference to the daily sale sheets, were plugs and common horses, leav-
ing in round numbers about 18,000 desirable horses, 60 per cent of these being
purchased by foreign buyers. During the first six months of the present year (1897)
52,436 have been sold, and less than 25 per cent are of the classification I have
previously mentioned as being available for exportation, and practically all of
these have been purchased for that purpose. The extent of business at present
being done, and its susceptibility of increase, is limited only by the number of
desirable horses that can be obtained. Country biiyers and shippers report a
scarcity of desirable animals of the type mentioned.

Europe wants good horses of all breeds, just as America does, but
there are some conditions which are not the same. Therefore, a good
horse which would be just the thing for the purpose of the buj^er in
America might be unsuited to the work of the prospective European
purchaser; and the reverse is also equally true. As the foreign
demand is the "life of the trade," taking off the market a large num-
ber of horses and thus increasing the value of those that remain, as
shown by the large increase in the price of horses since this outlet
was created, it is good policy for horse breeders to study the taste
and desires of this large number of purchasers and endeavor to
produce as many horses as possible that comply with these demands.

THE ARMY HORSE.

Besides the usual demand for horses for draft, carriage, and other
business purposes of civil life, common to this country and Europe,
in the latter there is a considerable annual requirement for horses to
remount the cavalry and haul the artillery and baggage trains of their
large armies.

While written descriptions of the horses required for the United
States Army and those of the European armies are practically the
same, nevertheless the animals themselves differ materially in many
important particulars, according to the different needs and ideas of
the countries. Our horses are weight carriers, with large barrels to
stand hard work and to become hustlers when forage gives out. The
European horses receive more careful treatment, have much smaller
barrels, and are more lightly and gracefullj' built. Ours may be the
more serviceable, but if we desire to sell we must cater to the taste
and idea of the purchaser. It pays to do so.

*See Appendix, p. 87.

THE ARMY HORSE. 11

It must not be supposed that trans- Atlantic nations (certainly not
France and Germany) are looking to this or any other country to
supply them with army horses in time of peace ; on the contrary, their
policy is to encourage and develop horse breeding at home, so that
there may be no need to look elsewhere even in time of war for the
necessary horseflesh to mount their cavalry, draw their artillery, or
move baggage trains. Nor do these Governments send agents over
here to buy horses for their armies. The foreign buyers actually here
are simply horse dealers who buy what they believe they can dispose of
with profit to themselves. Nevertheless, there is no law, rule, or regu-
lation which interferes with the sale of American horses for military
uses, in any European country.

The general outline of methods of purchasing horses for the army
is the same in both France and Germany, two of the largest users of
army horses. A remount commission, consisting of officers and a
veterinarian, have full powers and discretion, limited only to the des-
ignated number of horses and to the average price per jcapita to be
paid.

These boards sit at stipulated times and places, and all those having
horses to offer are free to bring the same for inspection. The officers
decide what price they will offer for each individual horse, subject to
a satisfactory report from the veterinarian, and the owner can refuse
or accept, as he sees fit, and on acceptance the sum agreed upon is
paid in cash to the owner.

There are six of these remount commissions in Germany, three of
them buying in eastern Prussia most of the cavalry horses, and the
other three paying more attention to draft animals for artillery and
baggage trains, purchasing something over 10,000 horses annually in
north Prussia. In France the number of horses ]3urcliased may be
slightly more or less than 10,000, but definite information as to that
is not at hand.

The cavalry of those two nations is divided into classes, which in
each country are very similarly mounted. For instance, in Germany
the minimum height for light dragoons and hussars is 14 hands; for
uhlans, dragoons, and hussars of the guard the minimum height is 14^
hands, and for cuirassiers the minimum height is 15 hands; while in
France the minimum height for light cavalry is about 15^ hands;
minimum height for dragoons between 15^ and 15^ hands, and for
cuirassiers between 15f and 16 hands.

All these must be over 3 and under 5 years old, sound and gentle.
The first class must weigh from 775 to 880 pounds ; the second class,
880 to 1,000 pounds, and the third class, 1,050 to 1,150 pounds. The
artillerj^ and baggage-train horse is required to be about 14| hands
high in Germany, weighing 900 to 1,050 pounds, and 15^ hands high
in France, weighing 990 to 1,100 pounds.

Horses to be accepted in the army service must of course be per-
fectly sound and not vicious, of solid dark colors, without j)rominent

12 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

marks. A well-bred, low, short, thick-set horse, with strong flanks,
good high tail, bnttocks full and square, ribs rounded out so as to
"furnish" well, well-shaped legs with plenty of bone, and good feet,
is about the thing desired. Most of the German cavalry horses are
bought in eastern Prussia, where horse breeding flourishes, and the
breed is generally known as Trakehnen. This breed originated from
native mares crossed with Russian horses. In the course of this
century, and especially for the past twenty-five years, top crossing
with English thoroughbred stallions has been practiced, and the race
has been much improved both as to speed and endurance, and pro-
duces excellent cavalry horses.

France has tried many kinds of horses for her army — Arabian, South
American, and Spanish — but most of her remounts for light cavalry
come from southern France, where the horses are a cross from Span-
ish Arabian (probably barb) stallions upon the native stock. As a
large number of the 9,017 stallions used in France in the season of
1897 were thoroughbreds and over one-third at least half English
thoroughbred, Anglo-Arabian, or Arabian, there is no lack of mate-
rial for first-class horses for the heavy cavalry, dragoons, cuirassiers,
etc., and to compete successfully in that market none but the best
horses need be entered.

Doubtless, numbers of American horses do find their way into the
French and German armies, ofttimes perhaps under the name of
English or Irish, their naturalization being completed during the few
days elapsing between their trans- Atlantic journey and reembarking
for the trip across the channel.

Prices vary, $180 to $260 being received for suitable horses in
France, while in Germany the price depends on the government to
which the horse is sold, $210 being paid in Prussia (i. e., the total
price paid for all horses purchased for the Prussian army divided by
the number j)urcliased must give a quotient not greater than 830
marks), and $290 in Bavaria.

Denmark remounts her cavalry with horses principally drawn from
Germany and England, but uses native horses entirely for artillery
and baggage trains, her purchases, however, being trifling in number.

In Belgium a few dealers furnish the small number of horses
required, and those for the cavalry are usually recruited in Ireland
(misfit hunters), and as the business as now conducted has proved
profitable (about $60 net ijrofit on each horse) there is not likely to
be much of a demand from them for American-grown stock. The
artillery horses are supplied from among the home-grown horses.

Some American horses are in the English artillery service, but none
in the cavalry. It requires about 2,000 horses annually to remount
the English cavalry, etc., and from 4 to 5 per cent (80 to 100) of these
are Canadian. The principal fault found by the inspector of re-
mounts of England with American-raised horses is with their shape —

HORSES FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES. 13

too long iu the body, tail too low down on the body, the hips wider
than the buttocks, the back curving in, and leg deficient in bone.
The English war office would be glad to buy short, low horses, thick-
set, with strong flanks, good high-set tail, muscular buttocks and
thighs, ribs well rounded out so as to "furnish" well, and well-shaped
legs, especially if they possessed rather more stamina than is accred-
ited to the average American horse shipped to the English market.

HORSES FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES.

Of the 28,000 horses exported from the United States in 1897 about
4,000 were exported to Belgium, 1,000 to France, Germany, and Hol-
land, and 20,000 to Great Britain. It is evident from this that the
business is alreadj^ pretty well established in Great Britain. This trade
should be upheld and fostered while efforts are being made to gain
entrance or establish a firm foothold in other countries. The most
important and effective efforts to advance this trade must be made
by the horse breeders of the United States by a systematic attempt to
produce such horses as those markets demand, for if the particular
kinds of horses desired are not to be had no amount of energy or
push on the part of dealers can increase or even maintain the present
export figures.

Of course, much may be done to improve the condition of the horses
on arrival in Europe, by securing improved and proper accommoda-
tions on board the steamers carrjdng the animals, and the establish-
ment of an inspection at the port of shijjment similar to that employed
with cattle, so that no horse affected with any disease, contagious or
otherwise, shall be allowed to depart from our shores to injure the
reputation of our stock. About 750,000 horses are in daily use in
London, their average term of usefulness, depending upon the nature
of their emploj-ment, being from three to seven years; thus on an
average of five years' service, 150,000 new horses annually are required
for the London business world. When it is recalled that onlj^ about
100,000 horses pass through our largest horse market (Chicago) each
year, this London demand is seen in its proportionate importance. Of
these 150,000 horses used in London, and the still larger number in
the rest of the island, 40,077 were imported during 189G, Canada and
the United States furnishing 29,782 of them.

It takes some time for the imported horse to recover from the
effects of the sea voyage, and doubtless prices would be higher if that
time were allowed to elapse before the horses were put up for sale.
There would, however, be some expense attached to it, the buyers con-
sidering an addition of £2 (about $10) to the price of the horse a fair
estimate of the expense required to get him in condition for work.

The Belgian commissioner, who recently visited this country to
investigate the raising of horses in the principal centers of horse

14 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

breeding, and to rejiort on that industry in its relation to commerce
with the Continent, says : *

The American horse undergoes at his landing in Belgium [or any other
coxmtry] the same disadvantage of acclimation which our Belgian horse meets
on arrival in the United States.

It is scarcely reasonable to expect from an animal which has just made a voy-
age a sum of work which is exacted of a native horse. This is what some persons
have not understood who complain of a lack of vigor in the horse which they
bought the day before, and of which they expect immediate service. As soon as
the animal is recovered we may expect from hini if placed in the same conditions
as any other horse, the same sum of service, if not a greater.

In London the tramways, bus companies, jobmasters, and owners
of light delivery wagons are large purchasers of American horses.
Horses for their use must be from 15^ to 16 hands high, weigh from
1,200 to 1,350 pounds, be comx^actly built, with plenty of bone and
muscle and good action, and average from 5 to 7 years of age. They
should measure from 76 to 78 inches in girth, and from 8^^ to 9| inches
around the leg just below the knee. Such horses will sell from $170
to $185, and sometimes as high as $200.

Large bus horses for suburban work, 5 to 8 years old, 16 hands
high, weighing 1,600 to 1,700 pounds, with a girth of 88 inches, bring
from $185 to $225, and exceptional native horses sell as high as $100.
The " trotting vanner," a synonym for useful light delivery- wagon
horse, 16 to 16| hands, 78 inches at girth, and 7^ inches around the leg
just below the knee, sells for $125 to $150.

Carriage horses, 90 inches at girth and 9^ inches around the leg just
below the knee, with good knee action and well bred, will, if well
matched, bring from $750 to $1,500 per pair.

For heavy draft horses the demand is always brisk, and Clydesdale
and Shire horses are reported most in demand. Solid, stocky, 16:j-liand,
1,750-pound horses, free from blemish, 5 to 7 years old, 10 tolO|^ inches
around the leg below the knee, and 98 to 100 inches girth bring from
$250 to $375.

Misfits, scrubs, and badly broken horses will not do; but a young,
good, sound, well-broken horse, with plenty of bone and muscle, com-
pactly built, of almost any recognized class or type will sell well in
the London market.

The effect of the American trade has been to cheapen horses in
England, and horse breeding among farmers on the island is nearly
paralyzed. With horses a drug upon our market, it was undoubtedly
good policy to sell our stock in Europe, even at exceptionally low
prices. But the price at home is looking up. To come out of the
business with a jjrofit it is necessary to get better prices abroad than
formerly, and to do this only the proper kind of horse must be
offered.

* Importation de chevaux Americains: Rapport presente. Par M. Albert Vou
Schelle. Bruxelles, 1898.

HORSES FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES. 15

Germany, Holland, Belgium, and France each sends to England good
draft horses. France also exports to Great Britain a large number of
good carriage horses. It is with the horse breeders of these countries,
as well as of the United Kingdom that America is compelled to
compete.

Belgium sells a great number of draft horses in Germany, and the
horse breeders of Belgium are more concerned at the importation of
American horses into Germany than about the few which find sale to
Belgian buyers, although the danger to the purity of the breed from
these latter is viewed with alarm. Mr. Von Schelle, quoted above,
says on this subject:

As to draft horses, the importation of American horses ought to be watched in
two directions — in the matter of breeding, for anything that would produce lack
of discrimination in breeding. There is room for study of the make-iip of imports
as to kinds and sexes, and to see if American draft mares are brought here in
sufiBcient numbers to lower the breed. I have already shown that farmers
demand in preference mares from Hungary. As to the draft horses, the farm
horse, the production of which constitutes the most flourishing branch of our
breeding and the exportation of which has been a source of profits which sustain
our agriculture, that kind takes above all the road to Germany, and the growing
importation of American horses in that country would easily effect the diminu-
tion of our exports. There, according to my information, is to be found a great
danger from a commercial standpoint, for a fall in price is to be feared.

In lowering the market value of our draft horses by competition of native with
imported animals, the importation of American horses constitutes a menace to
the breeding of Belgian draft horses.

In another place Mr. Von Schelle remarks:

The growing figures for our exports to Germany, France, the Grand Duchy,
Holland, and Switzerland contain without doubt a certain number of American
horses landed at Anvers, but which are only passing through Belgium.

The single cab and private brougham horses are kept by the better
class of stables for the use of persons who are willing to pay more
than the ordinary cab fares for a "turn-out" which has every
appearance of being a private carriage, or one owned by gentlemen
for their own use. The horse to answer these requirements must
have more style aud finish than the bus horse. The more style and
action he possesses, with sufficient quality and size, the more nearly
will he approach the desired standard, until he passes by insensible
shades into the fine, high-class carriage horse.

Color is not considered in a lower class horse, unless perhaps in the
case of a very bad gray, as purchasers of this class usually go on the
theory that one color is as good as another, but as we approach more
nearly the high carriage class, there are several points to consider,
including that of color, which have an important effect on the price
of high-class horses.

It is only by the infusion of draft blood that the size of our horses
can be increased, and while this is desirable there is danger that it
will also tend to make them too coarse. Care must be given to the

16 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

production of size with a little smoother form. If we succeed in this
the horse will advance beyond the bus-horse class until he becomes
an excellent jreneral-purpose horse, of which there is at the present
time a great scarcity. This horse in England will be used hy men of
moderate means who can only afford to keep one horse, and therefore
want one suitable for the brougham, the cart, and at the same time
moderately well fitted foi- the saddle, besides being of such general
utility that he can always ])e sold at a fair price. This horse would
also prove to be a good cavalry horse, and is one which American
breeders are to-day prepared to raise to better advantage than any
other. His legs and feet must be well formed and free from blemish
and he should stand right on them, his shoulders and hips good, and
his back short. Such a horse is always in demand and, if 16 hands
high, sells for a good price, even if he has but ordinary action. He
is a good "all-round horse," and his price in England is regulated,
within reasonable bounds, almost entirely by his qualifications.

Inferior horses can be sold, but at what price? The horses of
Russia and Finland sell in London at an average of $80 per head. A
victory in that competition would be a financial defeat. The average
value of horses imported into Great Britain from the United States
in 189(3 was only about 1150 at port of shipment. This must include
many verj^ ordinary individuals, which perhaps should never have
left their native pastures, but remaining at home, have done any
labor for which they are suited, and not by their introduction abroad
have brought discredit upon our truly superior stock, whose qualities
have but to be known to be appreciated, and which alone should be
offered in foreign markets.

Most of the exj)ortations have been light horses, but the heavier
horse is now receiving much attention; bus horses, cart and draft
horses, are being shipped and are bringing good prices in competition
with the horses of the same class in the old and original home of the
breed. This of course arouses opposition from the foreign breeders
of draft horses, who, when the imports from America were of a char-
acter not calculated to compete with their horses, viewed American
])i'oininence in the trade in saddle, light, and fancy driving horses
with much more equanimity than now, when their purse and pride
are both assailed by the entrance of the American-grown draft horse
upon their hithei-to undisputed territory. Therefore, we may expect
to meet with all kinds of opposition on the continent, where the arm
of the Government will doubtless be invoked in aid of the horse
breeders. That we may be met with higher tariff rates, oj)pressive
veterinarian regulations, and perhaps complete i)rohibition, experi-
ence leads us to expect. The following extract from an article printed
in the Journal de la Societe Agricole du Brabant, December 6, 1897,
and transmitted by United States Consul Roosevelt, at Brussels, to

OPINIONS OF FOREIGN HORSE BREEDERS. 17

tlie State Department, indicates the present feeling of the foreign
horse breeders npon the subject, and is of interest to exporters and
breeders of horses in the United States :

La Federation Nationale de I'Elevage du Cheval en Belgiqiie (National Associa-
tion for Horse Breeding in Belgium) convened the 4tli of November, 1897, in a
meeting at which all the breeders assembled to discuss the influence which may-
be exercised upon our indigenous production by the constantly increasing impor-
tation of American horses. On December 1, 1897, the Societe Centrale d'Agricul-
ture (Central Agricultural Society) also held a meeting to discuss the same
subject.

Some few years ago the danger was pointed out in an article which appeared in
rindependence of the 21st of December., 1897. Three months ago a Belgian mili-
tary review published an article on the subject. In 1894, at a general assembly of
the Societe Nationale des Eleveurs Beiges (National Society of Belgian Breeders),
attention was again called to the peril which menaced us, and then for the first
time horse breeders were warned tliat the production of draft horses might suffer
by competition from the New World. Since then they have reposed in a deceit-
ful security, and now find themselves confronted by the progress realized in the
the American ranches.

The first shipments were of inferior quality, the experimenters having been
timid. These importations from North America must not be confounded with an
entei-prise which breeders in the Argentine Republic had unsuccessfully tried
some years before. The wild horses known as " pampas "' left a sad souvenir,
still remembered by many jjersons. ■ Such a mistake would do great injustice to
the American horse, whose hitherto disputed qualities are to-day fully appreciated
at their just value. It can not be otherwise, since the Americans have been inde-
fatigable for years in securing the finest breed of animals from the most perfect
European races, which they have taken to their country. Their efforts have been
crowned with full success. From latest statistics it is shown that there are
now in the great Republic between 14,000,000 and 16,000,000 head of horses. It is
well to note in passing that these figures do not include the equine population of
Canada, which, although not of such considerable number, is, however, of much
importance. On account of a concurrence of exceptional circumstances a crisis
was produced in the United States in 1894. The rigors of a glacial winter and
the insufficiency of forage greatly reduced the number of horses. Besides other
causes — such as the adoption of the bicycle, replacing animal traction by elec-
tricity, and automobile motors — the unfortunate economical situation provoked a
considerable decrease in the value of horses. This situation aroused the spirit of
enterprise of this nation, essentially traders, and caused them to look around for
an outlet for their over-supply. The port of Antwerp was one of the first to
attract the attention of speculators, and at the present moment several establish-
ments in that city are engaged in selling at private and i)ublic sales the cargoes
of American horses arriving regularly every week.

During the ten months ended October 31, 1897, 4,440 American horses were sold
in our metroiiolis, and it may be stated that this number does not include horses
of the above origin coming into Belgium by way of England or by trans- Atlantic
vessels calling into port.

The danger signal was until now particularly directed against fine horses
(carriage and saddle horses), but we now see post horses, cart and draft horses
(bus, train, and heavy wagon), for which the demand was usually addressed to
our Ardennes dealers. More than this, and a fact that should attract the atten-
tion of our horse breeders, each cargo of horses includes a certain number of draft
horses, which bring the highest prices, a detail particularly remarked iipon by
S. Doc. 35 2

18 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

those attending the reguhar sales. Our draft horses are to-day of great value,
due to an intelligent selection. Our indigenous race is the most ancient, the best
traced, the type and characteristics of which are most faithfully reproduced. A
few farmers have bought at Antwerp draft mares sired by stallions imported into
America, belonging to Percheron. Boullonnais, Shire, and Clydesdale races. The
mares have to our knowledge been presented to Belgian stallions, and the cross-
ing thus obtained has been sold as indigenous, to the great injury of the reputation
and purity of our race.

Moved by this condition of affairs, affecting the only prosperous branch of agri-
culture, all the Belgian societies having at heart the question of horse breeding
have united to combat the danger, and by the most authorized means have agreed
to make their conclusions unanimously predominate. The Federation Nationals
de TElevage du Cheval en Belgique (National Association for Horse Breeding in
Belgium) , which took the initiative in this campaign, the Societe Centrale d"Agri-
culture (Central Agricultural Society), the Societe Nationale des Eleveurs Beiges
(National Society of Belgian Breeders), and the Societe Royale Hippique (Royal
Equestrian Society) have made application to the minister of agriculture that he
will, without delay, confide to the delegates chosen by the societies the official
mission to make a study in the United States and Canada, so as to acquire a full
knowledge as to the equine population in the two countries and to make it the
object of a detailed report. At the same time there will be made in Belgium and
other foreign countries — that is to say, in centers of demand, as well as in breed-
ing localities — investigations to make known the sitiiation and to find new markets
for our equine production. Thus the Government will be able by the spring of
1898 to take such measures as the protection and interests of breeding may
dictate.

The following clipping from the Hamburgischer Correspondent, a
German paper, indicates a line of attack upon our horse similar to
that made upon the other agricultural products of the United States
which come in competition with German agrarian i^roductions :

IMPORTATION OF HORSES INTO GERMANY.

Halle, February 4, 1SD8.

Public economy councillor Dr. von Mendel-Steinfels, reports the importation
of horses to be a serious matter, and that the number brought from Russia is
annually 30,000, while from Denmark, Holland, France, Belgium, and other
countries it is 46,000.

But the most dangerous importations are from America, inasmuch as there the
worst veterinary managemeut imaginable exists. There is therefore great risk
of importing disease through this American importation, and it is with the
greatest satisfaction that- the Government has been found ready to take stringent
measures for limiting this evil and has given assurance that most especial watch-
ful care will be given to this matter.

This importing of animals has serious meaning, not only in the direction of
prices upon our markets, but also in the danger of admitting diseases, and it is of
most pressing importance that measures for the regulation of this trade be estab-
lished immediately.

To this end it will be necessary to extend the quarantine at Hamburg to four
weeks.

That the American horse breeders have for years been importing
the finest individual animals of tlio best breeds from the most perfect
European races is clearly proven by the studbooks of the old country,

CHARACTER OF AMERICAN HORSES. 19

where the jihrase "sold for export to America" is of frequent recur-
rence, often with the name and residence of the purchaser added.
Shires, Clydesdales, Belgian Draft, Percheron, Oldenburgs, Cleveland
Bays, and Hackneys, etc., have all figured in the list of importations,
and the efforts of American breeders to produce fine pure-blood
horses of these breeds have been crowned with success, while the
crossing of these stallions upon the large "native mares" has pro-
duced a number of large, heavy, showy horses, probably better suited
to the needs of our farmers and teamsters than some of the ponderous
and less agile pure-bloods.

There are, consequently, horses of all breeds in this country. A
glance at the various studbooks will convince anyone of the excel-
lence of the individual representations of each breed. Besides these
there are our own well-known standard-bred trotting horses, and that
varied, nondescript horse known as the "native stock," a name con-
veying no information to the uninitiated, but applied to a large and
well-recognized class of horses which ofttimes make excellent farm,
light-draft, or road horses.

In addition to these are the thoroughbred, the saddle horse, and
the horse of the Western range.

Hence there is no difficulty in breeding the kind of horses needed
for our own varied purposes or required by the foreign trade, and
this latter demand is by no means difficult to satisfy, as the purchases
made by the foreign buyers during the past five years prove.

This trade does not require either an impossible or an ideal horse
suited to all purposes; but it does demand good horses of every kind,
thoroughly prepared for their special work. A horse to bring a remu-
nerative price, either for home or foreign service, must fill a distinct
place, i. e., he must be a good one of his kind, whether that be a cav-
alry horse, a draft horse, a carriage horse, a trotter, a hunter, a polo
pony, or what kind soever. The standard by which good horses are
judged is practically the same on both continents. A good horse in
America is a good horse in Europe provided he fills a distinct want in
the business of the country. In Europe horses pull carts, cabs, omni-
buses, coaches, trams, plows, etc., and carry men on their backs.
Thus they need horses of all breeds, for no one breed can possibly
fill all of these requirements satisfactorily.

Europe is far away. It costs from $30 to $40 after the horse is pur-
chased in Chicago, Buffalo, or elsewhere in the Eastern half of the
United States before he can be disposed of in London, Antwerp, Paris,
or Hamburg. This charge is as great on a cheap as on a high priced
horse, hence, even if there were a demand for them, the profit on
cheap horses would be too small to justify the risks. Therefore, the
horses shipped abroad, while of the same breed and used for the same
purpose as those sold for domestic trade, are on the whole a better
lot of individuals.

Because of hard times and consequent low prices, horses could be

20 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

boup:]it in this country and sliippod to Eui'oi)e for :i «um of money-
less tlian the cost of production in those countries; and European
producers of the kind of horses* usually exported not being able to
compete have in many cases gone out of the business. However, as
the demand for liorses in this country increases and values rise, com-
petition by liorse raisers in Europe will again be strong, horse breed-
ing will again resume its sway in the countries at present affected,
and unless ways and means are devised to hold our vantage ground
this valuable addition to our agricultural exports will decline.

At present there is a scarcity of desirable animals, and prices are
rising. The susceptibility of an increase of the present value of export
business is therefore of vital importance to horse breeders of the
United States.

The larger part of the export trade consists of draft and road horses,
the former weighing over 1,600 pounds and being either pure blood or
half-breed Clydesdale, Percheron, Shire, or Belgian; and the latter
mostly standard-bred trotting stock, weighing from 1,000 to 1,200
pounds, and being assigned according to their fitness to coaches, cabs,
trams, light wagons, etc.

Soundness, size, style, and an aptitude for some special work is
required of every horse that is expected to fetch more than the price
paid for plugs. No longer does the glamor of a great ancestral pedi-
gree make a misshaped and unsound horse in demand as a breeder.
The blood of Hambletonian, Wilkes, or Mambrino is as valuable as
ever, having lost nothing of its prepotency; but the individual must
have merit of its own other than " sired by So-and-So" to make him
acceptable to the public.

An inference may be readily drawn as to the character of horses
desired by each of the countries mentioned below :

Great Britain. — Ninety per cent of all horses shipped to this coun-
try are draft horses, about 7 per cent are high-class coachers, and 3
per cent trotting and light carriage horses.

Germany. — Ninety-five per cent of all the horses shipped to Ham-
burg are draft horses weighing 1,500 pounds or upward, the other 5
per cent being made up of high-class carriage, running, and trotting
horses. Most of the latter are reshipped to Austria.

France. — About 85 per cent of the horses exported to this country
are what are termed cabbers. The other 15 per cent are about equally
divided between draft horses and trotters.

Belgium. — About 2 pei* cent of those sent to Antwerp are trotting
or light buggy horses, 23 per cent street-car horses weighing 1,200
pounds, and 75 per cent draft horses weighing 1,600 pounds and
upward,

NUMBER AND VALUE OF HORSES EXPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES.

The following tables, furnished by the Section of Foreign Markets,
United States Department of Agriculture, give not only the number

EXPORTS OF AMERICAN HORSES.

21

and value of horses exi^orted to Europe but to all other countries
for the five years 1898-1807:

Number of horses exported from the United States to the several foreign countries
during each fiscal year from 1893 to 1897, inclusive.

Countries to which exported.

Years

ended June 30 —

Annual

Jiverage

1893.

1894.

1895.

1896.

1897.

1893-1897.

Number.

564

1,600

33

Number.

1,355

3,&39

13

77
507

Number.

5,834

4,493

1,324

300

855

Number.

12,023

5,683

3,686

1,134

987

Nrimber.
19,350
3,902
4,897
4,213
1,884

Number. Per cent.
7,825 45.05

Canada

3,664

1,990

1,145

938

21.09

11.45

6.59

457

5.40

West Indies:

Cuba

43

105

13

4

99
80
38
13

67

121

26

26

7

3

6

5

3,889
241
13
13
19
11

819

162

28

19

7
6
2
2

4.71

British

263

47

41

11

5

5

2

.93

Haiti -

.16

French

.11

.04

Santo Domingo

4

5
1

.04

Dutch

.01

1

.01

Total

169

236

261

374

4,186

1,045

6.01

Central America:

11
9
17

206

33

8

4

3

186

11

5

526

7
5

278

3

8

13

59

241
11
9
3
13

1.39

.06

.05

.03

4

.07

Total

37

244

202

542

361

277

1.59

3
37

6
19

1

34
18

511
109
25
30
3
18
19

397
129
17
41
4
11
99

23
354
37
49
1
131
144

187
135
25
33
3
47
58

1.08

46
38
26
2
49
15

.78

Venezuela

.14

.19

Italy --

.01

British Guiana

.27

All other countries

.35

Total

2,967

5,346

13,984

25,126

39,532

17,371

100.00

Value of horses exported from, the United States to the several foreign countries
during each fiscal year from 1S93 to 1897, inclusive.

Countries to which exported.

Years ended June 30—

Annual
1893-

average.

1893.

1894.

1895.

1896.

1897.

1897.

Dollars.

204, oai

389, 493

79,950

Dolla rs.

307,375

480,078

34,500

4,300

155,804

Dollars.

953,533

710,737

260,433

45,960

61,343

Dollars.

1,776,600

693,6:39

614,363

174,161

62,239

Dollars.
3,579,736
478, .574
833,350
465,365
88,978

Dollars.

1,164 056
530,503
360,399
137,957
86,630

Per cent.
47.18

21.50

Germany

14.60

5.59

Mexico

64,885

3.51

West Indies:

Cuba

10,030
18,558
2,625
1,570

16,230
12,306
6,975
2,800

10,479

16,609

3,710

5,765

1,125

690

9.35

600

194,180
21,938
3,745
2,415
4,590
2,503

46, 182

19,372

5,047

3,850

1,4.57

1,303

377

270

1.87

British --

26,9.59

9,179

6,700

1,570

600

650

250

.78

Haiti

.30

.16

Porto Rico

.06

Santo Domingo

1,200
500"

1,525
300

.05

Dutch

.02

.01

Total

34,473

40,136

39,913

45,908

328,360

77,758

3.15

Central America:

4,300
3,100
.5,8.50

34,490

4,950

1,835

3,150

775

23,9.30

2,750
650

57,088
1,600
1,140

26,585

400

1, 7:33

1,375

3, 100

29,259

2,360

2,2.39

685

649

1.19

.09

.09

.03

370

.03

Total

12, 150

44,190

27,330

60,198

33,093

.35, 192

1.43

22

FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

Value of horses e.vportcd from the United States to the several foreign countries
during each fiscal year from 1893 to 1897, mdwswe— Continued.

Countries to which exported.

Years ended June 30—

Annual

average

1893.

1894.

1895.

18%.

1897.

1893-1897.

Dollars.
3,7,50
7,82:5
1,974
6, 150
1,000
3,2.50
9,675

Dollars.

""ijm

9, r>40
4,3:37
3, (KK)
8, 755
19,220

Dollars.
60,875

i2,6:n

9.460
5. 315
1,5, (KX)
2,415
5,460

Dollars.

14.280
7,2.56
8.710
:5,2(K)
2, 9(HI
8, 6.50

Dollars.

8,5(K)

37.0:50

10,110

5,960

800

1,425

10,085

Dollars.
26,345
1.5,906
7,668
6,094
4,6(K)
3,749
10. 618

Per cent.,
1.07

.64

.31

.25

Itsily

.19

British Guiana

.15

.43

Total

718,607

1,108,995

2,209,298

3,530,703

4,769,265

2,467,374

100.00

REPORTS AND EXTRACTS FROM REPORTS RELATING TO THE USE
OF AMERICAN HORSES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

GREAT BRITAIN'S

PURCHASES OF
ARGENTINA.

CAVALRY HORSES IN

[Letter from Hon. William I. Buchanan, American minister to Argentina,* dated November 19,

1898.]

Knowiiii? the interest taken by the Department of Agriculture and
our people in general in all that affects the market abroad for our
horses, I have taken some trouble to gather together such informa-
tion as possible with, regard to the purchases of Argentine horses
being made here, for the second time, by the British Government for
its troops in Africa.

All purchases of horses are made by commissions of officers from
the "Remount department" of the British army, which is a branch
of the headquarters staff at London, having sole control over the
purchases of horses used by the British army throughout the world.

The appointments of officers for this service are for the same period
as those for other staff positions — five years. The headquarters staff
consists of one insjiector-general (a general officer), one deputy assist-
ant general (of -any rank), three assistant inspectors (colonels), two
staff captains, about one hundred men from the Woolwich depot, and
the same from that of Dublin, and as many veterinary surgeons as
are required.

The commission making purchases here consists of two officers who
are advised by two veterinary surgeons. Tliey have this year pur-
chased about the same number of horses as they did last — 1,500. They
have bought three classes of horses :

(a) Cavalry: A well-bred horse (I learn very difficult to get here)
15 lumds 1 inch to 16 hands high, and bred from thoroughbred sires
and half-bred mares.

{h) Artillery: A coarser-bred liorse than (a) and with more weight,
bone and substance and less quality ; 15 hands 2 inches to 16
hands high.

*By the courtesy of the Honorable the Secretary of State.

CAVALRY HORSES FROM ARGENTINA. 23

(c) Cobs : From 14 hands 1 inch to 15 hands ; these are coarse bred,
weight-carrying animals for mounted infantry.

(a) and (b) are required to be tame enough to handle, i. e., to lead
and to examine as to age and soundness; (c) must all be ridden before
they will be bought.

No horses over 7 years old are purchased and but very few under 4
years old.

The prices paid by the commission this year are higher than those
paid last year. This is largely due to the "fall in gold," but in some
degree to the decreasing number of good desirable animals met with.
The latter is especially true, I am told, with regard to the quality of
cavalry horses desired.

This 3^ear prices have been for:

(a) Cavalry horses * $100 to $250.

(h) Royal artillery horses 100 to 200.

(c) Cobs..: 70to 80.

I think an average charge of $10 (paper) i3er head can be added to
these prices for freight from the "estancia" to this city.

Some mules have been bought by the commission this year at from
$70 to $120 (paper) per head, but they are of an inferior class; indeed
good mules do not seem to exist here in any numbers.

All these horses are shipped to Cape Colony, Natal, and Matabele-
land in ships chartered by the British Government. It is impossible
to give the freight per head, but it can be stated that it figures out
more than $35 gold.

The fittings on board ship cost about $5 gold per head. The time
consumed on the journey between here and the Cape is about twenty-
three days. The men who take care of the horses during the voyage
are paid £4 ($19.44 gold) for the trip.

It is claimed by the officers of the commission that it ic more advan-
tageous to charter a shij) entire to carry the horses they purchase
than to make a contract freight rate, since they are thus not only in
a position to take better care of their stock, but in addition are able
to carry alfalfa as cargo; and as they have to imiDort into Africa
almost all the forage they use and can buy alfalfa here at $40 (paper)
per Argentine ton, 2,204 pounds, baled and at ship's side, they find
it profitable to charter outright steamers of large carrying capacity.

In response to my inquiry as to the general soundness of Argentine
horses, I was told by a member of the commission tliat fully 70 per
cent of the horses offered them were sound, but that they found only
5 to 10 per cent of those offered suitable for their use. The diseases

* The average price paid for the larger number bought would be about $190.
These prices are in Argentine paper money. To reduce them to United States
currency first divide by an average gold rate of 2.60 and then multiply the result
by 0.965, the value of the Argentine gold peso in United States currency. As a
result of this calculation the Argentine paper dollar is found to be worth a frac-
tion over 87 cents in gold.

24 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

found among- the horses offered were cataracts, ring and side bones,
and spavin; many liad defective feet. I was also told, in reply to a
question I asked that, from my Informant's point of view, the best
animals AvcM-e produced here by crossing the native stock with thor-
oughbred blood, and that the use here of a heavy draft horse as a
sire had not given good results.

Members of the commission told me that they were each year
obliged to buy a large number of horses for Africa alone, owing
chiefly to the number of liorses which die there yearly from what is
known as "horse sickness," a form of malarial fever that is epidemic
tliere, and not yet understood by their veterinary surgeons, although
it has been studied carefully for several years. It is said that 18 per
cent of the horses used by the British forces in Africa die each year
from this disease alone, whereas not more than 2 per cent die from all
other diseases.

Should the marked "fall in gold" or appreciation in the value of
the paper money of this country that has taken place here during
tlic past year be maintained or increased it will be less advantageous
for the commission to buy horses here in the future, since the net
cost in pounds sterling increases with "falling gold." In the event
"low gold" continues, therefore, Australia will most likely be the
point the commission will next select for their operations. In that
connection I venture to suggest that I believe from conversations had
with members of the commission that it would be well for us to give
especial attention to the needs of the "Remount department," to
which I have made reference, as I believe " cavalry horses can be
advantageously bought in our country, and I am quite convinced that
that class of horses is exceedingly limited here.

AMERICAN HORSES IN BELGIUM.

[Letter from Hon. Bellamy Storer, Minister of the United States to Belgium, dated Brussels,

September 20, 1897.]

Sir : Learning of your desire to extend, if possible, the export trade
of the United States in horses as well as in cattle, especially your hope
that the United States might supply larger numbers of horses for mili-
tary service in Europe, I took advantage of the occasion of a visit to
Antwerp, made for the purpose of examining the question of the
importation of cattle, to see the stables used for imported horses at
that city.

There is no dutj'^ on horses imported into Belgium, and therefore
no "bonded" stables are needed.

The largest of these stables are called "the American stables,"
where tlie horses, after having been examined on the dock by Govern-
ment veterinarians, are brouglit and kept either for private sale or
for sale by auction. There were about 400 horses, all just landed
from New York, at the time of my visit, and I am told that they have
received as liigli as 7,000 liorses from tlie United States in a year.

AMERICAN HORSES IN BELGIUM. 25

These horses are brought from botli Canada and the United States,
either direct to Antwerp across the Atlantic, or after the transship-
ment in England from that country to Belgium.

The latter mode, while of course more expensive, enables the deal-
ers at times to sell a horse as English or Irish instead of American, at
a higher price. The stables, as far as I could learn, are entirely run
on a commission basis and horses remain there as long as the dealers
or importers choose to leave them.

These 400 American horses were decidedly of the common work-
horse type, having among them very few which showed a trace of
either action or blood. One lot of 24 horses had been sold at private
sale for 950 francs * a head, to go to Strassburg, on the Upper Rhine.
These were rather the best of the whole lot of working horses and
were such as our farmers in the Ohio Valley would ask from $(30 to
$90 for. There were a few draft horses among the remainder showing
decided traces of Flemish admixture, but falling far short of the fine
draft horses for which Flanders is famous. Two hundred and ninety
of the horses had been brought over by one American dealer, who was
preparing to sell at auction on the fourth day after landing. This I
mention to show the good average condition in which horses are deliv-
ered at Antwerp by the steamship companies without any special care
having been taken about them. In all these 400 horses I think there
were but four or five which showed signs of illness, and perhaps
double that number had been slightly cut or galled during the voyage.
It was impossible to find out from this man or any other of the deal-
ers what they had paid for these horses in America, or, except very
vaguely, from what part of the United States they came.

On this occasion I had the advantage of the company of the mili-
tary attache of this legation. Lieutenant Langhorne, of the First
Cavalry, whose practical knowledge and long experience in the pur-
chase of horses for our Army made his presence and comments of the
greatest interest and value.

On leaving these stables we were able to obtain permission to visit
and examine the collections of the famous draft horses of Flanders,
owned by the various cooperative societies of teamsters and truckmen
who do the business of the docks at Antwerp. These societies are
supposed to own the finest stables of these horses in existence.

The magnificent condition of these animals showed the care given
them and the pride taken in them by their owners. Each member of
the society has the care of two special horses and is charged with
the sole responsibility of their health and condition, being given
absolute carte blanche as to the amount and quality of their feed
and the details of looking after them.

* The State Department gives the value of the franc in United States money
as 19.3 cents. Ordinary calculations in round numbers are usually made on the
basis of five francs to the dollar.

26 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

Wo Avere able also to see a largje number of liorses just brought
from America for the market in Paris, the freight from New York
via Antwerp to Paris being less than that via Havre. These horses
came from Indiana and seemed to be a good common grade of farm
horse, apparent ly all selected for soundness. The dealer expected to
sell about half of them for French military service, while the other
half, he said, would go into the cab service at Paris. It was impossi-
ble to obtain from him the information as to how much he paid for
these horses in America or as to what he expected to get for them in
Paris; but as prices are rather higher there than in Antwerp, taking
into consideration the quality of these horses compared with those I
have mentioned abov^e, I suppose he would expect on an average
about 1,100 francs.

A certain number of high-bred saddle horses for park riding and
officers' mounts were observed, but there was risk of their finding no
market.

I am satisfied of two things :

First. That there is little chance for sale in Belgium for our finest
and largest draft horses, because the home bred are larger and finer
looking. Among the great truck horses we saw Avere two pairs of
Americans, which, while fine animals, were so much smaller and less
showy than the enormous Flemish horses that it was evident the
popular mind would not accept them as a substitute.

Second. That the horses which will meet with a sale in all the
various countries supplied through the port of Antwerp, which is the
largest liorse-importing city on the Continent, are the common, plain
farmers' horses from 5 to 7 years of age, without speed, but with good
strength and endurance, such as were sold in the Ohio Valley during
the last three or four years at from $50 to $75. These, I think, would
meet with a sale at from $150 to $200 at Antwerp if they were in
good condition.

I am informed that it has alwaj^s been and is now impossible to
sell any American horses to the military establishments in Belgium.
The purchases for this purpose are so much controlled by government
routine methods that this avenue is practically closed to any inno-
vation in selection.

REPORT OF THE AMERICAN MILITARY ATTACH!^.

[Report of Lieut. G. T. Langhorne, military attache * of the United States Legation at Brussels,

dated October 30, 1897.]

Sir: a few weeks ago the United States minister, Hon. Bellamy
Storer, invited me to accompany him to Antwerj) in order to examine
with him into the question of the imi^ortation of horses from the
United States into Belgium, as well as to other countries of Europe,
through the port of Antwerp. He has expressed a desire to have me

' By courtesy of the honorable the Secretary of War.

AMERICAN HORSES IN BELGIUM. 27

make a report on this subject — sucli a report as might be of interest
to the Department of Agriculture.

I therefore have the honor to submit to you in brief the ideas
suggested to me by an examination of the subject.

There will xJi'obably be imported this year through Antwerp about
20,000 horses from America. A number of these will come from
Canada.

We saw about 200 horses that had just been brought from New
York, most of them having been bought in or near Chicago. They
were of all sorts. The draft animals were fairly good, but few of the
so-called carriage horses had any pretense to good breeding or to
style. There were one or two fine animals, but the whole lot looked
as if they had been picked up at small cost, with care taken only for
soundness. They had stood the voyage remarkably well. Other lots
of horses were shown that appeared to much better advantage. They
were going to France and to Switzerland (some for military service),
and were expected to bring higher prices there than those sent to
Belgium.

We were taken to the stables of two of the cooperative companies
of workmen to see there the best kind of draft horses used in Antwerp.
These were magnificent animals, some of them weighing over 2,500
pounds and standing 17|^ and even 18 hands high. Many of them
weighed over 2,000 pounds. As a rule they were of the Flemish breed,
although there were a number of American ones among them. These
latter, although not so large (being, however, over 16 hands and
1,000 pounds), appeared more muscular than the former in propor-
tion. A single one of these horses is expected to draw 1,100 pounds
on the low trucks (four wheels) used in the streets of Antwerp.

In importing horses to Europe care should first of all be taken as
to soundness, as even a slight splint would ruin the sale of a good
animal. Each horse imported to Belgium is inspected by a Govern-
ment veterinarian, for which there is a charge of 2^ francs. Within
the last few weeks this charge on horses billed to other countries
and merely passing through Belgium has been discontinued.

CARRIAGE HORSES, ETC.

Carriage horses, etc., are much sought after, and in Brussels and
the rest of the continent bring large prices when of the popular type.
Short-coupled, high-headed, and high-stepping horses are what is
wanted, and not the fast roadsters seen in many parts of the country.
The latter lift their feet high only when going fast. Here horses that
step high when going slow — park horses, in fact — are the thing.

HACKNEYS, COACH HORSES, ETC.

Hackneys, coach horses, cobs, etc., of great style and action always
find a good market. Sometimes in March and April the fast road-

28 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

sters can bo sold to advantage for nse in the country, but as a rale
they do not bring the prices of the more showy park animals.

SADDLE HORSES.

A great many of these are in use. Every rider in Belgium uses
the English saddle and rides with the English seat, and therefore
their mounts must be in keeping. The Irish and English horses,
well bred, with small heads and ears, necks tapering and easily
arched, short, straight backs, long, sloping shoulders, and clean legs
with high knee action, are of the type most in demand. Everything
is for style and showy action. The gaits are the trot, the walk, the
canter, and the gallop, in that order.

HUNTERS AND JUMPERS.

Although there is no hunting to amount to anything in this conn-
try, still a high jumper will bring almost any price on account of the
fact that in the spring there are many contests with x)rizes for jumping.

In the three classes above mentioned there is no limit to be put as
to the j)rice, as so much depends on the need and means of the seller
and buyer. A wealthy man wanting a riding animal will readily
give 4,000 francs or more for a stylish, well-built horse that suits his
fancy. I have asked the j)rices of many horses here in Brussels, and
have found them all high. A good-looking j)air of bay carriage
horses, 15f hands, of good action, were held at 8,000 francs ($1,600).

DRAFT HORSES.

These have the quickest sale. There is a good market for them
always. The best type is the short-coupled, short-legged, large-bodied,
large-boned horse, with a rather small, intelligent head. No very
pronounced Roman noses nor long, coarse hair on the legs above the
fetlocks are liked.

The heavy weights (some of the American horses reach 1,800 pounds)
bring from $190 up, while the smaller animals, 800 to 1,000 pounds,
bring from $125 n\) when good. Such horses can be used for delivery
wagons and for trams or street cars. They can be found in many
parts of our country.

Horsemen and buyers here object to the long-legged, long-backed
horse of any sort, and such animals do not seem to bring as good prices
as others perhaps not so finely bred, but more to the taste of the buyers.

The cavalry and artillery horses are furnished to the Government
by contract.

The Irish horse is here again the favorite. Perhaps American
animals shipped through England or Ireland oftentimes become natur-
alized in a few days and are sold as natives of those islands. The
price paid is between 1,100 and 1,200 francs. At present it is 1,150

AMERICAN HORSES IN BELGIUM. 29

francs. The descriptions of the horses in the army here and those
of our own service are practically the same, but the animals them-
selves are quite different. This seems paradoxical, but it is due to
the different needs and the ideas in the two countries. We have
weight carriers, with large barrels, to stand hard work and to become
" rustlers " when forage gives out. The horses here are more care-
fully treated, have much smaller barrels, and are more lightly and
gracefully built than ours. I think that our Government horses are
better than those of this country, but the officers here have much
finer mounts than our own.

I came from London a few days ago on the same boat with 30
Irish horses being brought over for the Belgian cavalry. They were
animals of the small hunter type, rather well bred, although many of
them had large ears and not pretty heads. The dealer said that he
paid £30 * for them in the south of Ireland ; the cost of bringing
them over was about £2 ; he got for them 1,150 francs. Ilis profit was
then about £14 ($70) a head.

Horses for the service are inspected at the barracks of the regi-
ments by boards consisting of two officers and a veterinarian, and the
colonel or his representative is alwaj'S present. When accepted they
are paid for at the contract price. The contractors become expert in
buying the type of animal that they know from experience will prob-
ably be accepted, make few mistakes, and have few horses left on
their hands.

Officers are allowed to choose and to take from the contractors at
the fixed price horses that they wish, but frequently they will buy
outside and pay much more for horses that suit them. They, too, are
fond of the high-stepping, stylish saddle animals, and, like the Mexi-
can in regard to his sombrero, will give more than their year's pay
for a fine mount.

Those who wish to import horses to this country or to the rest of
the Continent will do well to communicate with Mr. B. Gregoir, 5
Place de la Commune, Antwerp. He is a Belgian who has traveled a
great deal in the United States. He has built large stables, now
accommodating more than 300 horses, in Antwerp for the convenience
of shippers. The sellers have the use of the stables, etc. , according
to the following:

AMERICAN STABLES.

[Cable address: American Stables, Antwerp. ABC code used. Rue Montigney, Antwerp.
Space for 160 horses, 10 box stalls.']

The largest stables in Belgium, with best accommodations for foreign shippers;
near the quay, railway depot, great boulevards, street cars coming from any part
of the city. Nice and cheap rooms and boarding same place. Great manage, and

*The State Department gives the value of the £ sterling as $4,866 in United
States money. Ordinary calculations in round numbers are usually made on the
basis of five dollars to the pound (£).

30 FOKEIUN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

everything necessary to drive or ride the horses; telephone freely to the disposal
of customers.

Entrance, 2 francs per horse. All other costs, including landing, conduct to
stahles, feeding, cares, reshipping horses, and one man per ten horses: In stalls,
3 francs per horse and day; in box stalls, 5 francs.

Shoeing, veterinary cares, certificates, inspection, and medicines are the only
extra costs to be paid.

His eommi.ssion is 5 per cent, of which 3 per cent, as I understand,
goes to the Governraent. This is the only good jjlace that I could
find, and by shipping to him many annoyances are avoided until the
shii)per learns the ways of this country and can make better arrange-
ments.

The tails of all horses here are docked. This is badly done, as a
rule, in America. At the stables above mentioned the horses are
docked by an expert at no charge to the shipper, the operator keeping
the hair cut off as his recompense.

The Phoenix line of steamships brings over the horses at a cost of
$20 per head from New York to Antwerp, or for $30 including every-
thing— insurance, feeding, attendance, and all. The cost of the same
from Chicago to Antwerp is about $40. The voyage takes two weeks
or less, and the horses arrive in excellent condition. I have seen
about four lots that came in that way. The tails should alwaj^s be
sacked, to avoid their being rubbed. The horses arrived on Saturdays,
Sundays, or Mondays, and were sold the following Thursdays. I
saw those that were sold on the 16th of September. They appeared
to be a very indifferent lot. Those sold on the 14th of October, which
I also saw, were much better, but still not by any means of superior
types, although many of the draft animals were excellent, and such
brought over 1,000 francs. I understood from a confidential source
that the shippers in these instances realized about $40 to $43 per
horse. The animals cost on an average about $9G laid down in
Antwerp.

The buyers were principally men having sales stables, who, of course,
expected to make a profit by reselling their purchases. In selling
pairs it is well to put them up first separately and then as a pair, as
this is allowed in the Belgian trade; and if not so much is offered on
the pair as on the two sold singly the horses go to the highest sepa-
rate bidders.

All horses sent over should be well broken and have good manners,
not only in harness and under the saddle, but also in the stable. The
attendants in this country are by no means good horsemen, and it
takes a well-broken animal to stand the treatment it receives.

Mares are in as general use as geldings, and there seems to be no
difference as to price. This is so also of those in the military service.
Roans are very popular, and, all other things being equal, bring higher
prices.

I have experienced some difficulty in collecting the above informa-

REQUIREMENTS FOR GERMAN ARMY HORSES. 31

tion, and have taken into consideration the fact that horse dealers
here as elsewhere are prone to exaggeration, depending, of course,
upon the point of view.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GERMAN ARMY HORSES.

[Extract from report of Lieutenant von Kiihu]

Horses for service in the German army must have good blood, sound
legs and feet, a strong back, fit to carry heavy weight. Special atten-
tion is paid to the compactness of the back and groin. It is also
necessary for the horses to have a regular, swinging action. Further,
it is considered desirable that the horses should have a long and set-
tled shoulder, well-marked withers, large quarters, a broad chest, a
well-shaped neck, a muscular forearm, with short bones and Aviry
tendons, strong hocks, and fetlocks in good i)osition, neither too soft
nor too straight.

Horses bought for the cuirassier regiments must measure at the least
1.53 meters; those for all regiments of the uhlans, for the dragoons,
and the hussars of the guard, 1.49 meters; for all other regiments of
dragoons and hussars, 1.46 meters; the draft horses of the artillery,
1.52 meters, and for the charges of the artillery, 1.48 meters. In all
these cases the lowest measure acceptable is given. Horses in the
service of the cavalry are expected to do service for a term of ten
years; those in the artiller}^ nine years.

Every year about one-tenth of the horses doing service in the cavalry
and the baggage department of the German army and one-ninth of
the horses doing service in the artillery are put out and replaced by
new animals.

For the Prussian part of the German army during the fiscal year
1897-98 provision is made for the purchase of 8,393 horses. For these
horses, which have to be from three to five years of age, the average
price paid is 830 marks.* On the same conditions 679 horses are
required for the regiments of the Kingdom of Saxony and 444 horses,
for which an average price of 1,150 marks is to be paid, are required
for the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, while the Bavarian part of the Ger-
man army requires about 1, 200 horses, at an average price of about 1,050
marks. As a rule all those horses are bought at an age of from three
to four years. First they are sent to so-called "remounting depots" —
large pasture grounds belonging to the Government — where they remain
for one year. The purchase of these horses is made by "Remonte-
Aakaufscommissionen," i. e., by military boards constituted for the
purpose of remounting the German cavalry and artillery and acting
under direct supervision of the ministry of war. These boards are

*Tlie State Department gives the value of the German mark as 23.8 cents in
United States money. Ordinary calcnlations in round numbers are usually
made on the basis of four marks to the dollar.

32 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

pormancntly organized and consist of three officers and one veterinary-
surgeon.

Six boards for remounting purposes are provided for the German
army, the Gei-man Empire being divided in six remounting districts.
Every year tliose districts are visited by the commission allotted to
them. It is the duty of the local civil authorities to make arrange-
ments for the holding of fairs for remounting purposes. This is done
by means of public advertisement. To these fairs horse breeders and
horse dealers send their stock. The purchase of the horses is done
free-handed by the board. The price agreed upon is paid cash down
immediately after the conclusion of the bargain.

There is no provision existing prohibiting the purchase of imported
horses; the price to be paid is a matter left to the purchasing board,
on condition that the average price is not to be exceeded.

Amounts of 1,000 to 1,200 marks are very seldom paid for horses,
except by the governments of Wiirtemberg and Bavaria. In Prus-
sia 1,000 to 1,200 marks are paid only if horses are used for special
purposes — for instance, for the use of the bearers of the colors and
the kettledrums. These high prices are paid so seldom that they
hardly can be taken into consideration as an inducement for foreign
importers.

Of the four most important purchasing boards for remounting pur-
poses, two are for eastern Prussia and Posen, one for Hanover, one for
Mecklenburg, and one for Schleswig-Holstein. These boards buy four-
fifths of all the horses used in the German army. The three boards
first mentioned purchase almost the whole number of horses needed
for cavalry jiurposes. In the j)rovinces of eastern Prussia, western
Prussia, and Posen horse raising is in a very flourishing condition,
the animals for the most part belonging to the "Trakehnen" breed.
The Trakehnen horse is originally a horse native to the soil and used
for farming work, crossbred with Russian horses. In the course of
this century a new brand of Trakehnen horses has been raised by
crossbreeding with English full-blood stallions. This work has been
carried on successfully, especially for the last twenty-five years, and
as a consequence the Trakehnen breed has been much improved,
especially as far as their speed is concerned.

Although the use of English stallions has met with considerable
opposition in different quarters, it is still carried on to a great extent.
The i^urchasing board of Mecklenburg, Hanover, and Schleswig-
Holstein buy mostly horses of a heavier breed for artillery. These
horses belong to the native brand of Mecklenburg, which has been
much improved in the course of the last few years by crossbreeding
with English stallions. For the use of the German army no horses
are directly imported from foreign countries.

As far as the import of American horses for army purposes comes
.into consideration, it has to be stated that there are no official objec-

HORSES FOR PRIVATE USE IN GERMANY. 33

tioDS against it, and no objections based on the quality of the Ameri-
can horse.

The American exporter as well as the German importer has the
same right as every German horse raiser or horse dealer to bring
American horses to the fairs held for remounting purposes and to
offer them for sale to the purchasing boards; but it must be taken
into consideration that in buying the horses for the use of the German
army the purchasing boards have the unlimited power to buy such
horses as they deem fit, and if they choose to reject horses they are
not expected to give any reasons for their action.

It is very probable that these boards would not hesitate to purchase
at reasonable prices some American horses offered to them if they
considered them fit for the service in question, but the situation
undoubtedly would be changed in case American horses should be
imported in great number for army purposes. The officers consti-
tuting the purchasing boards are experts, and in view of the control
which the Government exercises over all imports it would be impos-
sible to conceal the origin of these horses for any length of time.

The horses used in Germany in civil life for business purposes of
different kinds average in height from 1.46 to 1.54 meters. Dark
colors are preferred as a rule. For heavy horses, such as are used for
delivery wagons of breweries and for the delivery of freight, a larger
brand is in demand — horses weighing about 500 to 600 kilograms. As
a matter of principle, stallions are not taken, and geldings are pre-
ferred to mares. Horses raised in eastern Prussia and Mecklenburg
areconsidered favorites, but a great many of Danish, Belgian, French,
and American origin are used. The street-car companies pay for their
horses on the average 800 to 900 marks, and buy them at the age of
5 to 7 years. A street-car horse serves on an average for five years,
but there are cases where horses have done service for the street-car
companies up to twelve and even fifteen years. In the service of the
street-car companies are found a great number of Danish, Hungarian,
and French horses. In connection with this it may be stated that the
demand for horses for the street-car companies has greatly diminished
in the course of the last few years and is bound to grow less from
year to year on account of the establishment of street-car lines run
by electric power. In a great many of the larger cities in Germany
the use of horsepower for street-car purposes has already been
abolished altogether, and it is a question of comparatively a few years
when the whole system of street cars in Berlin will also be run by
electric power. The street car drawn by horses will soon be confined
to very small places.

The omnibus companies as a rule use very large carriages for the
conveniences of the passengers, and accordingly need very heavy and
S. Doc. 35 3

34 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

powerful horses, for which an average price of 1,200 marks is paid.
In some cases from 1,300 to 1,400 marks have been paid for American
horses by these companies, but it must be stated that the omnibus
people have not been satisfied with their American purchases. Height
of omnibus horses is about 1.53 meters.

The firms canying on the freight-delivery business pay, as a rule,
from 1,200 to 1,500 marks, and prefer horses raised in the northern
part of Germany, France, Belgium, and Denmark. For a good work-
ing horse about 1,000 marks are paid.

Horses for private carriages command a very different price. Com-
paratively there is no great luxury indulged in horses by the carriage
owners in Germany. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but
they are hardly worth consideration. It may be taken for granted
that for horses used for private carriages 1,500 to 2,000 marks per
head are paid on an average.

Of the prices paid for American fast trotters no statement can be
made, because that depends entirely on the record, the pedigree, and
similar points, by which the price changes from horse to horse.

The Berlin fire department and the mounted police in the large
cities buy their horses from dealers with whom they have contracts.
The fire department expends from 1,000 to 1,200 marks for a horse.
In some cases they go as far as 1,350 marks, but this is seldom done.
They prefer horses bred in Mecklenburg or in the eastern part of
Prussia. The mounted police in the larger cities, especially in Berlin,
are spendidlj^ mounted on very heavy horses, measuring not less than
1. 54 meters. As a matter of principle, gray horses are rejected as well
by the fire department as by the police authorities. The mounted
police pay about 1,000 marks for a horse. Only very gentle horses
are taken, and none with faults which would be an obstacle to their
use in crowded streets; so all biting and kicking horses are rejected,
and the contractor is bound to replace them by other animals. The
horses of the mounted police are put into service at the age of 5 to
7 years, very seldom younger, often older. As a rule they serve four
years, then they are returned to the contractor. Under certain stip-
ulated conditions he has to take those horses in partial payment for
new ones, which he has to furnish. It may be stated here that the
price paid for horses in the southern part of Germany is about 15 per
cent higher than in the northern part.

A duty of 10 marks is levied for colts, yearlings, and horses of the
age of 2 years ; for horses older than 2 years, 20 marks have to be
paid. A certificate of health, issued by the authorities of the country
from which the horse is exported, is indispensable. At the arrival on
Gei-man soil a veterinary inspection of the horses takes place. Quar-
antine for horses is abolished and only takes place when horses are

SHIPPING HORSES TO GERMAN"?. 35

imported from countries which have been declared infected by con-
tagious horse diseases.

To increase the export of American horses to Germany it would be
advisable for American dealers and horse breeders to establish con-
nections with dealers in the large cities of Germany. This method
would be more advantageous than the establishment of special depots
for the sale of American horses. The Russian Government some
time ago established in Berlin stables, etc., for the sale of Russian
trotters and expended a great amount of money in carrying on this
establishment, but suffered considerable losses and finally concluded
to shut up the business. If the United States desire to find a market
in Germany for American horses it is absolutely necessary that great
care should be taken in carrying the horses across the ocean. Dealers
generally complain that American horses arrive in a very poor condi-
tion ;* in consequence prices offered for them are low, and to bring them
into condition costs time and money. Changes for the better would
be effected by making arrangements with one or the other of the
trans- Atlantic steamship companies. The statement made with refer-
ence to the condition in which the horses imported from the United
States arrive in Germany apply but to the inferior animals ; valuable
trotters are of course very well taken care of, but the price paid for
their transport is accordingly high.

A STATEMENT OF EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION IN SHIP-
PING HORSES TO GERMANY.

[Extract from letter of Mr. John A. Meyera, formerly Director of the Experiment Station of West
Virginia, dated New York, June 7, 1898.]

My partner in this business was an ex-German of&cer, highly con-
nected in Dresden and known to the secretary of war for the Kingdom
of Saxony and the officers of some of the regiments in the barracks at
Dresden. He is a citizen of Germany, which gave us considerable
advantage in our chances of doing business in Germany over those
possessed by the ordinary American citizen, unacquainted with their
language, peculiar laws, and habits of business.

An American shipping horses to Germany will find it more profitable
to ship heavy and medium draft horses. These can be sold in Ham-
burg, if landed in good condition, for from 650 to 800 marks a head,
equivalent to in round numbers from about $160 to $200 per head.
There is also a demand for a limited supply of fine saddle and coach
horses. It will not pay to shij) anything except the best horses. The
army officers like to have good horses, for which they can pay from
$200 to $500 a head, depending upon the quality of the horse. There
is, however, a regulation, either written or implied, requiring them to

* See letter of Meyers and letter of minister to Belgium, p. 24.

36 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

purchase their horses from German citizens, and we would not have
been able to have disposed of a single horse to the officers of the army
had it not been for the fact that my partner himself was a German.
The habits of the officers are such that a horse seems to be thoroughly
discussed among them before a purchase is made, and at present there
is a determination in some quarters to prevent as far as possible the
introduction of American horses into the army. My partner, how-
ever, succeeded in negotiating several sales with the armj^ officers,
and these, with the sales that he had made from a former shipment,
all turned out to be extremel}^ satisfactor}^ We had facilities for
knowing that the officers who had bought the horses, without excep-
tion, made most flattering reports to their colonels in regard to them,
and that these reports to the colonels also reached the war department
of the Kingdom of Saxony. We were endeavoring to negotiate a sale
of horses to the Swiss Government, and it came to us quite directly
that the report of the Saxon war department upon the American horses
in the Saxon army to the Swiss Government was highly favorable. It
is, however, impracticable to attempt to supply the army with Amer-
ican horses at the present time, unless combinations can be effected
through channels which we fail to discover.

The trade in Germany is carried on quite differently from that in
America. Their business methods and their manner of negotiating
sales are entirely different from ours. There is no such thing as fixed
prices in Germany, and it is not an uncommon thing for a dealer to
ask three times as much as he will take for a horse. The intending
purchaser selects the horse he wishes, and then goes off with the dealer
to a cafe or beer garden, where they smoke and drink beer and con-
tinue in negotiations, the dealer gradually falling in his price and the
intending purchaser rising in his, until, perhaps, they come to an
agreement. The intending purchaser, accompanied by his friends,
makes two or three visits and at last brings a veterinarian.

Such a thing as competition, as known to us, would be considered
dishonorable among the Germans, and if a gentleman is considering
the purchase of a horse and another comes around who is well
pleased with it, you dare not under any circumstances allow him to
know that the other man is thinking of purchasing the animal, as he
would at once stand aside and wait until the other man made up his
mind. The sale of horses by auction is substantiallj^ unknown in
Germany and it will probably be a long time before it is well intro-
duced, if it should ever be, as it-meets with opposition from all those
people who live upon the men who are dealing in horses. There is
one firm in Berlin of very considerable wealth that is able to buy
extensively and continue the auction of horses somewhat on the prin-
ciple followed in the large sales of horses in this country, but it is com-
pelled in many cases, I am told, to bid in its horses in order to prevent
loss. This combination of dealers not to bid against one another and
to follow the principle of finding fault with a horse that a man is

SHIPPING HORSES TO GEKMANY. 37

thinking of buying also makes it a precarious business for the Ameri-
can who takes a cargo of horses to Hamburg, which is the principal
point where American horses are landed in Germany. The business
in Hamburg is under the control of local dealers who have connec-
tions with the dealers in the interior of the country.

It is quite the custom in Germany for the dealers to go to Hamburg
and buy American horses to take into the interior. The better class
of these horses, if draft horses, are often sold as Belgian horses; if
saddle or coach horses, the}' are often sold as English horses; and the
culls are sold in the interior as American horses. Every defect that
is discovered in any horse is promptlj^ applied to all American horses,
and studiously published in the i^apers and spread in all directions
by the dealers, their effort being to prevent an extension of the busi-
ness in Germany.

We went with the determination to" try to establish a good reputa-
tion and guaranteed every horse to be exactly as represented. If
found not to be so, it would be returned. The fact that we were able,
in spite of all opposition, to do business with the army officers called
out several attacks upon us in the papers, the general expression
of which was about as follows :

It is a matter very much to be regretted that American horses are being offered
for sale in the German markets. This should not be permitted, as they come into
competition wdth German-grown horses and tend to force down the prices of
German horses. Two years ago a good draft horse in this section brought about
1,200 marks. Since the introduction of the American draft horses the prices have
fallen to about 800 marks. The Americans have now begun to introduce coach
and saddle horses. Upon investigation we find that the horses have proven so
satisfactory that even officers of the army have purchased some of them. The
enterprising Americans have been able to do a good business. The German
dealers should improve their business methods, and the importation of American
horses should be stopped.

It costs about $30 to ship a horse from New York to Hamburg.
Horses can be shipped either hy waj' of London, where they will be
reshipped, or direct to Hamburg. The price bj^ way of London is $30.
The steamship companj^ furnishes feed and attendance. If shipped
direct to Hamburg, the price is $25, but the shipper must furnish the
attendant and feed in addition. The steamship company allows the
attendant to return free of charge. An attendant is needed for about
every 10 horses. If the shipper wishes, he can have the horses insured'
at a premium of from $5 to $6 a head. The rates of insurance vary.
The ordinary insurance placed upon a horse is $150, which the com-
pany pays promptly if the horse fails to walk ashore in Hamburg. If
it is able to walk ashore, even should it die one-half hour after it
lands, the insurance company will not pay. The horses are so well
packed in the ship that there is little loss during transportation. The
system of ventilation in the ships, however, is such that the horses
nearly all catch bad colds, from which they suffer seriously during
transportation and still more seriously after they arrive on the other

38 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

side. They are packed into tlie ship so closely that it is impossible
for them to lie down during transportation, and when they arrive at
the other side they are, of course, very stiff, more or less bruised and
nibbed, and are really not ready to be offered for sale in the retail
market for at least ten days. The principal losses at sea are caused
by injudicious feeding and lack of careful attention to the horses.
The attendant should notice them with great care, and if their bowels
or kidneys fail to act regularly he should promptly administer proper
medicines, as otherwise the horse will soon be in a condition beyond
successful treatment.

In Hamburg there is a tax of $5 a head, and it costs about 50 cents
a head to land the horses and transport them to the sales stables.
The charges in Hamburg for keeping a horse are about $1 a day for
the first two days, about 75 cents a day if thej^ remain a week, and
about 50 cents a day if they reinain longer; this latter, however, bj^
special contract. Unless an American has made a number of ship-
ments and is thoroughly familiar with the details of the business, it
is necessarj^ for him to employ the services of a broker or commis-
sioner who will look after the landing and transportation of the horses
to the stables, the payment of the local tax, and the loading of the
horses on the railroad cars. The railroad cars are arranged to carry
6 horses each, but by careful packing a person can put 10 head of
smaller horses into each car. An attendant should accompany the
train. The rates are fixed and are proportional to the distance the
horses are shipped.

Horses can be boarded at towns in the interior at about 65 cents a
daj^, and by careful contracting a person can have them kept for 00
cents a day.

All horses shipped to Germany go through a process of acclimation
and are subject to what the Germans call "druse," a species of dis-
temper which attacks the animal in various forms. Unless neglected,
it is not fatal, but it incapacitates a horse for work and unfits it for
exhibition purposes until after the attack. The attack usually lasts
only a week or ten days, though the horse may be invalided from it
for several weeks. It is quite a serious trouble.

There is another difficulty about the transportation of horses which
can scarcely be overcome. The horses are affected differently by the
ocean trip; the hair changes color in quite a perceptible degree, and
one horse may lose flesh while another will gain, so that a man can
not be certain that a pair of horses quite perfectly matched in New
York will be matched when ready for sale on the other side of the
ocean. We were compelled to break up several well-matched teams
on this account.

In regard to the colors of horses, the favorite color is bay without
markings; the white horse is substantially unsalable, and a gray horse
is difficult to sell. Black horses should be shipped with long manes
and tails. The demand for them is limited. They are used princi-

HORSES IN FRANCE. 39

pally for funeral processions, hearses, etc. They should be entirely
free of all markings, of solid black color, and large size. There is a
good demand for dark sorrels if free from white markings. Saddle
and coach horses are docked; draft horses are sold without being
trimmed. In regard to gaits for horses, the only gaits required are
walking, trotting, and galloping. Other gaits are objectionable.
They insist upon horses of high action and courageous appearance.
Trotting stock is little known in Germany, and is wholly unappre-
ciated. They insist upon having the horses in good condition, and
prefer a horse built on the style of the English cob as a coach and
riding horse.

I have mentioned the difficulties that any American is likely to
encounter who undertakes the business in Germany. He may pre-
pare himself to face them, and if he can overcome them and form the
proper connections in Germany, there is money to be made in the
export of American horses.

HORSES IN PRANCE.

[Extract from a report by Mr. Edw. M. Greeu, of Paris, Prance.]
ENCOURAGEMENTS FOR IMPROVING THE RACE AND FOR BREEDING.

Much encouragement is offered by the Government, societies, and
individuals for horse breeding and for improvement of the race, in
the way of prizes at horse shows, hippodromes, trials, and races.

The horse shows have done much good not only in improving the
breed, but in showing clearly to farmers and breeders what kind and
class of animals they should raise and what is best fitted for the
requirements of the country and for exportation. Undoubtedly
great pains are taken in France for the improvement of the breed of
their horses, and the results during the last ten years are very satis-
factory, the statistics showing a continued increase not only in the
number of approved stallions, but also in the number of mares
served by stallions of improved breed. The business of horse breed-
ing is popular in France and is increasing under the encouragement
given by the Government and various societies. Automobiles and
bicycles have undoubtedly supplanted the use of horses to some
extent, and the number of those animals actually needed may be some-
what smaller than previously. Good authorities contend that the use
of automobiles and bicycles will not affect the horse breeding in
France as much as it will the importation of foreign horses.

HORSES AND THEIR USES.

Of the total number of horses in France about 1,080,000 horses and
geldings and about 1,020,000 mares are employed for farming and
agricultural purposes.

40 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

Race horses, mail-coach, riding, and private carriage horses come
from all quarters, and their prices and sizes are hard to determine, as
they are subject to the qualities of the animal and to the fancies of
the purchasers. The race horses are generally of pure English or
Anglo- Arabian blood. The mail-coach horses are of pure or half
blood.

Tlie Percheron, Boulonnais, and Normand horses are used for heavy
draft purposes. The Percherons are used to a great extent for omni-
bus service (nearly exclusively so in Paris), but also for drays,
wagons, carriages, carts, and farm work. The breeders of Percherons
have taken great pains not to allow them to drift into the Clydesdale
type, but to produce horses suitable for almost anj^ kind of work, and
thej^ are successful in carrying out this purpose.

The Boulonnais horses come from Boulogne district and are used
almost entirely for heavy draft service, being very large, of immense
strength, and noted for being very active. They are somewhat taller
than the Percherons, of heavier body and more compact. They are
magnificent animals. The Boulonnais are much used in single har-
ness for heavy drays and for goods carriages.

The " Normand " horses are smaller in size than the Percheron, and
are used for draft purposes and farm work.

The Brittany horses are small and of great endurance. They are
used by the railroad-passenger omnibus companies, for cabs, and also
for light cavalry. They are generally used in double harness. As to
the height and weight of the foregoing —

The Boulonnais are from 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 7 inches in height
and weigh from 1,750 to 1,950 pounds; the Percherons are from 5 feet
3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches in height and w^eigh from 1,500 to 1,750
pounds ; the Xormands are from 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 4 inches in
height and weigh from 1,300 to 1,450 pounds, and the Brittans are
from 4 feet 10 inches to 5 feet 1 inch in height and weigh from 880 to
1,000 pounds.

Omnibus horses — Percheron — 5 to 7 years old, cost 800 to 1,350
francs, averaging about 1,100 francs.

Livery-stable carriage horses in Paris are bought when about 4 to 5
years old, and cost from 1,800 to 2,200 francs. They have good action,
are well-shaped strong animals, measuring about 5 feet 3 inches in
height. Many Dutch horses are used for this class of work, being
better tempered or kinder and more docile than the French horse.
The food used is oats, hay, straw, and occasionally bran and carrots.

Cab horses come from everywhere, but principally from Denmark,
Hungary, and from the Tarbes district (south of France); also from
Brittany. They weigh from 770 to 880 pounds and stand about 4 feet
11 to 5 feet 1 inch. The cab horses cost from 700 to 950 francs, say
an average of about 800 to 850 francs. The food used is generally a
mixture of cracked corn (maize), oats, straw, bran, carrots, and bis-
cuits, whicli the horses eat from nose bags.

AMERICAN HORSES IN FRANCE. 41

Light cavalry horses — height, 5 feet to 5 feet 1 inch ; weight, 775 to
880 pounds; cost, 900 to 1,100 francs. These horses come mostly from
the south of France (Tarbes), but to some extent from Brittany and
some other districts.

Horses for dragoon regiments are in height 5 feet 1 inch to 5 feet 2
inches; weight, 880 to 1,000 pounds, and cost on an average 1,200 to
1,;300 francs. They are mostly French horses.

Cuirassiers and gendarmes horses are in height 5 feet 3 inches to
5 feet 4 inches, and weigh 1,050 to 1,150 pounds. They cost, on an
average, 1,200 to 1,300 francs, and are mostly French horses.

Artillery and baggage-train horses are in height 5 feet to 5 feet 2
inches, weigh 990 to 1,100 pounds, and cost on an average 1,200 to
1,300 francs.

All army horses are 2^ to 3 years old — generally 3 years old when
purchased. They are immediately sent to the supply stations, where
they stay at least six months, when they are sent to the regiment to
be trained by ofl&cers and soldiers specially detailed for the purpose.
The training takes about six months, so that the horse is 4 years
old when he is turned over to the trooper for regular service. When
the army needs horses the Government advertises in the official paper
for what is required, giving all details as to qualities, age, height,
and weight, and the j)laces at which horses may be presented by their
owners for inspection and for bids. The commission which purchases
horses is composed of a certain number of officers and a veterinary
surgeon. When a horse is i^resented to the commission the officers
agree among themselves what price they will give, subject to the vet-
erinary's report, and the bid is made to the owner, who can accept or
refuse it. Anyone may present horses to the said commission; it is
open to all.

Some years ago the Government bought Arab horses for the light
cavalry, but it appears that these horses (which are not unlike our
Texas ponies) have not stood the climate well, and, besides, do not do
well when shod. In Algeria they are not shod. The Government also
tried light horses from South America, but the soldiers could do noth-
ing with them. The horses now used for the light cavahy come from
the south of France, being a crossbreed of Spanish- Arabian horses
with mares of the country; some also come from Brittany.

AMERICAN HORSES.

I have taken great pains to find out why more American horses are
not imported, as thej^ would undoubtedly suit for carriages and cabs
and farm work and, if care is taken, for army purposes. I have inter-
viewed horse dealers, stable keepers, and veterinary surgeons and
have come to the conclusion that the American horse has not had a
fair trial in the Paris market.

There exists a prejudice against American horses because those that
have been imported were not suitable for the requirements of the

42 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

market, being of inferior quality. From what I can learn, tliose
liorses must have been purchased in America only because they were
cheap, without regard to the requirements of the French market, and
IxMiig unfitted for the same have created a bad and false impression
about our horses. A large livery-stable keeper who has 200 horses
told me that he has only one American horse (carriage horse), stand-
ing 5 feet 3 inches, 5 years old, for which he paid 1,200 francs, and
is much pleased with the animal, and would have bought more, even
at a dearer price, but that those presented to him were such ugly, rec-
tangular, long and flopping eared creatures that thej^ would not suit
at any price.

The veterinary surgeon told me that he knew the American horses
and admired their good qualities, especially their powers of endurance,
and could not understand why only such inferior quality came to
France.

I believe that American horses would find a good market in France
if pains were taken to send only such horses as will suit the needs
of the purchasers.

SUMMARY OP A COMMUNICATION REGARDING AMERICAN
HORSES USED BY THE LARGE HORSE COMPANIES IN PARIS,

PRANCE.

[H. De Loncey in L'Accliiuatation, March, 1898.]

For three years cargoes of American horses have continued to be
received without interruption at Bordeaux and at Marseilles, and they
are sold at public auction all over France; and yet there is much dif-
ference of opinion as to the true value of the American horse and its
future in France. Some maintain that at the average of |;200, the
price paid at a recent sale at Lyons, they were cheap. Others, again,
less enthusiastic, accord to the American horse preference over the
French in some respects while in others they prefer the latter. The
third group place them far below the domestic product, admitting,
however, that they seem to "stop certain gaps," being purchased by
persons who are apt to load themselves too readily at public sales.

The first visit paid by the writer was to the General Omnibus Com-
pany, Paris. Notwithstanding the great increase in mechanical trac-
tion, the number of horses in the company's stables, which for a long
time was about 12,000, has been increased of later years until it
reaches 16,000, a fact explained by the establishment of fifteen new
lines. The horses consist of stallions, geldings, and mares in about
equal proportions. The first American horses were purchased by this
company three years ago. These are now at depot of La Bastille, a
most important station, which includes 1,200 horses, all high-class
stallions, supplying one of the most important and arduous lines run
by the company. The American liorses were closely examined. With

AMERICAN HORSES IN PARIS. 43

some exceptions these horses are not handsome, in spite of the numer-
ous importations by prominent American breeders of Percheron stal-
lions, whose descendants we were promised should supplant our native
animals in our own markets. "There is no reason," said one of the
principal employees of the company, "for our breeders to ajjprehend
any serious competition from America. The so-called heavy Ameri-
can draft horse is a composite result of incongruous, unintelligent
crossing without system, the results being inharmonious and defect-
ive in form. This horse has a heavy head, small neck, great mule
ears, flat crouij, long back, well built in front, but hind quarters
defective, feet flat, colors objectionable, the coat altogether lacking
sheen, average height 1.G5 meters, good movement as to front but
defective as to hind quarters. Except perhaps on the shoulder and
forearm, the muscular masses which are so distinctive of our native
draft breeds are wanting." Apart from these defects we were assured
that the American draft horses were badly broken, having no well-
defined paces, and generally awkward in their movements. Hitched
up with well-broken French horses, however, they soon get used to
harness ; they eat well and are not dainty. While showing good work
at first their service is not durable ; after only two years' service they
begin to show wear, the hind legs swell, and they are subject to fis-
tulas. A comparison made on the spot with French horses which had
been in the service twelve to fourteen years was invariably in favor
of the latter, notwithstanding the fact that the American horses cost
the company as much as the native. The director of the companj^'s
horse supply has practically concluded that his company will purchase
no more Americans.

Mr. Vidal, the merchant from whom the omnibus company referred
to above purchased its American horses, says:

I regard the American draft horses as having no future in France. Personally
I find no profit in their importation, biit I am considering an importation of car-
riage horses (chevaux deluxe). In comparison with the Percheron or Boulon-
nais the American draft horse is not pleasing in appearance, moreover he is
ill broken. Among the better carriage horses we occasionally find some really
brilliant in harness. France being still fortunate in the possession of good draft
horses, the American draft horse has with us nothing to expect. The principal
traffic with these horses is in Belgium, and they are generally destined for the
market of Metz and Strasbourg; nevertheless, a merchant of Paris, Mr. Levy, jr.,
proposes to undertake an experiment on a large scale, having purchased at
Antwerp large grounds upon which he proposes to establish a depot for American
draft horses with a view to introducing them throughout France.

Mr. Vidal does not believe in the success of this effort. He gives
the prices of these horses as $80 to $100 in America and $150 to $170
delivered in Paris; $180 is all that the omnibus company paid for
theirs. "It is an error," said Mr. Vidal, "to imagine the prices of horses
in America to be so low. Some years ago, undoubtedly, the price

44 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

fell very low; to-day that has changed, and the advent in the United
States of an increasing number of purchasers for the European mar-
ket has caused breeders to raise their prices ; moreover, a good horse
in America always has its value. For good carriage horses, when
they are stylish and showy, we pay $240 to $280 apiece on the spot.
Such as are purchased for from $40 to $60 are plugs, which can only
be sold in lots. I repeat that there is no money for us dealers in the
common horses. The expense of bringing them over is too great.
Note this : The American draft horse in no sense competes with the
native. The fact is, French horses over 4 years old are not in the
market; when we come across an 3;^ we never let them slip. Prices in
France have not been hurt by American importations. Never have
good French horses been as dear as during the past three years. The
American horses came in opportunely, at a time when French horses
5 or 6 years of age adapted to saddle or harness were not to be had."
Mr. Vidal thus summarizes the cost of transportation:

One must take a week to get together a shipment of horses, during which time
the first comers must be cared for and fed. Then there is often delay waiting for a
suitable vessel. Boats possessing the necessary requirements are not yet too
numerous. Aboard ship there is feed to provide; also medicine, grooms in attend-
ance, and a veterinarian. These items all cost money. For loading and unload-
ing, and putting on the steam cars on arrival, help must be employed. I sum iip
expenses, then, as follows: Steamer charges, $30; duty, $6; dock charges, $4; insur-
ance at 5 per cent on $200, average, $10; incidental expenses, a minimum of $30;
total, $80.

Then there are losses through accidents, arad the horses always arrive much
fatigued and need several weeks* rest to get into condition.

Mr. Vidal purchases all his horses in Chicago and ships them via
Antwerp.

In an interview with Mr. Blanc, in charge of the line service of the
General Cab Company, we obtained the following :

There is a wide choice in the purchase of American horses. Good ones are rare,
but among them are some really choice animals, the results of atavism on the side
of the European sires. This company has bought Americans only during the last
three years, and then in small numbers— this year 450. In all , we have now between
700 and 800. Out of a total of 13,500 horses, we have of foreign stock 2,000 Hun-
gai-ian, 1,200 Danish, and, as above stated, 700 to 800 Americans. We find the
Americans badly broken, and many are rejected on this account; others are ill
mated owing to their bad appearance. As a result of careful selection, we have
some very good subjects, lacking the tone and action of some of our Percherons,
but less dainty and adapting themselves better to economical rations. The Cab
Company does not depend upon the American horse as an important addition,
owing to its lack of the uniformity of type which the company desires; it is
accepted rather as a makeshift. For a horse with style, suitable for the better
class of livery service, the Hungarian offers merit at a lower price. He can be
had for about $160. while an exceptionally good American is quoted from $240 to
$280. It is to be observed also that American horses sold at the public sales of
Paris are seldom perfectly matched.

AMERICAN HORSE TRADE OF GREAT BRITAIN.

45

THE AMERICAN HORSE TRADE OF GREAT BRITAIN.

[Extract from the report of Mr. Walter Wellman, dated London, October 15, 1897.]

The import of American horses began to attract attention in Great
Britain about ten years ago. At that period the trade was largely
confined to carriage horses, which were not, however, ini]3orted in such
numbers as to excite any particular fear among British breeders. The
decade ends with credit to the American breeder of having almost
paralyzed horse breeding among farmers in England and Scotland, and
having become so menacing to breeders across the Irish Sea as to
have attracted considerable attention from the recent Royal Commis-
sion on Horse Breeding in Ireland.

In the majority report of that commission occur these passages:

While the prices given high -class horses, whether suitable for the race course,
the hunting field, or for harness, have fully maintained themselves, it has been
clearly j^roved to us that the price of inferior horses has gone down very largely
of late years. This decrease, estimated at from 25 to 40 per cent, is attributed to
the large and increasing importation of horses from America, and in part to the
introduction of bicycles, tram cars, and other means of locomotion.

* * *****

We would here call attention to the large and increasing importation from
America into the United Kingdom of general utility and middle-class harness
horses, and the great reduction in freight, which will obviously tend to produce a
further increase.

A dealer informed us that whereas seven years ago he paid £12 a horse for car-
riage from New York to Liverpool, he jjaid last year only £3 1 Os. , " and in a better
ship."

In view of such competition, independently of other considerations, we fail to
see how it is possible for the smaller farmers of the west of Ireland to rear and
sell horses of this description at a profit.

Statistics furnished by the board of trade sharply outline the story.
The numbers and values of horses imported Trom all countries into
Great Britain during the period from January 1, 1891, to December
31, 1896, are as follows:

Imports from all countries.
[Year ending December 31.]

Year.

Number of
animals.

Value.

1H91

31,673
20, 994
13,719
23,866
34,093
40,677

£433, 368

1,S92 .... ...

435, 401

1S93

376, 954

1^94

548 058

1895

921, 490

1896 - -

1,027,736

Total . ...

174,020

3,731,907

46

FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

The rapid increase in numbers since 1893 has had the effect, it is
alleged, of so discouraging the British farmer that he largely aban-
doned breeding. It will be remarked from these figures that while
the trade was increasing in size some effort was consistently made
to improve the quality of the horse obliged to compete with animals
of a higher grade — the average declared value of the horses imported
in 1891 being £19 18s. Id. ; the average declared value of the animals
imported in 1896 was £25 5s. 3d.

During the last two years (1895-1896) the horses imported from the
United States and Canada together amounted to two-thirds of the
horses imported into Great Britain. For the reason that they are
both regarded as "American horses," only in rare instances is the
distinction between the United States and Canada, as a place of
origin, known to users. I include the figures for the Dominion of
Canada in my next table, as set forth by the board of trade.

Imports from, America, compared tvith total number imported.

Year, a

Total
im-
ported.

From
Canada.

From
United
States.

1891 .

21,672
20,994
13,719
22. 866
34,092
40,677

1,058
1,745
1,815
5,424
12,903
11,852

590

1892 -

1,076

1893

1,319

1894

4,843

1895.

10.351

1896. _

17,930

Total .

174,020

34,797

36,109

a The fact that the above table is made for calendar years, while the table of exports of horses
from the United States is made for fiscal years ending June 30, will explain the apparent dis-
crepancy between the figures contained in the two tables.

It will be noticed that up to the close of 1895 Canada held first
place in the trade in "American" horses in Great Britain. This pre-
miership during the last three years was, however, only numerical,
the United States supplying horses of better grade, which of neces-
sity fetched better prices. This is shown by the figures — again those
of the board of trade :

Comparative values, United States and Canadian horses.

Year.

From—

Number
of horses.

Total
value.

Average
value.

j Canada

5,424
4,843
12,9a3
10,351
11,8.52

17,9:*

£181,079
178, 148
369, 157
345,375
318,639
532,623

£ s. d.
33 7 8

( United States . .
i Canada

38 16 1
28 15 5

1895

1 United States .-

33 7 3

26 17 8

} United States . .

30 4 8

EFFECT OF SEA VOYAGE ON HORSES.

47

Before referring to the present conditions of the trade it will be as
well to consult one more contribution from the board of trade — the
details of last year's American imj)orts :

Classes of imports, 1896.

Place of origin.

stallions.

Mares.

Geldings.

Number.

Value.

Number.

Value.

Number.

Value.

Canada

United States

28
45

£765

7,245

3,797
7,692

£91,4.58
225, 714

8,027
10, 193

£226,416
299,664

As far as can be ascertained with any approach to accuracy, of the
total number (40,077) of horses imiDorted into Great Britain in 1896 a
little over 7,000 were reexported, mainly to the Continent. Of these
about 1,000 are presumed by dealers to have been animals of United
States origin.

EFFECT OF A SEA VOYAGE.

Horses are undoubtedly affected as are human beings by a sea voy-
age— some improve by it, the majority are upset by it. And to those
upset by the motion the longer the voyage the more lasting the dete-
rioration. For this reason the swifter the vessel the better for the
horse. Further, it is common to find a large number of cattle in
steamers conveying horses, in which case it is safe to assume the
ventilation is bad, with possibly serious effects on the health of the
horse. While of late years there has been a great improvement in
the quality and temjjer of the attendants hired to look after horses
en route, there still remains something to be accomplished in this
direction. The more nearly a horse is treated like a saloon passen-
ger— that is, with unremitting attention — the better he will come out
of his Atlantic ordeal. Some further improvement also seems desir-
able in regard to the ship stall. While the headboard as at present
used is an absolute necessity, some device is imperative whereby
the animal will not rub off a part of his mane in feeding, as is now
too often the case.

These improvements in transportation arrangements are all the
more necessary in view of the fact that American horses brought to
England are invariably more or less affected by the change of climate,
water, and food. The more nearly thoroughbred the greater the
effect seems to be in this connection. The English trainers of Amer-
ican race horses at Newmarket informed me that they could not
expect to get out the best that was in an American horse under a year.
In the case of carriage and draft horses from two weeks to six months
was the period mentioned before the American horse could be con-
sidered acclimatized. It becomes imperative, therefore, in view of
facts of this character, that the voyage hither should be made under

48 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

such conditions as reduce to a minimum the demoralizing influences
of confinement on shipboard.

ENGLISH OPINIONS.

I have not thought it necessary to append all the interviews I have
had. I submit only those which most clearly support the general
trend of all English criticism while embodying succinctly the opinion
of English experts.

ARMY HORSES.

Maj. Gen. C. A. Gore, inspector-general of remounts, said:

I buy about 2,000 remounts yearly. Between 4 and 5 per cent of these horses
are Canadian or American. We do not distinguish between the two in our rec-
ords, but the majority of such purchases are Canadian. The Canadian is the
better horse for army purposes. The principal fault I have to find with the
American horse from my standpoint is his shape. He is too long in the body; his
tail grows too low down on his body; it should be nearer his back. The horse is
thickest through at the hips; he should be thickest through at the buttocks. His
hocks, as they should not, curl in, and his legs are too thin. He is, from an army
standpoint, "gawky '' looking. He is ragged, though docile tempered and better
trained than Irish or Hungarian horses. He seems to deteriorate on the voyage
over; anyway he is little good until he has been here a year. Even then he does
not furnish well — never gets his ribs cut round. Further, he does not last well
in the service. We have some in the artillery, none in our cavalry.

I have been buying a few every year for some years, though not so many since
1895, as the investment was not a good one. Canadian horses are hardier, better
able to go without forage when doing severe picket duty than American horses.
By far the best of the American horses we get come from Kentucky, where, I
believe, they are bred in a limestone country. I believe with the Irish breeders
that a horse has little chance of being a good horse that is not bred on a limestone
soil, for he will be deficient in bone.

We have no prejudice against American horses. We buy anywhere, the bulk
of all our horses coming from Ireland. For service in South Africa we bought in
South America; for the Egyptian campaign we bought horses in Hungary. We
shall be glad to purchase American horses if the breeders will send in the proper
animals — a short, low horse, thickset, strong flanks, good high tail, shoulders not
so necessary as buttocks, ribs rounded out so as to furnish well, and better-shaped
legs — not so thin and straight, not incurving. Horses with these characteristics
and with more stamina, if sent here, would find a ready market for army purposes.

DRAFT HORSES.

Mr. Daniel Duff, general manager of the London Road Car Com-
pany, Limited, who buys all the horses used by his company, said :

We purchase about 1,000 horses a year, almost exclusively American or Cana-
dian. We are obliged to depend on America for our supply, as we can not any
longer get English, Scotch, or Irish horses in sufficient numbers at a possible
price. We find American horses get into their leather quicker than Irish or
Scotch, and are better bred and tempered.

We began buying about five years ago and have much improved our stud by so
doing; but strangely enough — whether owing to the climate or lack of stamina
in the breed I am unable to say — we never before reached so poor an average life
for our horses as during the first six months of this year, namely, three years and

ENGLISH OPINIONS. 49

nine months. This is six months shorter than at previous period in the life of
our omnibus horses. Our American horses cost from £26 to £86, and partly
because the voyage seems to upset them cost a further £10 before they can be
considered fit for the heavy work of our streets.

The Irish horses are the most delicate we get. They seem to be underfed or
poorly fed, and they can not stand our rich feeding.

American horses of this class seem to have more stock or bone. I never pur-
chase one under 84 inches at the smallest part above the fetlocks. Yet, there is
the fact, despite these advantages, of their shorter life at our hard work. Amer-
ican breeders should if possible get more stamina in the strain. We do not like
the Percheron strain; we never buy them; they are unfitted for our work.

Mr. R. T. Kingham, secretary to the London General Omnibus
Company, Limited, said:

We have 14,000 horses, whose average life in the company's service is five years.
We buy Canadian horses at an average price of about £30. The voyage undoubt-
edly affects them, and it usually requires an expenditure of £8 to £10 before the
animal is fit for the company's work.

Among horse auctioneers the same general run of opinions exists.
The manager at Aldridge's horse repository said :

Opinion among those who buy American horses here, and many hundreds pass
our hammer every year, is divided. Some of our customers say they never again
will buy American horses — their legs and feet can not stand the rough work of
English towns and cities; others are entirely satisfied. I am satisfied, after several
years' experience, however, that American horses are hardly given a fair show.
They are undeniably affected by the voyage. On the average tliey are sold here
within a week after being landed. If dealers took more time to get them accus-
tomed to this climate, to English corn and water, the horses would bring better
prices, and I don't think you would hear many complaints. I know a great many
cases where American horses have been kept for three or four months, their tails
docked and manes combed, etc. , and then sold at high prices as English or Irish,
and nobody but the sellers knew they were American. If I were to give any
advice to American shippers I should say: Do not send so many misfits to London;
send better quality animals. The result will be better prices and a sounder trade.
And do not dispose of the horse so quickly on landing him; delay to put him into
better condition will more than return what it costs.

CARRIAGE HORSES.

The above expert opinions refer to army and draft horses. The
principal class remaining is that of carriage horses. On this point I
sought the opinion, among others, of Mr. Reekie, manager to Messrs.
Withers & Co., Limited, the leading fashionable job masters of Lon-
don. Mr. Reekie said:

The chief defect of American horses is their lack of action. If American
breeders want to breed for profit in this market let them breed from a good trot-
ting— not a racing stallion — long, level, and with action. Whatever they do let
them breed from action, and never from a horse with drooping quarters. On no
account should they breed from Percherons for this market; the get of the Perch-
eron, as sent here from the United States, is always soft.

Vanners, bus, and tram horses are, of course, cheap. A good American carriage
horse will fetch from £90 to £110. We have over and over again paid these prices
S. Doc. 35 4

50

FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

since we began dealing in American horses, in 1894. For four years we kept an
agent in the United States, but gave it up. as the animals were disappointing.
The best horses we get come from Michigan — not Kentucky. The Canadian
carriage horses are not as good as the American; they are still more deficient
from our standpoint. The A.merican breeders have almost ruined the English
horse breeders. English farmers formerly got £90 or over for a good carriage
horse, but American horses coming in at £60 to £65 competed so disastrously that
the English farmer has practically given up breeding. Let me repeat and empha-
size, and strongly as is possible, '• Breed from action,'''' and for carriage pur-
poses breed from an American trotter; the get of English hackneys crossed with
American animals is not nearly so good as the pure American-bred horse. First,
last, and all the time, breed from action if you breed for profit.

The demoralizing effects of the voyage to England reported by-
Messrs. Kingham, Duff, and others prompted an inquiry concerning
the methods of transportation of American horses coming to this
country. Mr. Thomas L. Field, of Messrs. Williams, Forrey & Field,
Limited, managing owners of the Atlantic Transport Line, said:

Of the 17,000-odd horses brought to Great Britain in 1896, we brought quite
10.000. When we found the horse trade assuming respectable dimensions, I made
a special investigation and found it was suffering from mismanagement. Ship-
pers did not really know what it cost to send a horse to London. They employed
men who were willing to take care of the horses for the sake of a voyage to Lon-
don and back. The horses had no exisert care, generally were neglected, as these
amateur stablemen were seasick. I introduced a rate which jirovides for expert
attention en route by a properly qualified veterinarian and trained stablemen,
who are also good sailors. The rates I quote include insurance during the ijas-
sage and for ten days after landing. This system saves money to shippers and
enables them to export the animals at a profit. In regard to the statement that
horses brought from the United States to this country suffer some sort of demor-
alization, I do not think that is true. I have often seen horses landed in London
in very much better condition than when they went aboard the vessel. Of course,
ff the seeds of pneumonia are implanted before the animal comes on board in
America it will develop on shipboard or after landing; but in my experience it is
much more often the other way — the horse is bettered by the voyage to this
country. I have seen hundreds of American horses go direct from the ship to
their owners' work, being perfectly fit.

HORSE TRADE WITH GREAT BRITAIN.

[Extract from report of Dr. W. H. Wi-ay, Inspector United States Bureau of Animal Industry,

London, England.]

Numbers and values of horses imported into Great Britain.

Country.

1894.

Number. Value.

1895.

Number. Value

1896.

Number. Value

Russia -

D('nmark

Germany -

Holland -.

Belgium

Prance

United States

Argentine Republic
Canada

3,653

1,802

4,687

1,129

258

315

4,843

525

5,425

£34,686
13,860
50,476
45, .591
10, 168
17, 143

178, 148
9,920

181,079

2,427

2,202

3,765

1,285

148

2.50

10,351

491

12,903

£27,104
15, 898
45,236
50, 718
4,805
19,356

345, 375
11,632

369, 157

3,198

2,567

3,025

923

179

242

17, 930

558

11,852

£33,445
21,686
33,159
35,084
7,073
11,931

532, 623
11,947

318,639

Senate Document No. 35.

Plate I.

Ni^i5?v;-^i.

^-^^

Seiuite DoL-iiiueiit ^u. .io.

Plate II.

HORSE TRADE WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 51

The trade in horses from the United States to Great Britain is one
that should be upheld and fostered by the Department and the
breeders of the United States in every possible manner, especially in
breeding for the English market and in .securing proper accommoda-
tion on board the steamers that pl}^ between the United States and
Great Britain, and above all in being careful that no horse affected
with any disease, contagious or otherwise, be allowed shipment.

I am well within the limit when I say there are 600,000 horses in
daily use on the streets of London, whose lives of usefulness average
between 3 and 7 years, according to their class of work.

The London Tramwaj^s Company has over 4,000 head of horses,
three-fourths of which are from the United States and Canada. These
horses average 14 miles per day in their daily work, must be from 5
to 7 years old, 15:^ to 15^ hands high, weigh from 1,200 to 1,300 pounds,
be compactly built, and have plenty of bone and muscle, with good
action. For a horse of this type the London TramM'^ays Company has
a set price of £35 sterling, or, approximately, a little over $170, per
head.

Every year one-seventh of the horses of the London Tramways
Company are taken out of their stables as unfit for service and sold
at an average of £11, or $53.50, per head.

The average weekly consumption of grain by the horses of the Lon-
don Tramways Company is 200 tons; they also consume a weekly
average of 180 tons of hay.

I have the photographs of a typical tramway horse belonging to this
company, which was bred in the United States and shipped to Lon-
don; three pictures (Plates I and II) of the same horse in different
positions, in order to show side, fore and hind quarters. The London
Tramways Company will not purchase a Percheron-bred horse at any
price, and prefers dark-colored horses.

The London Road Car Company, which runs omnibuses through the
streets of London, has 4,400 horses in its stables, which average
3i to 4| years of usefulness. These horses also travel 14 miles per
day in their daily work, and consume about 240 tons of grain and 190
tons of hay per week. This company purchased 1,000 head of horses
annually for the last three years, mostly from the United States and
Canada. The horses which this company desires should be from 5 to
7 years old, 15| to 16 hands high, with a girth measurement of 76 to
78 inches, and measure around the leg just below the knee 8| to 9
inches, with plenty of bone and muscle. Such a class of horses will
sell readily for $175 to $185 per head, and very often for $200.

The London General Omnibus Company has 9,000 head of horses,
some of which come from the United States and Canada. These
horses average 16 miles per day and last the company 6 or 7 years, are
15^ to 16 hands high, Aveigh about 1,350 pounds, and measure from 78
to 79 inches around the girth and 9^ to 9| inches around the leg just

52 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

below the knee. This class of horses will average $185 to $225 in the
London market.

Balls Brothers are proprietors of a large omnibus line that runs
from London Bridge to Streatham Common and from Brixton Station to
Oxford Circus, etc. They keep 700 horses, which will average 3 years
of usefulness. These horses are 15f to 16 hands high, weigh 1,600 to
1,700 pounds, are 5 to 8 years old, and measure about 88 inches around
the girth, and ^ inches around the leg just below the knee, with plenty
of bone and muscle. This firm purchases quite a number of horses
tliat come from the United States and Canada.

Fig. 1, Plate III, represents a horse known in the London market
as a trotting ' ' vanner. " In America we would call such a horse useful
for a grocery or a light delivery wagon. This horse is 16| hands high,
measures 78 inches around the girth and 7^ inches around the leg just
below the knee, is 6 years old, and has very good action. He was
shipped from Boston to London, and was sold at auction for $128,
Fig. 2, Plate III, represents a horse that is used as a cavalry or army
remount horse. He is from the United States, and sold for $140 at
auction. Figs. 1 and 2, Plate IV, are those of heavy van or draft
horses. This is the class of horses that is in great demand in the London
market. Plate V represents carriage horses that make a very good
matcli team, are of the same size and age, amd have plenty of style,
the team together being worth a great deal more than when pur-
chased singly. Mr. Johnson, the owner, has refused 150 guineas for
the team. Pate VI represents a draft horse that has been at work in
the Deptf ord Cattle Market for the last two years, and is a magnificent
specimen of its kind.

For a heavy draft horse the Clydesdale and English shire horses
take precedence of all others, as they are compactly built, with plenty
of bone and muscle, and have good feet. The English idea that every-
thing to be strong must be heavy will apply to horses as well as to
wagons and other things.

The Cleveland bay horse makes a very good heav;^^ carriage horse.
I have often thought that some of our large size Wilkes-bred stallions
crossed on a Cleveland bay mare would make an excellent coach or
carriage horse, but have never seen the experiment tried.

The horses from the United States are shipped from the ports of
New York and Boston to the ports of London, Liverpool, and Glas-
gow, and quite a large number are transshipped at London for the
ports of Antwerp and Havre.

The ocean rates on horses from New York and Boston are from $25
to $30 per head, including feed and attendance, one steamship line
carrying horses from New York to London at $27.50 per head, includ-
ing feed, attendance, insurance during the voyage and for ten days
after landing, and dock charges.

Senate Docuiueiit No. 3.")

Plate III.

Fig. 1.— Black Trotting "Vanner."

Six years old, 10.1 hands liigli, 78 inches around siirth, and 7A inches around leg just below the knee.

Fig. 2.— Army Horse, not a very good Type.
Six years old. 1.").3 hands high, 73 inches around girth, 8^ inches around leg just below thelmee.

Senate Doeunieut No. 35.

FiQ. 1.— Heavy Van Horse.

Four years old; shipijed from Boston; sold for .50 guineas; height, 16i hands, girth, 98 inches; leg

just below knee, 10 inches.

Fig. 2.— Heavy Van Horse.

Six years old; shipped from Boston; sold for tiO guineas; height, lOA hands; girth, 9H inches; leg
just below the knee. 10} inches.

Senate Document No. 35.

Plate V.

O

Seuatr I)(icunieiit No. ;!').

Plate VI.

S o

AMERICAN HORSES IN DENMARK. 53

Some people here are prejudiced a little against the Aiperican and
Canadian horses, saying they invariably get sick and it takes a long
while for them to become acclimated, while other people say they
have no trouble whatever with them. On the whole, the horses from
the United States are landed here in very good condition, with the
exception of swollen ankles, due to standing continually during the
vo3"age, but this swelling soon subsides when the horse is put to work.
If the horses from the United States are properly looked after during
the voyage and after arrival, there is no reason why they should
become sick any more than the native horses when they are sold and
shipped from place to place in their own country.

The large firms in London who use American horses are well
pleased with them and purchase a great many. Anj^ good, sound,
well-broken, young horse with plenty of bone and muscle and com-
pactly built, of any class or type, will sell well in London market ;
but scrubs and badly broken horses are absolutely useless.

The horses that are imported from Belgium are mostlj^ black stal-
lions, known as the Flanders horse, which are used throughout
England for funeral purposes; are quite a good looking and showy
horse, very quiet, but with very little stamina and usually bad feet.
These horses average from $185 to $200 per head.

Germany, Holland, and France send a mixed lot of horses to
England, of all grades and kinds, but France sends quite a number
of good large-size carriage horses; also a good army horse. The
horses from Russia and Denmark are mostly j)onies, some of them
stout little fellows about 13 to 14 hands high, that will move along at
a rapid rate with a load twice their own weight. The i)rices of these
popies range all the way from 125 to 1250, according to form and
speed.

The Argentine horses are, as a rule, like the Western pony or
cayuse of the United States, very wild and of little use except for
buck-jumping exhibitions, but, like the cattle from that country, the
breed is being improved very rapidly. These horses will bring from
$70 to $100 per head in the London market, the latter price being for
the best bred horses.

AMERICAN HORSES IN DENMARK.

[Report of Robert J. Kirk, United States Consul at Copenhagen.]

The American horse appears to be gradually finding a market in
one after the other of the European countries. In January of this
year a dealer imported, as an experiment, about fifteen draft horses.
They were easily sold at prices varying from $150 to $350, one fine
pair of chestnuts bringing $900. A second shipment of twenty horses

54 FOEEIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

is now being advertised, and I am informed the horses are selling
readily at $147 to $230. These are also draft horses. It does not
appear that any saddle horses have yet been offered for sale as such,
though some four or five of the first lot mentioned above have since
been broken to the saddle.

American horses for this market should not be under 15 hands in
height and should be adapted for draft, unless otherwise ordered,
Denmark imports annuallj^ from 5,000 to 6,000 horses, mostl}" from
Russia and Finland, ranging from 12| to 14 hands. They are much
in demand by bakers, milkmen, truckmen, and others, whose business
requires light, active horses and light vehicles.

Work horses, omnibus, car, and cab horses are almost exclusively
of domestic origin. For this class of work and for heavy draft gen-
erally there is probably no better animal than the Jutland horse, a
heavy, powerful beast. For victorias, landaus, and carriages German
horses are mostly used, there being also some Jutland horses.

Saddle horses vary according to individual taste, English, German,
and Swedish predominating.

Denmark annually exports from 12,000 to 15,000 horses of her own
raising to the Continent, many of them finding their way to France,
where they are used as cab horses. In 1896 there were imported
6,115 horses, valued at $491,646, or about $80 per head. There were
exported for the same period 15,959 horses, valued at $2,738,564, or
about $172 per head. That the native Danish horse is a fine animal
and commands good prices these figures prove beyond a question.

Hamburg would, of course, be the port of entry in shipping horses
to Denmark. No papers are necessary for landing horses in Den-
mark beyond the health certificate of a veterinary surgeon at ,the
port of shii^ment, properly attested by a Danish consul. They are
admitted free of duty.

I have recently had occasion to correspond with the recruiting
officers of the Danish army as to the adaptability of the American-
bred horse for use in the army. The officer in charge of this branch
of the service replies that he has not seen suflicient American horses
to form a decided opinion, but he is under the impression, from what
he has seen, that they are better suited for draft than for cavalry
horses. Draft horses for the army are recruited exclusively in Den-
mark, and it is safe to say they always will be. Cavahy horses, on
the contrary, are bought principally in Germany, and latterly, also,
in England.

Some of the necessary qualifications of horses destined for the
cavalry are as follows: They must be blooded mares or geldings,
suitable in build and figure for cavalry, well gaited, kind in disposi-
tion, and strong in limb. Dapple grays and yellow and horses with
prominent marks (blaze face, wall-eye, etc.) are never accepted. The
recruiting commission buys horses as a rule twice a year — in tlie fall

PRESENT STATUS OF THE HORSE TRADE. 55

and spring. In the fall, the age of the horse must be 4| to 6 years,
and in the spring 5 to 7 years. They must measure from 15 to 15^
hands in height if they have not completed their sixth year. After
that age, they must be lof to 16 hands high.

Prices vary according to quality and market conditions. The last
English and Irish horses were bought at an average price of £37 to
£38 ($180 to 1185), delivered in Parkestone. For other horses the
prices at present are: For officers' horses, 830 kroners ($221.40), and
for the ordinary cavalry horse, 760 kroners ($203.68), at the place of
purchase. The purchases do not exceed 150 animals per year. Horses
are bought only after the inspection of the commission, one of whom
is a veterinary surgeon.

American dealers who desire to offer cavalry horses to the recruit-
ing commission would probably find it more convenient to do so
through dealers in England, Ireland, or Germany when the commis-
sion makes its semiannual visits to these countries. The address of
the recruiting commission is " Formand for Remontekommissionen,
12 Stormgade, Copenhagen." If, at the time of these visits of the
commission, any local dealer should be prepared to offer for inspec-
tion American horses answering in qualifications to the outlines given
above, I am sure the commission would buy such horses as readily as
the German or English horses. At least one of the commission, as I
am informed, is very favorably impressed with the American horse
for cavahy. I give below the names and addresses of some of the
best-known horse dealers in Copenhagen for the benefit of those
exporters who desire to try this market. The commercial ratings of
any of these firms can be obtained b}^ writing to P. V. Fornais's
International Bureau, 16 Gl. Torv, Copenhagen. The dealers are
H. P. Bekker, Baldersgade 6 ; F. A. Benthein, Petersens Passage 9 B
I. Brondum, Petersen's Passage 16 A; P. C. Gjertsen, Viktoriagade 6
I. Hansen, Gasvarksvri 33; C. C. Hecht, Vesterbrogade 9; N. Hen-
riksen, N. Farimagsgade 39; N. Jorgensen, Gasvarksvri 14; Jorgen-
sen J, Falkonerallen 12; F. H. Moinichen, Vesterbrogade 12; H. P.
Rasmussen, Vesterbrogade 35.

THE DEMAND FOR AND KIND OF HORSES SUITED FOR EUROPEAN
USES AND THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE HORSE TRADE IN
DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

[Report of Mr. Charles E. Stubbs, Fairfield, Iowa.]

It not my purpose in this report to treat of the different kinds of
horses, their qualities and uses, nor compare their relative merits,
only so far as these questions may arise in discussing the salient
features of the subject treated in this report.

In considering the situation in the United Kingdom one is natu-
rally led into fields of investigation not directly connected with the

56 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

object of inquiry, as the English people are great lovers of horses and
have more varieties, perhaps, than any other nation. Presuming
that the breeders in the United States are familiar with the markets
and demand for horses in their country, I shall devote no time to this
feature of the horse business. What we here want to know is, Can the
American breeder raise horses for export profitably; and if so, what-
are the kinds most in demand and how are they to be produced? To
the first part of the question I unhesitatingly answer "Yes," and in
explanation of the latter portions I respectfully submit the result of
my investigations.

IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

Great Britain properly deserves the first consideration, not only
because we are now sending her more horses than any other country,
but from the further fact that the demands for horses in England are
so varied that when one has carefully considered the situation there
a fair idea of the great European horse markets has been obtained,
as in one phase of the subject or another one meets in England with
almost every condition existing elsewhere.

It must be conceded that the average English breeder more fully
appreciates the fact than do our American breeders that a certain
type and kind of horse is better suited than some other type for cer-
tain purposes, and that to produce a particular type certain estab-
lished and well-defined rules of breeding must be observed.

There is no country in the world where the rule " good horses sell
well and poor ones badly " applies with more force than in England.
Here the purchaser pays for the actual wear and utility of the horse
he buys, and it is astonishing how experience has taught him to select
a horse that will last six years on the London pavements to the
exclusion of one that would only wear half as long. Of course, as
we ascend the scale from that common plane where the great majority
of horses find their proper positions and approach that extreme where
perfection is found to a much higher degree, actual service in some
cases is only one of the considerations, and appearance, action, and
style come in for their equal share of praise from the purchaser.

Without attempting to comment upon the different classifications
of horses in England, I will pass on to the consideration of those
types which, in my judgment, the breeders of the United States
would find it most profitable to raise, with England in view as a
future market. It will be conceded, I believe, that, to a certain
extent, it is always advisable to cater to the pronounced likes of our
best customers, and that we may at the start know who our customers
are, I here insert a table showing the number of horses we have
exported during the last five years and the countries which received
them:

EXPORTS OF AMEEICAN HORSES. 57

Number of horses exported during five years ending June SO, 1896.

Country.

1893.

1893.

1894.

1895.

1896.

Average.

21

77

511
1,324

5,834
4,493
202
855
67
109
289

1,134
397

3,686
12,022

5,683
542
987

" 129"

546

306

182

1,017

4,049

3,202

235

645

54

96

324

Per cent.
3

France

2

33

564

1,600

37

457

42

37

195

1 8

28
467
1,596
149
420
64
158
323

12

l,a55

2,639

244

507

99

46

267

10.1

United Kingdom

40

31.7

Central America

2 3

Mexico

6.4

.5

Hawaii - -

1
3.2

Total.

3,226

2,967

5,246

13,984

25,126

10,110

100

This table shows that our export trade in horses has constantly
and, at certain periods, rapidly increased since 1892, and that the
United Kingdom has received 40 per cent of the entire number
exported.

Through the courtesy of- our Treasury Department, I am able to
state that our export trade in horses for the fiscal year June 30, 1896,
to June 30, 1897, far exceeds all past records, and that while the
general exports increased, the number England took from us also
increased, until within the last year she stands credited with nearly
50" per cent of our entire exportation.

Number and value of horses exported from the United States to the United King-
dom, Germany, Belgium, and France during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1897,
according to the official returns received by the United States Treasury Depart-
ment.

Countries to which exported.

United Kingdom...

Germany _ -

Belgium

Prance

All other countries

Total

Value.

12,579,736

822, 250

465,-365

8,500

893,414

9,265

Those figures prove that we are rapidly increasing our horse trade
with the United Kingdom and Europe, and the logical inference is
that if we can improve our horses to more nearly conform to the
requirements of our customers we can sell them a larger number and
at better prices, unless the demand is limited and the present price
not subject to increase.

To arrive at a correct analysis of this proposition, we would nat-
urally inquire. Where and in what capacity are the horses used which
we now send abroad? This question, though pertinent, is quite diflB-
cult to answer ; but to do so would at once show us whether the horses
we are now exporting are put to uses for which high prices can be
paid, and whether there is not a higher position which it is possible

58 FOREIGN MARKETS I'bR AMERICAN HORSES.

for our liorses to attain. I shall take these matters up in their
order, and, from the most reliable information obtainable,' not only
show how most of our American horses are used in England, but
what the}^ sell for and what other and more valuable services they
might perform, if, as the Englishman says, "they showed a bit more
breedin'."

I shall first consider the cheapest horse used in London for pur-
poses which our American horses could fill, and then proceed to
consider, from this starting point, horses used to perform more valu-
able duties, and, so far as possible, apply their uses to the horses we
now have, and what, in my judgment, we might produce in the
United States.

The hansom or cab horse used in the large cities of Great Britain
is a small animal, standing about 15 hands 2 inches high, and weigh-
ing from 950 to 1,050 pounds. He may be any color, but he must have
good feet, clean limbs, good joints, and a short, strong back. He is
always preferred on short legs, and is valuable to his master in pro-
portion to the years of service he can give him. This horse resembles
a large portion of the American horses, but as a rule he is a little
better and stronger built and on shorter legs. He comes chiefly from
Ireland, where he can be produced cheaply, and his great endurance
has produced among cabmen in London a prejudice in his favor.
That we have many good cab horses in America can not be denied,
and occasionally, being of the right conformation, they are used as
such in London, but it is the exception and not the rule, as some peo-
ple suppose. Special inquiry into this matter convinced me that at
least 80 per cent of the cab horses of London come from Ireland, and
that they are considered the best horses it is now possible to obtain
for the purpose; although it was conceded that in a few instances,
where American horses of the proper conformation had been used in
the cabs, they had been found to be the equal of the Irish horse in
every particular.

I am glad to state that no real prejudice exists against the Ameri-
can horse in England for cab or other purposes, and it stands solely
on its merits, but a prejudice did exist for some time, caused entirely
on account of the exportation of so many very inferior horses.

Our exporters may be excused on the ground that they did not at
first know what the English trade demanded. This prejudice is now
fast disappearing, as our horses exported to England continue to
improve in quality.

I am satisfied America can produce as good a cab horse as Ireland,
but it is a trade we do not care for. The aim is not high enough, and
the horses are too low in price to be exported at a profit. Ireland is
now furnishing them to the cab companies of London at from $95 to
$120 per head, which precludes the iwssibility of the western breeder
raising them and saving a profit after paying shipping charges, insur-

AMERICAN HORSES IN LONDON. 59

ance, etc. To my mind the price paid for these horses answers
laconically the inquir}^ Why are not more of our American horses
found in the cabs of London?

In the city of London alone there are at present about 20,000 cabs,
including "four-wheelers," and it requires 2| horses to each vehicle,
making 50,000 cab horses now in use in the metropolis. Their aver-
age life is about 3^ years.

Ireland will continue to furnish the cab horses for England, and
possibly for France, and we are willing she should do so, as the price
will not justify our interference.

There is still another horse which Ireland is famous for and which
the English regard higher than any other, and that is the Irish hunter.
To show his honesty of opinion, the English gentleman is willing to
pay a fabulous j)rice for this horse if it meets his requirements and
suits his fancy. I mention the latter horse here only incidentall}^ and
in order to show the two extremes of Ireland's breeding, as I now want
to call attention to the fact that between the two horses described she
produces nothing that materially affects the sale of American horses
in England, and has thus left a space we are particularly prepared to
fill. I shall have occasion to mention the hunting horse hereafter,
but will here remark that we are not at the present time prepared to
produce him, unless in Kentuckj^ and a few of the Southern States
and then only occasionally, in form, type, and training, to suit the
Englishman.

Having mentioned the horse America does not want to produce for
export and the one she can not raise successfully, I now come to con-
sider the animal that fills the space left vacant by Ireland and which
lies between the two extremes mentioned.

THE OMNIBUS AND THE COMMERCIAL CARRIAGE AND PRIVATE BUS HORSES.

These are so nearly alike that I shall combine them under one head.
It is certain that the large majority of American horses sold in Great
Britain are used for above purposes, and the increased importation
of them by England is not to be wondered at when we consider the
large number in use in the city of London alone.

Since it costs practically the same to ship an inferior horse that it
does a superior one, it is evident that the freight charges are propor-
tionately less as the value of the horse increases; hence the bus
horse, being a higher priced animal than the cab horse, our people
have been given a market for horses which they happen to have on
hand at the present time. I say "happen to have," because the type
of horse I have in mind was not especially bred for in America.

To meet the requirements of the bus companies, a horse may be of
any color but substantially conform to the following description : He
must stand 15 hands 2 inches high, and may be 16 hands, but not more.
He must be on short legs ; for, as the buyer of the largest London com-

60 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

pany remarked, "Then he has not far to fall nor far to getnp again."
The best types weigh about 1,300 pounds and are compactly built,
with good feet, that is, a well-shaped foot, with good shell and a high
heel, that will keep him off the pavement. Avoid a large flat foot
without any heel, for, though good otherwise, a horse with such a foot
is of no use on the pavements of a large cit3\ His bone must be heavy
and his joints sound. His cannon bone short and his i)astern joint
straight. He must have strong, thick hips, with a short back and
round ribs, and should be built on the "chunk}^" order. Flat-sided
horses with long backs, and that stand on their hind legs like a cow,
are of no use in England and of little utility anywhere, except on the
farm — avoid them.

The horse I have attempted to describe will always sell for a fair
price in England, as there are many uses for which he is wanted
besides drawing omnibuses. Thirty years ago this horse was unknown,
but is now the medium between the carriage and the heavy cart horse,
and sells in London for from $175 to $225, usually at about $200.

It is impossible to mention all the uses to which this horse is put,
but to describe some branches of the work which he may be called upon
to perform may give the American breeder a better idea of what his
conformation should be. The bus, which a team of these horses draw
and handle so well upon the slippery pavements of London, is a very
heavy machine. Hence the name "heavy machiner" is applied to
this horse. A team draws the heavy omnibus, containing, inside and
on top, 26 people, at the rate of from 6 to 8 miles per hour. They are
always shod, and handle such weighty vehicles, stopping and starting
so suddenly, with apparent ease, and seldom slipping or falling. The
age at which this horse sells best is 5 years, and being too plain in
appearance and too heavy in his action for a high-class carriage horse,
he is admirably adapted to the work which he is asked to do in Eng-
land. Canada is now supplying the English markets with a large
number of these horses, and is at the present time our most formi-
dable competitor for this trade.

There is, however, no overproduction of this sort of horses, and
there is not likely to be for many years to come. I base my predic-
tion upon the present demand and the general utility of such a horse.
I have before me the last semiannual report of the London General
Omnibus Company, Limited, and from it I learn that this company
now has in daily use 1,100 omnibuses and keeps 14,000 horses. It carries
per week, in round numbers, 3,500,000 people. The average working
period of their horses is about five years, and when we consider that
this is but one of eight public bus lines in the city of London alone,
we can form some idea of the immense number of such horses required
each year.

The next question which naturally arises in one's mind is, Should
we attempt to breed the bus and van horse in the United States to
the exclusion of other types, and do the prices paid for these horses

AMERICAN HORSES IN LONDON. 61

justify sucli a course? In brief, I answer no, and say unhesitatingly
that tlie horse just described is the lowest in the scale that we should
raise, and should by no means be the mark at which we aim.

If we are to breed horses for the greatest profit we must attempt
(conditions being favorable) the production of the most valuable
horse in general and constant demand, and with this higher object in
view we will raise a sufficient number of bus horses and others of
mediocre quality. Would it not be foolish for the breeders of the
United States to raise, as a matter of choice, horses that will only
sell at a moderate price, when by aiming higher they can produce
horses worth double as much? In aiming higher they are at least
assured of producing the commoner horse, though they fail to accom-
plish all they had hoped.

Starting with the bus and van horse, as we ascend the scale we
come to the private single-cab and brougham horse. These horses
are owned by gentlemen for their private use, and are kept by the
better class of stables for the use of persons who are willing to pay
more than the ordinary cab fares for a "turn-out," which has every
appearance of, and is, in one sense of the word, a private carriage.
The horse that draws these must have more style and finish than the
bus horse I have described. The more style and action he possesses,
with sufficient quality and size, the more dignified will be his work,
until he passes, by insensible shades, into the fine high-class carriage
horse, of which I shall have much to say later on.

In the horse, between the bus and high-class carriage horse, color
is not considered unless it be a very bad gray, as their purchasers go
on the theory that one color is as good as another, with the above
exception ; but as we ascend the scale and approach more nearly the
high carriage class it will be seen that there are several points to
consider which have not yet had our attention.

It is only by the large infusion of draft blood that the United
States has increased the size of its horses, and while this one feature —
size — was indispensable, the Englishman complains that they are a
little too coarse, and asks if we can not give him, in addition to size,
a little smoother form. As we become able to do this our horses will
advance still further from the bus horse until he becomes an excel-
lent general-purpose horse, of which there is at present time a great
scarcity. This horse in England will be used by a gentleman of
moderate means, who can only afford to keep one horse in the expen-
sive city of London, and wants this one to be suitable for his single
brougham, his cart, and do moderately well under the saddle, besides
being of such general utility that he can always sell him at a fair price.
This horse is also a good cavalry horse and is one which we are to-day
prepared to raise in the United States to better advantage, generally
speaking, than any other.

It will be seen that this horse is of good conformation and of much
substance and quality. His legs and feet are good and he stands

62 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

right on them. His shoulders and liips are good and his back short.
This horse is always in demand, and, if 16 hands high, sells for a
good price, even if he has but ordinary action. He is not an extrav-
agant type in any particular, but a good "all round horse," and his
price in England Js regulated, within reasonable bounds, almost
entirely by his qualifications.

While this horse is good enough for any market, and many of
greatly inferior quality will be produced in trying to raise him, he is
not yet as perfect as he should be, as he still lacks some of the qual-
ities which the highest-priced horses must have; but I mention him as
we ascend the scale action. At 16 hands high he would fill almost
any position between the bus horse and the high-class carriage horse.
He will do for the single brougham, and for. this purpose would, when
well broken, sell for from $250 to $500, the price above $250 depend-
ing on his style, action, size, and finish, until we see him merging into
the high-class carriage horse. If not sufficiently finished for the
brougham, or if his action and style rendered him undesirable for
that purpose, he would be called upon to draw the commercial carriage
or private omnibus, and for this purpose sell for from $200 to $250.
If possessed of poor knee action and only 15 hands 2 inches high, but
sound, he would make a first-class cavalry horse and sell at from
$150 to $200, according to his qualitj^

My observations have convinced me that this is the horse our people
should have for export; but to be successful the production of this
horse should not mark the limit of their ambition. We should aim
still higher and attempt to produce the high-class carriage horse, as I
shall hereafter attempt to show. It is practically the same horse, with
a little more finish and much more style and action than would be
required in the one just described.

Before leaving this horse, which in England is suited to so many
purposes, and proceeding to discuss the qualities of the high-class
carriage horse and the practicability of raising him in the United
States, I will devote a little space to the cavalry horses of Great Britain.

CAVALRY HORSES.

Through the courtesy of the war department and the kindness of
the inspector-general of remounts in particular, I am able to state that
few, if any, American horses have yet been in the English cavalry.
Most of the troopers, or cavalry horses, are from 15 hands 2 inches to
16 hands 1 inch high, with short backs, heavy muscles, and strong
bones. White and gray are the only colors not used. A square trot
is the only gait required, except the gallop, and no pacers, single-
footers, or combination saddle horses are used. Each horse is expected
to carry with ease and run and jump with from 240 to 280 pounds
upon his back. Hence horses with long backs and weak loins will
not do at all. The army prefers to purchase horses 5 j^ears old, but
many are bought at 4 and kept a year before they are turned over to

CAVALRY HORSES AND HUNTERS. 63

the regiments. Mares are used the same as horses. I quote verbatim
the answer of the inspector-general of remounts to the following ques-
tion : "What are the chief faults found in our American horses viewed
for cavalry purposes?" Answer: "Big coarse head, long back, flat
sides, broad ragged hips, weak loins, long legs, no arms or thighs,
hocks very close, enormous feet, generally very flat, and prone to
laminitis."

The number of horses purchased annuall}^ in the United Kingdom
for cavalry and artillery purposes varies from 1,500 to 2,000, and the
prices range from $150 to $200. There are now in use for war pur-
poses in Great Britain between 15,000 and 20,000 horses, and no diffi-
culty is experienced in supplying the demand from Ireland each year.
Here the best cavalry horse is bred from the hunting horse, which is
almost thoroughbred.

There is no duty imposed upon the horses England imports, and
the only requirement on landing is that they pass veterinary inspec-
tion for contagious diseases.

As the above information comes from the inspector-general of
remounts, I have given the same substantially as communicated.
Accepting it as correct, we have as yet made little progress in intro-
ducing our American horses into English armies, and can with greater
ease and certainty supply a larger and more valuable market.

THE HUNTER.

Having spoken of the Irish hunter as a horse which it is not prac-
ticable for us to attempt to raise, except, perhaps to a very limited
degree, I will add that he is one of the most highl}^ appreciated horses
in England. In type he is a thoroughbred, but in size and general
conformation the best ones are much larger and stronger than thor-
oughbreds. No carriage action is required of him, and his jumping
and running qualities are the most essential features, besides his
power to carry weight. Perhaps the half-bred hunter combines more
of the required essentials than any other kind, though upon this point
there is a diversity of opinion. They differ from the American thor-
oughbred in that they have much more strength and are much larger
if very valuable. They are often required to carry a rider weigh-
ing 250 pounds, and run and jump with him for manj^ hours in suc-
cession. These are the qualities that render the hunter valuable, and
it is not infrequent that this horse, with all the qualities of the thor-
oughbred, and in fact almost thoroughbred, stands 16 hands 2 inches
to 17 hands high. One of this kind properly trained to follow the
hounds often sells to a gentleman of heavy weight who enjoys the
chase for $2,000 to $3,000.

Having said that horses of this type, almost or entirelj^ thorough-
bred, have been produced of large size, the question, Whj^ is this not
the horse to raise high-class carriage horses from? may arise in the
minds of some. I will therefore anticipate the question and answer

64 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

by saying that this chiss of horses have poor knee action, which is
absolutely indispensable to the high-class coaching horse. Again, let
me remark in this connection, that the more blood (by this is meant
thoroughbred blood) the sire and dam possess, the less knee action
we can expect in the progeny, as it is a well-known fact among breed-
ers of carriage horses that an infusion of thoroughbred blood is
always done at the expense of that most important quality — high knee
action. Hence it is plain that we can not expect the thoroughbred to
contribute much to our coachinir breeds.

HIGH-CLASS CARRIAGE HORSES.

I have briefly mentioned a few of the classes of horses used in
England and have not recommended raising cab horses for export,
because they are too cheap — nor the hunter, because at the present
time we can not successfully produce him.

I noAV come to treat more at length of what is known as high-class
coach or carriage horses, which have been only incidentally men-
tioned heretofore.

In mj' judgment this is the class of horses we should attempt to
raise in the United States for export, with the exception of draft
horses, as I shall explain hereafter. In forming this opinion I have
taken into consideration every condition existing in the United States
at the present time. By far the larger number of our mares are what
would be called under size, and while it is true that if bred to a fine
draft horse they would raise a horse suitable for bus purposes, it is
equally true that many of them, if bred to the right kind of coach
stallion, will bring a colt that will sell for almost double as much for
the carriage. It is hardly to be expected, that with such a high aim in
view, we will always meet with success, as there is such a great differ-
ence in the mares of the United States that there must, for a long
time at least, be a great difference in their progeny. This existing
condition, however, is a potent one in prompting me to advise the
breeding of carriage horses. If we succeed in producing the high-
class, high-acting coach horse of the proper size, we have the best uni-
form seller in the world ; but failing in this, as we must do in many
instances, there are many places for the horses we will raise at greater
prices than the bus horses of London can ever bring.

High-class carriage horses are very scarce and always have brought
the highest prices in the general markets of the world. They must
remain scarce, from the fact that they are becoming more in demand
each day as people become more wealthy and require carriages. The
horse I have in mind should be from 16 to 17 hands high, with fine
style and high action. There is no danger of getting them too large,
if the quality can be maintained, but this will be found most difficult.

Horses of this type, in order to bring the highest prices for victoria
teams, should be 15 hands 1 inch to 15 hands 3 inches; for landau
teams, 15 liands 3 inches to IG hands 1 inch; for barouche teams, 16

HIGH-CLASS CARRIAGE HORSES. 65

hands 2 inches to 17 hands high. The large ones of the proper cxual-
ity are the ones most difficult to get, and consequently sell for the
highest prices. In breeding, therefore, and especially on our small
mares in the United States, only the larger type coaching stal-
lions should be used, but quality and finish must in no instance be
sacrificed.

One would naturally suppose that in England, where they have
bred horses for so many years, there would be a sufficient supply of
high-class carriage horses, but there is not. They are scarcer than
any other kind, and the main reasons of this are, first, the great demand
for them, and second, the fact that the English have been too eager
to breed a hunter — that they have too much blood in their fine look-
ing horses to have action. We can profit by the lesson this teaches,
as the majority of our horses as yet have little blood, and by the
judicious use of large, high-acting, breedy-looking coach stallions,
we should be able to produce a good quality of carriage horses, and
at least ones that will fill some of the numerous callings just below
this high position. Diligent investigation and research has only con-
firmed my former opinion in this matter, but I must acknowledge my
surprise at the scarcity of fine large carriage horses in England.

On this point I quote from an article which appeared in the Live
Stock Journal Almanac, of London, for 1897:

There is not the smallest doiibt that England is unable at the present time to
supply a quarter of the harness horses required even in London, to say nothing of
the other parts of Great Britain. The reason of this is, that breeders do not
attempt to do so. Some breed thoroughbreds, others hunters or hackneys, and
others heavy Shire horses, but no one seems to try to breed for color, size, height,
and trotting power. The consequence is that our great dealers and job masters
have to go to Canada, America, Austria, Germany, and France, where they study
the above points, to supply an ever-increasing demand. England is essentially
a riding-horse producing country, and these are bred by the ordinary farmer with
so little thought as to what is required that, if they fail in being a race horse or hun-
ter, they are fit for nothing. One of the greatest, if not the greatest, mistakes
made by breeders in England to-day is that they will not breed for size, color, and
action. We all know that about a thousand Canadian and American horses
come to our shores every week. These are chiefly bay horses, a color much liked
and sought after. They are as a rule 16 hands, and have substance and length, by
which they " fill " the harness and make valuable animals for town use.

The above must be accepted as good English authority, and conveys
some idea of the scarcity of high-class carriage horses in England ; but
the most exhaustive article on this subject was written recently by
Sir Walter Gilbey, one of England's most eminent authorities upon
the subject of carriage horses, and which appeared in the Live Stock
Journal Almanac for 1898.

Sir Walter says :

It may be accepted as a fact easily demonstrable, that at the present time, as
for long past, the best carriage horses in use in England are not home-bred
prodiicts.

S. Doc. 35 5

66

FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

Those beautiful match pairs of carriage horses, standing from 15 hands 2 inches
to 16 hands 2 inches, which are among the greatest attractions of our West End
streets and fashionable resorts in the London season, are not the English horses so
many fondly believe them to be; they are, with few exceptions, importations from
the breeding centers of France, Germany, Hungary, Austria, and Holland.

Though the countries specified above are those whence we obtain the bulk of
our superior harness horses, our purchases are by no means restricted to these mar-
kets. Enterprising London dealers now have in America, Canada, and other
countries their agents ever on the outlook for good-looking animals suitable for
road work in London and other large cities. The dimensions which have been
attained by this trade in foreign horses is proved by the annual returns. Let us
see what figures can tell us.

We imported —

In the ten years 1863-1872 29,131 horses.

In the ten years 1873-1882 197,092 horses.

In the ten years 1883-1892 145,763 horses.

The falling off in the importations of the ten years ended in 1892 from the total
of the preceding decade is sufficiently great to invite criticism, but it is to be
feared we may not lay the flattering unction to our soiils that the decrease proves
our growing independence of continental supply. The reduced importations of
those ten years were due, it can not be doubted, to the depressed condition of
trade which prevailed during that period, a depression which would of necessity
make itself felt primarily upon indulgence in such luxuries as high-class carriage
horses. That this explanation is correct seems proved, to some extent at least, by
the returns for the next four years, 1893-1896, which period, as all know, has wit-
nessed distinct commercial revival. In the four years 1893-1896, then, we imported
111,342 horses; and if we maintain the average until the year 1902, to complete the
decade, the total for the current period of ten years will be 278,350 horses.

Diiring the last six years, to go no fiirther back, we have paid away £3,731,772
(about $18,658,860), on the average a sum of over £621,000 (about $3,105,000) per
annum for horses.

Among all our domestic animals the carriage horse stands alone, a costly
reminder of neglected oj)portunity and a reproach to a race of horsemen. For
the high-class roadster we must go to foreign countries in the regrettable cer-
tainty of finding there what we can not, or at all events do not, produce at home;
and at the same time supply the competitors of the British breeder with the best
blood in the world to use for the purpose of providing himself and us with the
most valuable class of horses. Reference to this point invites examination of
statistics. The following are the official returns of the horse trade for the i^ast
five years:

Export and import of horses, 1892 to 1896.

Export.

Import.

Year.

Number.

Total
value.

Average

value
per head.

Number.

Total
value.

Average

value
per head.

1893

11,333
11,963
16,4.57
31,. 564
29,480

£
563,364
507, 763
449,804
.549, 883
671,563

£ s.
50 3
43 9
37 6
25 10
22 15

20,994
13, 707
22,866
34,092
40, 667

£
425,401
376, 819

548, 058

931, 490

1,037,7.36

£ s.
20 5

1893

27 9

1894

1895

1896

23 19

27 0
25 5

Total

90,696

2,743,374

132,336

3,299,504

Note.— These flgure.s include the selling price, £6 to £8, of many thousands of ponies from
Russia, Sweden, and Norway.

It will be observed in regard to the exports, first, that the number of horses we
send abroad has been increasing with each recurring year; and, secondly, that the

BRITISH EXPORTS AND IMPORTS.

67

value has been decreasing with equal certainty, showing that the class of animal
we export is not what it was five years ago.

As regards the imports, it must be observed parenthetically that 1893 was an
exceptional year; with the exception of that twelvemonth, the annual returns
since 1886, when we received 11,027 horses from abroad, show a rapid and almost
iTniformly steady increase, until in 1896 we purchased nearly twice the number
of horses we purchased in 1893; and what is quite as significant, particularly in
connection with the figures relating to exports, paid a higher average price for
them.

The difference between the average price received for our export and that paid
for imported horses would convey a more accurate impression of the state of
affairs could we eliminate from the former the large sums paid by foreign gov-
ernments for our best thoroughbred sires. The occasional sale of such an animal
as Ormonde for such a figure as £30,000 must be taken into account when con-
sidering the average price received for exports. In short, we are buying
exjjensive horses from the foreigner and obtaining only low prices for those pro-
duced by our vicious system of breeding. These average prices will call for
further notice later on.

It may be asserted without fear of contradiction that foreign carriage horses
for years have been streaming into this country to realize the highest prices
obtainable, namely, from £300 to £300 for first-class single horses, and any sum
from £500 to £1,000 for match pairs.

The foregoing article, coming as it does from the pen of one so com-
petent to ^Tite npon the subject, needs no comment from me, and I
will simply add that it proves my statement concerning the demand
for high-class carriage horses true, and that the prices they bring, if
the horses be of the proper kind, exceed those paid for any other
horses in England, except in extraordinary cases for speed or hunting
purposes. The above table, showing imports and exports of horses by
England for the last five years, confirms the fact that England is an
importing nation.

The following table will show the total number of horses imported
and exported by the United Kingdom from 1831 to 1896 :

Imports and exports of horses.

Year.

1831.
1841.
1851.
1852.
1853.
1854.
1855.
1856.
1857.
1858.
1859.
1860.
1861.
1862.
1863.
1864.
1865.
1866.
1867.
1868.
1869.
1870.
1871-
1872.

Horses

Horses

imported.

'exported.

1,063

ns

339

4,538

3,443

1,526

3,179

2,485

6,819

a 1,902

6,063

3,346

2,432

3,616

2,970

1,711

2,807

61,574

3,458

2,072

2,130

4,417

1,761

3,199

1,595

2,960

1,978

4,318

1,411

5,204

1,357

4,644

1,332

4,440

1,646

4,069

1,461

4,136

1,575

4,091

1,849

2,210

2,387

7,202

3,448

7,172

12,618

3,383

Year.

1873

17,832
13,033

1874

1875.

25,757

1876

41,148

1877

30,524

1878

26 521

1879

15,246

1880

9,294

1881

9,950

1883

8,827

1883

9,627

1884

13,938

1885 -

13,033

1886

11,037

1887

11,649

1888

11,504

1889

13,859

1890

19,404

1891 -

21, 715

1892.

21,026

1893

13, 719

1834.

23,866

1895

34,093

1896

40,677

Horses Horses
imported, exported.

2,816

8,050

8,136

2,659

2,258

2,967

5,018

5,128

6,108

6,444

7,376

6,973

6,196

7,326

9,455

12,884

14,267

13,922

11,238

11,233

11,961

16,558

21,564

29,480

a Crimean war.

b Indiaii mutiny.

68 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

The following are the destinations; numbers, and values of horses
exported in 1896:

Destination.

Number.

Value.

Holland

6,433

15,845

3,994

3,208

£70,441

223,112

215, 194

163, 815

Total

29,480

671,562

The cost of raising a horse in England until 3 years old has been
variously estimated at from $150 to $200, according to the locality
where the horse is kept. In my opinion the former figure is about
correct.

While the statements made by Sir Walter Gilbey are based upon
information obtained in England, some of the conditions there apply
to other countries, and in order not to encumber this report with repe-
titions, these facts so applying will receive slight mention. Consider-
able space has been devoted to England, as the situation there seemed
to demand it, but in the consideration of the present status of the
horse business in other places not so much space will be occupied.

IN FRANCE.

Here the conditions are much the same as in England. By refer-
ence to the figures supplied by the United States Treasury Depart-
ment the number of horses France received from us in 1897 will be
seen to be very small, but these figures must not be taken as correct.
So far as the Treasury Department is concerned they may be accu-
rate, but in compiling statistics we can only trace the horses shipped
from the United States ports to their landing place and there all trace
of them is lost. The reason so few are accredited to France is from
the fact that the vessels running directly between United States ports
and French ports are so poor in accommodations that French dealers
will not patronize them, but prefer to ship to an English port and
then reship, even though the expense of so doing is greater. Thus it
will be seen that while the statistics of our Government are correct
in conveying the information they are intended to impart, they must
not be understood to convey a correct idea of the number of horses
each country mentioned actually received from us during the periods
given. Many of the horses shipped to English ports were finallj^ sold
in France, Belgium, and other countries, while many of those received
at Belgian ports were sent to Germany. Many shipped from the
United States to Germany were sold in Russia, but the majority sent
to England were sold there. The majority sent to Germany were sold
there, while the larger part of those landed in Belgium were ulti-
mately sold in Germany and elscAvhere after being fitted for sale.
This is especially true of the draft horses landed in Belgium, as will

I^HE SITUATIOiSr IN FRANCE. 69

more fully appear when we come to treat our subject under condi-
tions existing in Belgium. I have said that the conditions here were
much the same as in England, though this country produces a large
number of coach horses that each year find their way into English
markets. That France has long done all she could to produce a coach
horse, from the absolute necessity of mounting her army, can not be
denied, but that she has made sufficient progress to supply other
nations with coach horses, or even meet the demands in her own
country, will hardly be claimed.

From information obtained from the agricultural department of
France I learn that the entire number of American horses sold in the
Republic in 1897 was not far from 6,000, but I am unable to learn
officially what prices they brought.

For much of the information obtained relative to the sale of Ameri-
can horses in France I am indebted to Mr. Eugene Vidal, who is one
of the oldest and largest horse merchants in Paris. To one of his
private carriages he drives a large American horse, and he handles
more horses from the United States than any other merchant in the
city of Paris. He sells each year about 5,000 horses in all and is
thoroughly posted. In 1895 he handled 2,000 American horses, but
the quality was very bad and they became so unpopular that in 1896
he only sold 500. Since then the quality of the horses sent him has
improved and the prices he receives for them have likewise increased.
He had in his stables about 100 head, mostly of a light type, being
horses that would weigh about 1,150 to 1,200 pounds, but rather toppy
and of good quality. These horses sell in Paris for about #200 to $250,
and are put to various uses. Some of the heavier and coarser ones go
on the omnibuses and the lighter ones into carriages if good enough.
If not, they are used in general run-about traps, unless heavy draft
horses, when they go into heavier wagons. The good draft horses
brought from America to France usually sell for about $200 each, but
the horses most in demand in Paris, as elsewhere, are coaching horses
from 5 to 6 years old, such as are represented by the cut on page 52,
and which sell readily at from $150 to $500, according to their style,
action, and quality. If they attain the distinction of high-class car-
riage horses, the price in Paris, as in London, is only governed within
reason by their quality and the size of the purchaser's purse.

Mr. Vidal was asked: "From your experience in the horse business
and your knowledge of American horses, what would you advise the
American breeder to raise with a view to obtaining the best prices
for his horses in the markets of France?"

"I would recommend," he replied, "that they raise draft horses,
not too large, but on short legs, compactly built, with clean bone and
good action, and first-class carriage horses, if possible. The latter
properl}^ matured are very scarce, and there is hardly any limit to
the demand if they have size, quality, style, and action."

70 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

Mr. Vidal also says that the tendency of the American breeder,
judging from the draft stallions he has sold for America, was to
increase the size of their horses without regard to the quality, the
natural result of which was a rough ungainly horse, that the people
of France do not like. He suggests that now, since we have the size,
we should pay more attention to quality than we have heretofore
done.

The scale of prices for similar horses seems to range about the
same in Paris as in London, and practically the same kind of horses
seems to be in demand, the high-acting carriage horse always having
the preference. In general, prices in France are the same as they
have been for years.

There are not as many American horses used on the omnibuses of
Paris as of London, but I am told that where they have been tried
thej^ have given entire satisfaction. The average price of the bus
horses in Paris is $200. Fifteen thousand are now in use, and the
companies buy about 3,000 annually.

It will be seen that there are fewer horses used in Paris omnibuses,
in proportion to the size of the city, than in London, but it will also
be observed that Paris, in proportion to the size, has more cabs than
London. The cab horses of Paris come principally from the Norman
provinces, comprising the following departments : Calvados, Manche,
Orne, Seine-Inferieure, and Eure. The prices paid for them differ
little from the prices paid for the Irish cab horses of London, but are
some higher, being from 1125 to $150 each. There are about 40,000
cab horses in use in Paris all the time, it being estimated that there
are about the same number of cabs as in London ; but the horses, as
a rule, are not so good, and lack much of being kept in the same
condition as the cab horses of the latter place. I was shown 25
horses which Mr. Vidal had just imported expressly for one of the
cab companies of Paris, but I can see little in it for the American
breeder at $150 per head in Paris, when losses are sustained and
freights, duties, commissions, etc., are paid.

We will next consider the requirements for cavalry horses in France.

For the following figures I am indebted to " Le directeur des
Haras," Mr. P. Plazen (in charge of the Government breeding stables).

The entire number of horses in France is 2,943,668. The entire
number used for army purposes is 127,000 and the number annually
purchased for remounts is from 12,000 to 13,000, 10,000 of which are
for saddle purposes. The average price is $200 each. The different
grades and sizes are as follows :

Price.

Dragoons (5 feet 0.6 inch to 5 feet 2.2 inches) $200

Small cuirassiers (5 feet 2.2 inches to 5 feet 3 inches) 200 to 230

Cuirassiers (5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 4.6 inches) . 220 to 250

Artillery (5 feet 2.2 inches to 5 feet 3 inches)... 150 to 190

Officers' horses (5 feet 1.4 inches to 5 feet 5 inches) 220 to 400

(In computing the above, 5 francs to the dollar only was allowed.)

THE SITUATION IN FRANCE. 71

The average weight which cavalry horses in France are expected to
carry is from 90 to 100 kilograms, or from 198 to 220 pounds. In order
to sustain such a weight and run and jump with it, as they may at
any time be required to do, they must have strong, short backs, good
loins, and heavy muscles.

Mares used in the French cavalry, as well as horses, must be sound,
have good bone, short backs, heavy loins, strong hips, and good feet.
Action is not considered, except interfering, and they must be able
to gallop well. The requirements of the different armies are practi-
cally the same in all countries I have visited, but I find some mounted
on heavier horses than others.

At the present time the French buy their army horses in the same
provinces that their cab horses come from, using only the inferior
ones for the latter purposes. Few American horses have been tried
in the French arm}', as few have met the requirements, but some have
doubtless been bought of the dealers without the officers who pur-
chased them knowing they were American bred, and in these instances
I am assured our horses have given entire satisfaction. At least
there have never been any complaints.

In France, as in all other European countries, horses are seldom
weighed, and never described by weight. In describing them their
height only is mentioned, but if they are said to be a certain number
of meters high it is understood that they are uniformlj'- built and will
weigh what a horse of perfect conformation of that height should
-weigh. In America, on the other hand, the weight is oftener spoken of
than the height, but each custom is wrong, for if the height and
weight were both given one could form a much better idea of the gen-
eral conformation of a horse, his compactness, and distance from the
ground, etc., without seeing him.

The artillery horse in all countries is more compactly built than the
cavalry horse, and differs little from the horse I have described as
being suitable for the 'buses.

The cost of raising horses in France does not differ much from that
in England. The actual cost until 2 years old is about $150, and from
that time on every horse is expected to pay his own way. If he did
not do this, horses could not be raised in France at the prices men-
tioneii above. Another important feature of this method is that by
handling the horses from the time they are 2 years old they become
gentle, which adds much to their value and which overcomes one of
the w^orst complaints against the American horses — which is, they are
not broken. This is the first complaint one hears in every country
where American horses have been used.

Other complaints urged against our horses in France are that
their necks are too short, they stand with their hocks too close
together, their hips are not long enough, their backs too long, etc.,
but many of these objections could be found with the horses of any
other country.

72 FOEEIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

While France is one of the greatest horse-producing countries in
the world, she does not raise all the horses she needs. The Govern-
ment has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for breeding stal-
lions and still continues to keep up her breeding stables. Besides this
she requires every stallion used as a sire to be approved by the Gov-
ernment commission and offers prizes to the best horses. Under this
wise arrangement we find the breeding horses of France are divided
into four classes : (1) Those belonging to the Government; (2) those
belonging to private individuals which receive premiums from the
Government on account of their breeding qualities; (3) those which
are approved and permitted to be used for breeding purposes, but
which receive no iDremiums; (4) those that are not approved and not
permitted to be used for breeding purposes.

I have before me the annual report of "Le Directeur des Haras,"
of France, and while I can not give all the statistics relative to the
importation and exportation of horses, it is interesting from our point
of view to note how many more horses this countrj^ imports than she
exports.

The following is the number of horses imported and exported by
France for the six years from 1891 to 1896:

Year.

Imported.

Exported.

1891

16,007
14,343
15,269
21,031
36,467
33,912

24,103

1892..

21,702

1893.

24,121

1894 _

22,32fi

1895- . ..

21,484

1896

20,945

The above figures, which are official, show that up to 1895 France
exported more horses than she imported, but in 1895 and 1896 she
imported many thousands more than she exported. I am not able to
learn what the values of the horse imports and exports of France were
for each year mentioned.

The Government duty on horses from other countries to France is
30 francs, or about $6, i^er head.

IN BELGIUM.

Here we have a country in wliich different conditions exist from
those found in France or England, as it produces nothing but draft
horses. The entire Kingdom of Belgium comiDrises but 11,000 square
miles, yet she is one of the great horse-producing nations of the
world. From Flanders we trace the earliest history of the draft
horse, and, following their customs of early times, the people of Bel-
gium continue to breed no horses except the draft, and that of a par-
ticular type peculiar to their own country. Hence we find a nation
with 5,000 cavalry and 1,200 artillery horses that does not produce
any used for the former purpose.

The situation in Belgium. 73

Belgium now pnreliases for the remounts of her army about 800
horses per year, and while the number is not large the market is
within the easy reach of the breeders of the United States if they see
fit to take it.

Chevalier Hendricks, an officer in the Belgian army and an acknowl-
edged authority upon horses in his country, lias studied the question
under consideration with great care for the last few years. In a
recent address he advocated the plan of purchasing nothing but
American-bred horses for all remounts of their army. To this gen-
tleman more than any other one person Belgium is indebted for her
present efficient records of her draft horses.

I have before me a communication from the Chevalier upon the
subject of our ability to furnish the cavalry horses Belgium needs,
and, coming as it does from such high authority, I quote from it at
considerable length.

The first part of the communication treats of the sizes of horses
used for different armj^ purposes in Belgium ; but 'being almost iden-
tical with those of England and France, I omit the figures.

This gentleman says:

The horses should be 5 years old; the Government accepts only half of the
horses 4 years old; but prefers buying all horses 5 years old, because these can
easily take their places in the ranks in five to six months' time.

The weight which must be carried by the horses (soldier and equipments) is
not over 110 kilos; it varies between 95 and 110.

The Belgian Government pays for fresh horses from 1,000 to 1,150 francs; for
the Irish horses, £40 to £46.

Every year the Belgian army buys 800 Irish horses for remount of the cavalry
and for the artillery.

The Belgian Government would be pleased to trade with American merchants
if the United States would offer horses of a good quality at a little less expense
than we get them elsewhere. In this case the Government would not hesitate to
buy yearly a more considerable number of horses to increase the effective force
of cavalry.

Belgium does not breed cross-bred horses. We understand, under the name of
cross-bred horses, all horses (chevaux de luxe) designed for the use of the wealth-
ier classes — that is, not working horses. Belgium furnishes only draft horses.
They are of two kinds; the heavy are what are called Flemish or Brabantine
horses, the light are the Ardennes horses. Belgium buys its horses " de hixe" in
Great Britain, in Ireland, in France, in the Netherlands, and in Germany. In
1897, 4,400 American horses from the United States were sold in Antwerp. It
does not matter to Belgium where she buys her ''chevaux de luxe" or fresh
horses. The important point is to obtain the best horses at the lowest prices.

Besides the type of the fresh horse, which is the Irish type, the horses in great
demand in Belgium are the hunters and the coach horses.

In case that the Belgian Government would mobilize its army, it must want in
a few days a great number of horses. It should certainly want 3,000 saddle horses
immediately. The matter of remounts is the same in Italy as in Belgium, and
the United States is situated to seciire the monopoly of supplying horses for the
Italian army.

Commenting briefly upon the remarks of the Chevalier, I will say
that the}^ show a disposition to use our horses for cavalry purposes in

74 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

Belgium, and that the friendly spirit will doubtless be fully appre-
ciated by every American breeder of horses and by our people in
general.

The horses that Ireland is now furnishing Belgium for her army are
the largest and very best grades of the class heretofore mentioned as
being furnished by that country to supply the cabs of London. Thus
the horses Belgium gets are practically the same as those used in
England's army.

The artillery horses used in tlie Belgian army come chiefly from
the Ardennes, and are a low-down, powerfully made horse, with good
bone and good action. These the Belgian people Avill continue to
supply.

Having found a place where we can sell a few horses to the army, it
now remains to consider whether the price paid justifies our raising
them, and whether the Belgian x^eople will soon be in a position to
produce their own cavalry horses at less money than they can pur-
chase them elsewhere.

The prices now paid for cavalry and artillery horses in Belgium
are from 1200 to S230 each and can not be more, except for o£B.cers'
horses, which the officers, if able, usually purchase themselves.

The general prices for horses in Belgium have ranged higher for the
last few years than for a long time ; and while this may be difficult for
breeders in the United States to understand, the situation will be more
easily comprehended when we consider the great cost of raising horses
in Belgium, and the further fact that the United States has in the past
cut no figure in the horse trade of the continent. A careful perusal
of this report will show what kind of horses each country mentioned
buys from the other, and that the United States has never been con-
sidered a factor in the business.

The cost of pasture in Belgium ranges from $6 to 19 per month;
hay is worth $12 to 115 per ton, and oats from 50 to 60 cents per
bushel. The estimated cost of raising a horse in Belgium until he is
4 years old is from 1300 to $350, if well cared lor, and the latter figure
is all the horse is worth for common work when matured. Accepting
these figures as correct, it will be seen that no profit could inure to
the raisers of horses in Belgium under the conditions existing in the
United States; but the conditions are not the same. In Belgium the
colt is broken to work at 18 months old, and from that time on he is
expected to earn his living by the work he does for his owner. At
this age a good draft colt will sell at from 1200 to $225, and as it has not
cost this much to raise him to that age there is still a profit, though
not a large one, left to his owner, who invariably sells him if he has
not work for him.

Belgium being a draft-horse country exclusively, it may appear
strange that most of the American horses sold there are draft horses.
This, however, is true, and is due to tlie fact that the Belgians will
buy a draft horse because they are familiar with him and because

THE SITUATION IN BELGIUM. 75

they know there is always a demand for this class of horses. They
know how to fatten and prepare this horse for other markets, which
is just what they do, and then sell him again. They do not use many
of the American draft horses that are sent to them. They like their
own type better, and while most of the American horses which are
sent to Germany remain there, the reverse is true of Belgium. The
majority of the light horses sent to Belgium remain; but when it
comes to the selection of a draft horse for his own use, the Belgian
has his own ideas and selects one after the type he is most familiar
with, the same as the Englishman naturally likes the Shire, the Scotch-
man the Clyde, and the Frenchman the draft horse of his own country.

Thus we see that while our statistics show Belgium to have received
4,213 horses from us last year, there was but a small per cent of them
used in that country. She sells the largest number to Germany, while
many go to France and a few even to Italy. That both Germany and
France get many more of our horses than our reports show are shipped
there direct is patent from the number given by their own statistics.
The above facts show that the United States can raise draft horses
for export at a profit, but as I shall speak of this feature of horse
breeding later will not discuss it now.

What has been said about carriage horses in other countries is
applicable to Belgium. This country makes no attempt to produce
them, but here as elsewhere they sell better and at higher prices than
any other kind. From what has been said about the cost of produc-
ing horses in Belgium it will be seen that those which mature earliest
are the most profitable for the Belgian breeder. The cost of feeding
is so great that he must raise a horse that will be ready to pay his way
at the earliest possible day. Carriage horses as a rule would not at
the age of 18 months be able to do this, and hence to raise them in
Belgium will cost even more than to produce the draft horse.

While Belgium invites us to supply her with carriage and cavalry
horses, she guards with jealousy her production of draft horses. She
makes no discrimination against us, however; and if we raise good
horses they will sell to advantage. Belgium will ever have the
advantage, however, of producing a horse that her own people like
better than ours, but for the immediate profit there is in it she will
take our draft horses, keep them for a time, and then pass them on
to Germany and other countries.

In Belgium, as in other countries, the first thing one hears is that
our horses are too wild and too hard to break. This is easily under-
stood when we consider that in Belgium the colt is almost a member
of the family from the time he is foaled, and that he is broken to
work and handled like a dog from the time he is 18 months old.

This is true to some extent in all the horse-producing countries of
Europe, and fully explains the reason of the complaint we hear against
the American horse, that he is wild and hard to break.

?6 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

To show how the Belgian Government is protecting her draft-horse-
breeding industry, I will state that all breeding stallions in Belgium
must be approved by a Government commission. They are only
approved for one year at a time, and while they may continue to be
approved for many years, they must pass their annual examinations,
as will more fully appear hereafter. Stallions in Belgium do not
travel about the country as in France, but their territory is usually
circumscribed by the department in which they are approved. These
departments aie subdivided into " arrondissements," and here the
approved stallions meet to contest for annual prizes. The first prize
awarded to stallions 4 years old is $120 and the second prize $100.
The first-prize winners at these concours or fairs of the different
"arrondissements" then meet at another place in the province to
compete for other prizes, those of tlie first quality being awarded
another premium of $160. These are all the prizes the horses can
receive at 4 years old, but when 5 years of age fresh honors await them
if again approved by the Government commission. The commission
selects a certain number of 5-year-old horses in each province, which
number varies according to the needs, and awards them each $200
per j^ear for five years ; but the horses must pass their regular examina-
tions each year, and if bad from any cause will be cut off. After a
stallion has drawn this pension or premium for five years he may still
be approved from year to year indefinitely, while he is considered good
for a sire, and draw from the Government various sums, ranging from
$60 to $150 per year.

There are four places appointed in the Kingdom for the meeting of
stallions that are over old and have won first prizes. The Kingdom
is divided into these districts for convenience, and the stallions from
them meet at their respective places in July of each year. At each
of these meetings four prizes of $300 each are awarded the four best
stallions, thus making 16 additional prizes of $300 each, or $4,800
more in prizes which the Government pays. Anyone parting with his
horse before the expiration of the year forfeits his prizes, and thus
the Government makes it difficult and expensive for anyone to buy
and take away the stallions which it wants for breeding purposes at
home.

IN GERMANY.

In importance as a market for our horses Germany ranks next to
Great Britain, and in speaking of it we come to consider one of the
largest horse-producing countries in the world. Especially is it noted
for its lighter types ; but notwithstanding this fact, we find that Ger-
many is one of the largest horse-importing nations.

If the greatest horse-producing countries can not, or do not, supply
their own home demands, what are we to expect from those which do
not produce horses at all? When I speak of the production of horses
I mean large, useful horses, as distinguished from small, inferior ones,
or ponies.

THE SITUATION IN GERMANY.

77

As has been remarked, the condition in Germany is almost diamet-
rically opposite to that of Belgium, and differs from that of France
and England, as the latter countries produce both heav}^ and light
horses, while Belgium produces nothing but the draft horse, and Ger-
many only the kinds used for the carriage and army.

For many years Germany has been trying to raise the best cavalry
horses, and in a certain degree she has succeeded. She to-day has
the best mounted army in the world, with perhaps the exception of
France. We are not surprised that Germany's course renders it neces-
sary for her to purchase her draft horses, but we are naturally aston-
ished to find that she imports more light horses than heavy ones.
This is done in the face of the fact that the stallions exported from
Oldenburgh, Hanover, and Holstein have contributed more, perhaps,
to the jproduction of carriage horses and cavalry horses in other coun-
tries than those from any other places.

I must confess my surprise when an investigation of the official
records revealed the fact that Germany now imports about 100,000
horses annually, and that they cost her in round numbers about
$20,000,000. Investigation shows that quite a large per cent of these
importations are of the lighter types, and to convey a better idea of
the situation I set out the im]3ortations in detail for 1895, these being
the latest statistics I could procure. They are compiled by the Impe-
rial Statistical Bureau of Germany, and published in the German
Year Book for 1896. In 1895 Germany imported as follows :

Country.

Number.

Remarks.

19,943

15,468

6,733

1,954

10,239

13, 795

33,596

2,479

Horses principally draft.

Horses principally for bus and tram.

Horses principally draft.

Officers' army horses from Ireland.

Holland

Carriage and van horses.

Blooded horses, some actors, for carriages.

Ponies for mines.

United States

Draft and medium-sized horses.

Total -

ia3,205

The cost of these horses was about $18,700,000, or a little over $180
per head.

These figures impress us all the more forcibly when we consider
that nearly one-third of the entire imports, i. e., those coming from
Russia, are small, inferior animals, being ponies that are used princi-
pally in the mines. These ponies are bought at a very low figure, but
to offset this in part the fact must not be ignored that a considerable
number of the horses coming from France and Belgium are draft
stallions for breeding purposes, and cost from $500 to $600 each.

Whatever conclusion we may draw from the above figures, they
prove conclusively that Germany imports a large number of horses
and pays a good round price for them.

An enterprising firm of horse merchants, fully awake to the
demands of their country, has recently completed a very large and

78 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

elegant stable in Berlin with a view of handling American horses
exclusively. They have buyers in the principal cities of the United
States, and do their own importing. To them I am indebted for much
information, and I saw in their stables several hundred American
horses which had landed recently. They have all kinds from the
Kentuck}'^ thoroughbred to the draft horse. I was surprised to see so
many horses of light types in a country where the carriage horse and
cavalry horse had been bred almost exclusively for so many years,
and still more astonished when told that the lighter or carriage types
sold even in Germany better than the draft types.

This firm sells all horses at public auction, and good "low-down"
blocky draft horses were bringing about $225 each. Nice smooth
1,100 and 1,200 pound horses, of carriage type, bring the same prices,
but the best draft horses and the better class of the lighter horses
were selling at from $250 to $300 each. I was shown a "low-down,"
heavy-muscled, heavy-boned, well-made, black draft team, of rather
superior quality, that had sold for $600 and would be used for heavy
work in the city on the truck or wagon of some large firm.

The bus horses of Berlin come mostly from Denmark and are very
similar in conformation to the bus horses used in London, though
not so uniform. Quite a number of American horses are now used
on omnibuses in Berlin with entire satisfaction, and are becoming
popular.

The class of horses that the United States is now sending to the
different European markets suits much better than those formerly
sent, which is due perhaps to the fact that the importer better under-
stands the demands of his customers than formerly, but however
this may be the horses now sent are fast redeeming the reputation of
the American horse, which was most unfavorable for some time, on
account of the very inferior animals sent to the different European
countries when the business of exporting horses from the United
States first assumed importance. The prices paid by the bus com-
panies of Berlin for their horses range from $175 to $200 per head.

In Germany, as elsewhere, we hear the general complaint that our
horses are not well enough broken, and we are again admonished that
we must raise a horse on short legs if we would have him command a
good price. The American horse acclimates quickly in Germany and
has good endurance. The firm above mentioned says the United
States is to-day furnishing the best horse for the price that can be
bought anywhere in the world, and that the worst difficulty they
experience is in getting the proper kind fast enough, principally on
account of the poor shipping facilities to German ports.

The American horses can not at this time be sold to the armies of
Germany, but there are other demands that it is more advantageous
to supply. The firm above mentioned assured me that if shipping
facilities were right so they could get the horses as they needed them
they would be able to sell in 1898 2,000 draft horses, 2,000 medium,

HORSES IN PRUSSIA. 79

well-shaped, general-purpose horses, and 2,000 carriage horses. They
began their present business only last December, having just com-
pleted their stables, and in one month sold 300 American horses.

The cab horses of Berlin and other large cities in the Empire come
from Prussia, and are the inferior animals of that country, not fit for
army use. They are too low in price and too inferior in quality to
interest the American breeders. One indication that the Germans
like our horses is the fact that nearly all we import to that country
remain there, and, as before stated, many find their way to the Ger-
man markets after being landed at other ports. This is evident from
the fact that our Government reports show Germany to have taken
from us in 1895 but 1,324 horses, while the German yearbook for
that j^ear shows she received duties paid on American horses num-
bering 2,479, being 1,155 more than we give Germany credit with that
year. The duty imposed by the German Government on all foreign
horses is 20 marks, or about $5 per head.

While Germany imported over 100,000 in 1895, she exported but
7,980.

I shall not occui)y much space in commenting on the cavalry horses
of Germany, except to state where they are purchased and the aver-
age prices paid for thein. The description of the cavalry horses of Eng-
land, France, and Belgium substantially corresponds with the require-
ments of Germany, but from what I can learn they are using in the
latter place, for their light cavalry, a little lighter horse then is desired
in other countries, though the heavier cavalry of Germany is mounted
on horses that have few equals for that purpose in the world. The
most of the cavalry horses in the German army come from east and
west Prussia, some coming from Hanover and Holstein.

The Prussian horse is not a large horse, but is possessed of much
blood, and if the weights given me by the United States consul-gen-
eral at Berlin are correct the horses are lighter in weight than those
used for the same purposes in the other countries I have mentioned.

I am indebted to the consul-general for a copy of the consular
report for 1897, from which I quote briefly:

The horses purchased are generally 3 years old, only exceptionally 4 years. The
former remain one year at the remounts depots before they are turned over to the
regular service. Officers, as a rule, buy east Prussian horses; those who can
afford it buy English blooded stock. The best Prussian horses bring from $225 to
$340. These, however, are bought at an age of from 5 to 6 years, and well trained,
especially since the Prussian horse is hardly fit for use before its sixth year is
concluded.

English and Irish horses, which are bought largely in Hamburg, are, owing to
the richer nourishment which they receive on their native pastures in their
younger years, fit for use at the age of 4 to 5 years, and are less nervous, shy, and
excitable than the Prussian animals. The Irish horse is the easiest to ride under
all circumstances, the early wholesome nourishment giving it a calmer and more
docile temper.

I have reason to believe that under the name of Irish stock many American
horses are sold in Hamburg, as the description given of them closely resembles

80 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

the American horse, and many of these are imported into Hambiirg, but are
seldom mentioned by dealers there as American stock.

The average price paid by the German Government for army horses
varies. For artillery, from $140 to $160, and for the regular remounts
of the cavalry about 1200. The German Government reserves the
first right to select its cavalry and artillery horses from the countries
within the Empire that produce them, so that other nations must
take what is left.

In east Prussia horses can be raised very cheap, as the land is not
dear and only fit for pasture, and the horses that bring a low price
are not broken at all when the Government gets them.

In Germany, as elsewhere, the high-class carriage horse is the one
that sells best and is the scarcest, notwithstanding the German people
have been breeding this horse for years. The large carriage horses
come from Oldenburg, while Hanover and Holstein also produce car-
riage horses of a lighter type.

There is such a range in prices of carriage horses in Germany that
it would be impossible to form an accurate estimate of their value,
since so much depends upon individual quality, appearance, action,
etc. , as before stated. Farmers usually get from $300 to $500 for
good ones, according to the number of the desired qualities the horses
possess, but when the dealer has properly matched up a pair and
handled them for a short time they sell for all kinds of prices, just
as in England and elsewhere. Many of these horses are sent each
year to Paris and a large number of the best "actors" are sold at
high prices in Italy. The large landau teams bring the highest
prices and the brougham teams next, as is the case in the London
market.

Except in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, the Government buys
all" the horses that are used for breeding iDurposes and distributes
them throughout the breeding districts, taking care to select for
each particular district the horse possessing the peculiar type best
suited to the locality where he is sent.

In Oldenburg the stallions are owned by individuals, but must be
approved by the Government commission if used for breeding pur-
poses, and here the Government awards prizes to the best.

The cost of producing horses in Germany does not differ much
from that in France and England, except that it is somewhat less in
Prussia, where much of the land is good for nothing but pasture.
In Oldenburg and Hanover, however, where the larger types are
raised, the cost is about the same as in England, and here the colts
not kept for breeding purposes are all put to work at 2 years of age.

IN RUSSIA AND ITALY.

I have considered the condition of the American horse trade in the
four most important countries to which we are now exporting, but

HORSES IN RUSSIA AND ITALY. 81

there are other countries Avhich I must mention incidentally, and
these are Russia and Italy. The former has an immense cavalry, and
no good horses with which to supply it. While Russia has one of
the largest cavalry equipments in the world, she has it mounted on
the poorest horses. Some efforts have been made of late to breed up
the horses of Russia so as to render them more suitable for cavalry
purposes. But as yet little progress has been made, and the country
is so large and the horses so very inferior that it will take many
years to make any appreciable progress or improvement.

The Orloff horse, which is now produced in some portions of Russia,
is not a good cavalry horse. He is too light in weight, too long in the
back, has sloping hips, and lacks the substance that is absolutely
necessary to a good cavalry horse. He is short ribbed, narrow in the
flank, and light in the bone, and while some are remarkable for their
speed, they are, as a rule, very poor cavalry horses.

This, however, is the best horse for that purpose that the country
affords, as the Cossack horses are mere ponies and would have no
chance whatever against the best cavalry horses of the present day.

Russia now buys her cavalry horses at home, except the horses for
her oflicers. She does this for two reasons: First, she is compelled
to; and, second, she is anxious to encourage horse breeding in her
own country. This is a great field for the American horse, and sooner
or later he will find it. The iDeculiarity of the Russian people renders
it difficult to ship the horses there direct, but their dealers have
already commenced the shipment of American horses from Berlin,
and are much pleased with them. Berlin seems to be the accepted
distributing point for that country, and the question will doubtless
arise in the minds of some, Why do they not purchase horses in east
and west Prussia, where the German Government gets its cavalry
remounts? The answer is that the German Government reserves
the right to select what horses it wants first, and those it leaves
are only fit for cabs and work of like character. Thus it will
will be seen that the Russian may as well be content with his Orloff
horse in preference to the one he would get in Germany at anything
like a reasonable figure.

The Russian Government is buying stallions in Belgium, England,
Germany, and other places to improve its horses, but so great is the
task that it will be long in accomplishing it.

The demand for our horses there, which will perhaps be first shipped
to Germany, must have a potent influence on the exjjort trade of the
United States at no distant day.

What has been said of Russia can also be said of Italy. This
country produces no horses worth mentioning, and depends on Ger-
many for her carriage horses and on Hungary for her cavalry horses.
Hungary produces a light, nervous horse with much blood, and not
just what is required for cavalry purposes. Italy requires a consid-
S. Doc. 35 6

I

82 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

erable number of horses for her cavalry each, year, and we should at
the present time be furnishing her what she needs, as we can furnish
her a better horse than she is now buying elsewhere.

SUMMARY.

It must be apparent from the above facts that few nations produce
horses that are at all suitable for general use, and that none are at
the present time raising all of the kinds or the number they require
for their own uses. It must also be remembered that this condition
can not change quickly, as but few countries are so situated geograph-
ically as to render them capable of producing good horses, however
hard they may try. The natural environments have much to do with
the development of horses, and if these are not right all efforts must
prove futile.

The figures I have given, showing the present imports and exports
of the greatest horse-producing nations of the world, and the prices
certain kinds of horses bring in the different countries alluded to,
afford the best possible criterion of the supply and demand.

I have not only tried to give an accurate idea of what horses are
worth in the different countries, but have tried as well to show what
each is producing, and about what is the cost of production. This
decides the further question whether the present demand is tem-
porary, and whether or not the countries which are now taking our
horses will be able soon to produce them cheaper than we can supply
them.

These questions are all important, and if correctly answered will
shed much light upon the horse-exporting industry of the future.

There is little doubt that France and Germany will continue to raise
the great majority if not all of their cavalry horses, and Ireland may
continue to supply the few that England needs ; but the reader has
not failed to notice the many places pointed out where our horses can
be supplied for civil uses at much greater profit than when sold to the
armies of these countries.

I have given the approximate cost of raising horses in several
countries, and it will be seen that there is no country that can produce
the same kind of a horse as cheaply as the United States. In such
cases as that of Ireland furnishing the cab horses of England and
the cavalry horses of Great Britain, or Prussia supplying the cavalry
horses and cab horses of Germany, at a price below which we could
furnish them, they have left us a better and more profitable market
for higher-priced horses, which we can raise, and we can therefore well
afford to lose the cheaper markets.

With the exception of Belgium, every country I have mentioned
imports more horses than it exports. This may seem strange, in view
of the fact that I have si^oken of the greatest horse-producing coun-
tries of the world, but the fact remains.

SUMMARY. 83

In the case of Belgium it matters little, as she is a distributing
point for our draft horses and offers to buy our cavaliy horses from us.

It is worthy of comment that in every country where I have made
investigations I have invariably been told that no horses sold so
readily, nor brought such large prices, as high-class carriage horaes.
Are we prepared to raise them? I answer, Yes. It is true, we will
not always attain perfection, but we have the best conditions for pro-
ducing a high-acting carriage horse of any country in the world.
Rich, nutritious food is very cheap, and in certain parts of the
United States we can develop carriage horses with assured success.
I have said that too much blood spoils the action. This is invariably
true, but in our country we have finely formed mares with good
action and plenty of nerve without any thoroughbred blood in their
veins. If we use the proper kind of large, active, fine-styled coach
stallions as sires and do not succeed in jDroducing what we want in
the way of a high-acting carriage horse, there are so many places for
the horse we will produce that we can not make a mistake. *

I would not be understood as in any sense discouraging the breeding
of draft horses. I have attempted to show that good ones sell in any
market, and where one has large, heavy draft mares they should be
bred to a low, blocky draft horse of good quality, and more attention
should be jiaid to quality than to size. Remember, a good draft
horse must be on short legs, and his bone should be clean but large
if he is to bring a good price.

Those who have smaller mares would do better, in my judgment,
not to breed them to draft horses. It is true draft horses would
increase the size, which is very important, but the exact finish required
would be lacking, and the horse produced would not bring the price
he would if sired by a large, high-acting coach stallion.

I have pointed out the faults of our horses as suggested to me by
European buyers, but the greatest complaint is that they are so
poorly broken. This is the first criticism one hears, and while I
am aware that we can not handle our horses as the i)eople of Belgium
do theirs, we can break them better than we have done and not permit
them to run wild in the fields without being halter-broken until the
day we are to deliver them to the buyer. People in Europe are not
used to our method, and because a horse is wild and frightened they
regard him as vicious.

Horses for racing purposes, either trotting or running, have not
been considered, as the demand for them in Europe is exceptional
and not general, and I do not regard them as the best horses for the
ordinary breeder to raise for export.

It will also be observed that the prices paid for good horses in different
European countries are about the same, and in each one visited I
made special inquiry as to whether prices had declined any within
the last five years, and learned that they remained the same with

84 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

the exception of Belgium, where they have advanced Avithin the last
three years.

Whatever horse we raise, be it draft, hunter, coacher, cavalry, or
other kind, he should be on short legs; have his height in the depth
of his body and not in his legs. In other Avords, raise a high horse
on short legs. Also remember that, whatever kind he is, his back
should be short.

This rule always holds good, but by it I do not mean to raise a
really short horse. Let the horse be of good length, but have his
oblique shoulders and his long, straight hips instead of his back
supply it. Observe these rules and j^ou can not go wrong.

The present shipping rates from New York to London by the new
modern vessels of the Wilsons and the Furness-Leyland lines are as
folloAvs: £5 10s., to include freight, feed, attendance, and insurance,
the latter risk, on a valuation of £25 ]3er head, to terminate ten days
after steamer's arrival ; £5 2s. 6d. , to include freight, feed, attendance,
and insurance, the latter risk, on a valuation of £25 per head, to termi-
nate on horses walking ashore ; £4 7s. 6d. , to cover freight, feed, and
attendance only.

Shipping rates from Montreal to London are practically the same as
above, as are also those to Bremen and Hamburg. In the latter cases,
however, the shipping rate is $25 j)er head, and insurance costs 4 per
■cent on the amount carried, the company's liability ceasing as soon as
the horses walk ashore at port of destination. From the best infor-
mation attainable, I estimate the loss in shipping to average about 3
per cent.

It is, of course, not expected that the breeder Avill be able to sell
his horses direct to Europe himself, as many things are to be arranged
before this can be done, and the exporter who ships them in large
numbers can do so much cheaper than the person Avho ships but a few.
It is the intention of the above rejport, however, to induce the breeder
to raise horses that will more readily sell, and at better prices, to his
local dealer for export. The exporter has much to contend with, and
his expenses are large. His horses must be kept for some time
before they can be put in shape to sell, after their hard trip, and some
of them will be found to improve slowly. If, however, the breeder
will raise the right kind of horses, the exporter can pay him a good
price for them and still have left for himself a reasonable profit to
pay for all his trouble, time, and risk.

. EXPORT OF HORSES FROM THE CHICAGO MARKET.

[Report of Inspector William A. Bruette, dated Chicago, 111., September 3, 1897.]

Sir: I herewith beg leave to submit the following report on the
export horse trade at this point:

The exporting of horses has been going on from this point (Chicago)

EXPORTS OF HORSES FROM CHICAGO. 85

for the past ten years in a desultory way, but did not assume propor-
tions of material importance until 1893.

Foreign horsemen who visited this country, presumably through the
instrumentality of the Columbian Exposition, found our markets sur-
feited with horses, while there was a shortage abroad. During that
year, in an experimental way, 1,000 horses were purchased and
exported with satisfactory returns. In 1894 there were five foreign
buyers, or their representatives, on this market, and 2,000 horses were
exported. In 1895 5,000 horses were purchased, and the number of
buyers was materially increased. In 189G there were upward of fifty
buyers on the market, and 10,000 horses were purchased and exported..
The present season over seventy buyers are on the market, and in the;
first six months fully 10,000 horses have left here for foreign ports,,
and all indications are that over 20,000 horses will be exported by the;
end of the year.

The classes or tj^es of horses in demand for this export trade are
as follows: First, coach horse and drivers; second, cab horse; third,
bus horse; fourth, draft horse; fifth, standard trotter.

(1) The driver or coach horse must be of good color (black pointed,
dark-red bay, dark chestnut, sorrel, or black, in order of their desira-
bility), must show good breeding, be from 15.3 to 16.2 hands high, have
clean cut, rather small head, long, fine, well-carried neck, good bone
and substance, short back, round barrel, clean, smooth hips and loins,
square buttocks, tail set on rather high, good knee and hock action,
and be a stylish mover, the more speed the better. Horses of this class
have advanced, and will continue to advance, in price, which ranges
at present from $125 to $350. They must be broken to drive in single
or double harness, be tractable and of good disposition. The supply
is of various breeding, the greater number by standard trotting-bred
or French coach stallions, out of native or half-bred French draft
mares. They are shipped to England, Germany, France, and Mexico,
and constitute about 8 per cent of our exports.

(2) The cab horse is rather a blocky made animal that will weigh
from 1,050 to 1,150 jDounds, standing 154^ hands high, short cou^Dled,
smooth, and well balanced in conformation, good bone and substance,
and a fair traveler; a horse such as we regard as a general-purpose
horse. These horses are used on the cabs and light delivery wagons
and for ordinary driving. Prices range from $80 to $115. England
takes 50 per cent of them, Scotland 10 per cent, France 25 jjer cent,
and Belgium 15 per cent, the Germans requiring heavier horses.

These horses are the result of crossing the Norman or Percheron
horse on the small, smooth-made, common mare of good quality.
Fully 40 per cent of our exports are of this class.

(3) The bus or tramway horse weighs from 1,200 to 1,450 pounds,
stands from 15.3 to 16 hands high, rugged, made slightly on the
blocky order, good bone and substance, well muscled and put
together, with sufficient action to enable him to move oif at a fair

86 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

gait. Horses of this character are used on the London omnibuses and
tramway's, express or delivery wagons, and by the Germans for gen-
eral purposes. Present prices range from $80 to $135. England takes
60 per cent, Germany 20 per cent, and E'rance and Belgium each 10
per cent.

(4) The draft horse weighs from 1,500 to 1,800 pounds, blocky
made, good bone, and well muscled and put together, smoothly finished,
good quality and disj)osition, and a first-class horse in every respect;
must be well broken and tractable. Horses of this build are used for
heavy truck work and drajdng, and constitute about 16 per cent of our
exports. They are used in the United Kingdom and Germany. They
are by Shire or Clydesdale sires, some Norman or Percheron, out of
one-half or three-fourths bred mares of the same breeding.

(5) The American trotter must be a high-bred horse with good bone
and substance, finely finished, plenty of action, and nice disposition.
The more speed, the higher price he will bring, quality and size being
considered. The prices range from $200 to $5,000. This style of
horse is used in Germany, England, France, and Austria for racing
and road driving. There is a demand from Mexico for well-matched
teams of this class, weighing about 2,000 pounds, where they are used
for carriage work. Horses of this character constitute about 2 per
cent of our export trade.

There are no horses purchased in this market particularly for cav-
alry purposes, and no such classification or type is recognized, but it
is quite probable, so I am informed by exporters, that numbers of
those horses purchased as cabbers, when resold in the London or
Continental markets, are purchased by representatives of European
powers for military purj^oses.

In addition to the countries mentioned there is a small demand
from Guatemala and Central America for light drivers and carriage
teams, and from Cuba for mules and cheap drivers. A trial ship-
ment of 80 horses is now on the ocean for Cape Town, South Africa,,
and experimental shipments will shortly be made to the Hawaiian
Islands. All parties interested in the horse business at this point
display a very aggressive spirit in enlarging their scope of export,
business.

I have been unable to obtain sufiicient data to enable me to state>
positively where these horses were bred, but, from a general inspection
of the books and records at the Stock Yards Company, and interviews;
with experienced and conservative commission men who are familiar
with the market, I estimate that the horses purchased for export at
this market were derived about as follows: 36 per cent are bred in
Iowa, 34 per cent in Illinois, 7 per cent in Indiana, 5 per cent in Ohio,
5 per cent in Missouri, 5 per cent in Minnesota, 3 per cent in Wis-
consin, 2 per cent in Kentucky, and 3 per cent scattering.

All horses for exportation must be perfectly sound, free from blem-

EXPORTS OF HORSES FROM CHICAGO. 87

ishes, in good flesh, as smooth as possible, and from 5 to 7 years old,
in order to command the best prices.

Drivers and coach horses must be broken to both single and double
harness, cabbers to single harness. The bus and draft horses sell
satisfactorily if broken to double harness. Four-year old horses sell
from 15 to 20 per cent lower than 5-year olds.

These horses are shipped from here to New York or other Atlantic
ports in private palace horse cars, holding usually 20 horses, each
animal having a separate stall, one attendant being allowed to each
car. They are delivered in New York City proper, and driven through
the streets to the steamer. The time on the road is from sixty to
seventy hours, and the expense is $120 per car for the railroad charges,
and $10 extra for the palace car. This rate does not include feed.

On the steamer the time required for transj)ortation between New
York and London is from ten to eleven and one-half days, depending
on the time of year and stress of weather. The rate is $17.50 per
head. To Continental ports the rate is $20 per head. This is for
bare transportation. The shipper must furnish his own attendants,
food, etc. One attendant is carried free to every twenty horses, and
a return-trip ticket furnished him in the steerage. The loss on the
steamer from all causes is under 2^ per cent. The rate of insurance
is from 4 to 5 per cent, according to rating of steamer, destination,
and time of year.

At the above rate the horses are insured under the full mortality
risk, and if the horse dies from any cause whatever, whether by stress
of sea or from natural causes, the shipper is reimbursed. The valua-
tion is generally from $100 to $150.

The Alantic Transport Line, which carries horses to London and by
transshipment at London to Antwerp, Havre, Ghent, Bordeaux,
Ostend, and other continental ports, have made a special rate of
$27.50 to London and $35 to continental ports. At this rate they
furnish all food and attendants and full mortality insurance.

The export trade is unanimously credited with being the life of
this market, and the gratifying increase in value of all grades of
horses, except what are known as plugs and common horses, is to be
accredited to it.

There were sold in this market in 1896 86,506 horses, 80 per cent
of which I find by reference to the daily sale sheets were jilugs and
common horses, leaving in round numbers about 18,000 desirable
horses, 60 per cent of these being purchased bj'^ foreign buyers.
During the first six months of the present year 52,436 have been
sold, and less than 25 per cent are of the classes I have previ-
ously mentioned as being available for exportation, and practically all
of them have been purchased for that purpose.

Germany, the last country to recognize the importance and magni-
tude of our interests, shows an increase of business fully as great as
that made by England and France, and promises even more.

88

FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

Since the first shipments in 1893 prices have steadily advanced and
are now fully 30 per cent higher than they were at that time. Not-
withstanding this, the demands of the foreign buyers have become
more and more importunate, and they have become less arbitrary in
their selection of character and type and readily accept horses that
would have been rejected a year ago as undesirable for their trade.

Statement showing destinalipn of 40 per cent of the number of horses estimated as
exported from Chicago during the year 1S9G and GO per cent of those exported
during the first eight months of 1S97.

Month.

Lon-
don.

Ant-
werp.

Havre.

Ghent.

Bor-
deaux.

Copen-
hagen.

Os-
tend.

Ham-
burg.

Total.

1896.
January

503
617
294
300
168
209
100
1.52
498
253
- 75
111

466
624
941
1,108
543
305
377
174

503

February

46

20

683

March-

30
35
40

314

April

46

27
47

398

May.

255

June

41

46"

41

250

July

35

56
40

135

Aiigust

30
30

238

September

SO

618

October

293

November _ _ _ _

75

Decern ber

18

38"

46
90
165
274
167
126

25

154

1897.
January

14

38

508

February

623

March _ _

98
358
160
105

63
200

1,085

April-- --

35

43

1,481

May

909

June -. --

33

706

July _---

606

August - - - -

500

Total..

7,815

1,138

187

74

30

38

67

1,033

10,322

REPORT REGARDING THE EXPORT OF HORSES FROM BUFFALO,
N. Y.. AND VICINITY.

[Report by Inspector Nelson P. Hinkley.]

Sir: As requested by you in a letter of recent date, I respectfully
submit the following report concerning the export trade in horses
from Buffalo, N. Y., and vicinity:

I have interviewed nearly all of the horsemen who are interested
either in purchasing for or selling to the export trade, also the ship-
pers of export horses from this city, and find that those which have
been and are now being exported are all of the better class. They
consist of horses for the following purposes : Cabs, tramroads, omni-
buses, cavalry, artillery, light and heavy van horses, jobmasters (or
coach horses), cobs, hea\"y and light hunters, trotters, and pacers.
The light and heavy van horses are used for all draft purposes. Tram
horses are used for street railwaj^s and tramways. Omnibus horses are
in large demand, and are used in large numbers for drawing passenger
omnibuses for public street service. Cavalry and artillery horses are,
as the term signifies, used in the several foreign armies for army pur-
poses. The horses termed ' ' jobmasters " are used for public carriages,

EXPORTS GF HORSES FROM BUFFALO. 89

funeral work, and all the i)nrposes for which American coach horses of
this country are used, I am informed that a jobmaster in a foreign
country is a man of large means who owns a large number of high-class
horses and leases them to individuals for private purposes for the
season. The coach horses exported from America are sold only in
limited numbers to private gentlemen for private use. Cob horses
are principally used by business men for hack or road purposes.
Heavy and light hunters are used for saddle purposes, for pleasure,
cross country, and following the hounds, while the American trotters
and pacers are being used for racing and breeding purposes. All of
the above-mentioned horses are bred and purchased principally in the
States of Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan, Indiana,
and Wisconsin, while some of the high-class hunters, cobs, and hack-
ney horses are furnished to this market for export purposes by Canadian
breeders and dealers.

DESCRIPTION OF HORSES.

Cab horses. — These should be from 15 to 15.1 hands high; color
should be solid, either bay, brown, chestnut, or black; weight from
900 to 1,000 pounds; closely coupled, short back, small head and ear,
good substantial legs and feet, and a good disposition.

Omnibus and tram way. — Horses for this work should be low chunks,
15 to 15.2 hands high, weight 1,100 to 1,300 pounds, 5 to 7 years old,
plenty of good, heavy bone and muscle; well ribbed up, round hips,
solid color, and of light action; must be thoroughly broken to all
harness.

Caimlry and artillery horses. — The demand for these horses seems
to be very large — exceeding the supply, and buyers are constantly on
the market desiring to i)urchase a class of horses having a combina-
tion of strength and endurance with the fine finish of a thoroughbred
type. Color should be exclusively solid (dark bay or chestnut),
height from 15.3 to 16 hands, having along neck, small, fine-cut head,
short ears, well-develoi)ed forehead, long, sloping shoulders, short
back, closely ribbed ; with plenty of substance ; clean, strong legs, with
a smooth, round foot; must be easy gaited, with not too high a knee
action; more valuable if saddle gaited.

Van or draft horses. — The demand is good for the highest type of
the American draft horse, which should be from IG to 17 hands high,
and weigh from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds — in fact, can not be too heavy;
should be short legged, with plenty of bone and muscle; must be
perfectly sound, closely coupled, with short back, heavy neck, small
head and ears. The Shire breed is much preferred for the English
market, and animals with plent}^ of long hair on legs are much desired
also, while the Normans are accepted by Continental buyers. Color
does not materially change the value, but the horses must have great
substance, durability, and possess heavj^ and strong, clean bones;

90 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

large, round lioofs, not flat; sloping and powerful shoulders, short
backs, well ribbed; smooth-turned hij^s, and should be kind in dis-
position, thoroughlj^ true, and broken to single and double harness;
also perfectly waywise.

Jobmaster or coach horses. — The demand for this class of horses is
very large, and the supply is not equal to the demand. This class of
horses should stand up not less than 16 hands high and weigh from
1,150 to 1,300 pounds; should have a long, breedy neck, short ear,
wide and intelligent head, short back, well ribbed; round hip, clean
legs, and not too large a hoof, which must be dark in color. The
color of horses in demand is solid black, brown bay, chestnut, and
dark sorrel. Black points are Y^vy desirable. They must be well
broken to harness, carry a high head, with an easy, medium knee and
hock action, free from interfering or forging.-

Light jobmasters or coach horses should not be under 15.2 and no
more than 16 hands high; color, bay, black, chestnut, or dapple gray;
possessing a well-formed, long, arched neck, and an intelligent, breedy
head; long, sloping shoulders, short back, close ribbed; medium-sized
hoof; thoroughly broken to all liarness; must not forge or interfere,
and should have high hock and knee action, quick and active on their
feet, thoroughly wise, and well broken to respond to the bit.

Cohs. — Cob horses should be of solid color, chestnuts, sorrel, and
bays preferred; should weigh from 1,000 to 1,100 pounds, not over 15.1
hands in height, blocky, close ribbed, round hip, small head and ear,
medium length neck, very high knee and hock action, flat, bony legs,
medium hoof; should be quick and active on their feet, thoroughly
broken to all harness; must be free and well gaited, yet not vicious,
and, in the words of the horseman, be able to pull their knees up to
their chin when trotting. This class of horses is in demand, espe-
cially for the Great Britain trade.

Heavy and light hunters. — While the demand is good for this class
of horses, the requirements are such that but few of our American
horses, especially from the Western States, can pass the inspection.
The Eastern and Southern breeders of the United States are more
successful in breeding and producing this kind of animal. The
requirements are that they must be essentially three-quarter thorough-
bred, well conformed, very short in the back, high withers, long, thin
neck, small head and ear, deep chest and shoulders, round and heavy
hip, witli plenty of muscular power behind for propelling and jump-
ing purposes; a good, clean, flat limb, with plenty of bone substance;
solid color is j^ref erred, but if other requirements are produced the
color is not much of an object. They must be well broken for sad-
dle, quick of action, sure footed, and able to show their ability to
jump both fence and ditch of reasonable heiglit and width, the heavy
hunters carrying from 150 to 180 pounds; light hunters, from 120
to 150 pounds. Horses of this class have been purchased from Canada
in the vicinity of Toronto, Simcoe, and other breeding districts of

SOURCE OF SUPPLY OF HORSES. 91

Ontario, wliere they are being raised exclusively for this purpose,
thoroughly broken and conditioned when they are brought to Buffalo
by Canadian dealers and sold to foreign buyers.

Trotters and pacers. — This class of horses being originally an Ameri-
can production, the demand is increasing very rapidl}^ for foreign
trade. This is especially so in regard to Great Britain and Germany.
I am informed by well-informed foreign horse dealers that the demand
for this class of horses in the two above-mentioned countries has
increased nearly 50 per cent during 1897, and is only surpassed by
the quest for cavalry and artillery horses for army purposes. The
trotting or pacing horse in reality need have no particular conforma-
tion or requirements, except when used for breeding or exhibition
purposes, and, using the terms of American horsemen when describ-
ing this class of horses, the one great requirement is to have them
"get there," or, in other words, extreme speed. Horses most in
demand are those ranging from 15.2 to 16 hands high, color no object;
where used for speed or racing purposes, weight from 1,000 to 1,300
pounds; must be well conformed, with great depth of shoulders and
hips; must be free and pure gaited, without hitching, hobbling, inter-
fering, forging, or knee knocking; must not have too much knee
action; in fact, must go, as horsemen say, "low and close to the
ground ; " must be of good disposition, with plenty of endurance, and,
of course, the more speed the better. Horses of this class are in great
demand for breeding purposes in Great Britain and Germany, but
there the requirements are more rigid regarding conformation, indi-
viduality, and extended pedigree, which must be well known and
renowned as to speed, endurance, and producers of the same.

SOURCE OF SUPPLY OF THE DIFFERENT CLASSES.

All classes of van or draft horses are raised principally in the
States of Ohio, Iowa, Hlinois, and some in the Dominion of Canada.
They are bred principally from imported stallions and mares of the
English shire, Clj^desdale, and French draft breeds. The shires,
French, and half-bred natives of the above-mentioned breeds are the
most desirable for the export trade.

Horses for cabs, tram roads, omnibuses, and other common uses
are principally from the States of Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wis-
consin, and Michigan, also a few from the Dominion of Canada. These
horses are usually bred from a smaller class of pure-bred Nor-
man mares and horses, crossed with our American coach and driving
horses, that have an individuality of activit}^, the pro]3er size (weight
from 1,200 to 1,400 pounds, height from 15.2 to 16 hands), and that
show more than ordinary speed for road purposes.

The jobmasters (light and heavy), or what are termed American
coach horses, are bred in nearly every State in the Union, but princi-
pally come from Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee,
New York, and some from the Dominion of Canada. Horses of this

92 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

class are usually sired by the very best coach and trotting stallions,
care being taken of course to procure sires that are well-marked indi-
viduals as to style, color, action, disposition, and speed. The mares
are usually selected under the same conditions.

Cavalry and artillery horses have only been in urgent demand by
the foreign trade within the last two or three years, therefore no par-
ticular care or effort has been made during the past by horse breeders
to produce horses suitable for this purpose. However, the recent
demand and good prices are inducing horse breeders who have an
opportunity of procuring sires and dams suitable for producing this
class of horses to pay particular attention to supplying the market
with cavalry and artillery horses; and from information derived I
am led to believe that the Southern States of Kentucky, Virginia, and
Tennessee are intending to breed horses for this purpose, while the
Western States of Michigan, Indiana, Kansas, and Iowa are also
procuring such sires and dams as will be apt to produce this class of
horses.

Cobs, heavy and light, are principally bred in New York State,
Dominion of Canada, some parts of Virginia and Kentucky, and
largely in Montana and Kansas. They are usually from either thor-
oughbreds or three-quarter-bred sires and dams.

Trotting and i3acing horses are bred in nearly every State in the
Union, although New York State, Michigan, Kansas, "Wisconsin, Ken-
tucky, and Tennessee seem to j)redominate in raising the class of
trotters and pacers that find the most ready sale to our export buyers.
No general rule can be given regarding their particular breeding.
Experience has taught us that in breeding horses for trotters and
pacers, several things are necessary to insure for them a ready sale
either on the home or foreign market. The one great demand and
requirement is speed, while beauty, individuality, size, etc., are
secondary considerations.

NUMBER OP HORSES EXPORTED FROM BUFFALO, N. Y.

From the most reliable information I have been able to obtain I
find that during the year 1896 25,000 draft horses, about 15,000 cab,
tramroad, and omnibus horses, and about 12,000 cavalry, artillery,
light and heavy van, jobmasters, and coach horses, cobs, hunters,
trotters, and pacers were exported.

PRICES PAID BY FOREIGN BUYERS.

Draft and van horses average in price from $100 to $300 each; omni-
bus and tram horses, $70 to $100; cab horses, $50 to $75; heavy coach
or jobmaster horses, $150 to $300; light coach horses, $100 to $300;
artillery and cavalry horses, $140 to $160; light and heavj' hunters,
$150 to $300. Trotters and pacers vary greatly in price, depending

EXPENSES OF SHIPPING. 93

upon the individuality, amount of speed, pedigree, etc., and bring
from $200 up to $2,500 each.

EXPENSE OF SHIPPING.

From Kew York on steamer on the following lines, viz. White Star,
Atlantic Transport, Leyland Line, German Lloyd, Dominion, War-
ren, and Phoenix to English points, the expense of shipping is $20 per
horse ; to France $30, to Germany $30, to Belgium $30. These prices
are freight only. Horses are placed in stalls 2 feet wide and 10 feet
long on board the boat. Their feed consists of a liberal allowance of
hay and grain, with a small quantity of wheat bran. To every twenty
horses is allowed a care taker, whose duty is to constantly watch, feed,
and care for this number of horses.

LOSSES BY DEATH.

The loss by death will not exceed 2^ per cent, and is usually the
result of long shipment, impure water on boat, bad ventilation, poor
food, lack of attention, and such diseases as influenza, strangles, and
pneumonia.

LOSS IN WEIGHT.

Experience proves that 90 per cent of the horses exported lose in
weight from 25 to 60 pounds during their voyage across the ocean.

REMARKS.

The prices I have given in the within-mentioned report are the
prices paid by the exporter at either private or public sale, while the
prices obtained in foreign countries I can not give in detail; but from
the best information I can obtain the profit realized on each animal
runs from $25 to as high as $150 in exceptional cases, and is satisfac-
tory in most cases. Export dealers have informed me that they have
realized a very satisfactory profit; that the profits vary in foreign
countries the same as in our own ; that horses are not always sold on
their merits; that a great deal depends on the customer taking a lik-
ing to the individuality of the horse, and j)aying for this only. Of
course, as in all other marketable products, the prices depend largely
on the demand and supply; but upon horses properly selected by
competent judges, and purchased for fair prices, with the shipments
not too long to the seaboard, and fairly good weather during the voy-
age, sold by men in foreign countries who are good judges of horses,
responsible, and of good reputation for fair dealing, there is certainly
every reason to expect a good and satisfactory jDrofit. The future
prospects for the export horse trade are certainly very bright and
promising, and there can be no doubt but that all the better classes
of American horses will find purchasers at good prices for shipment
to foreign countries. The American farmer and horse breeder real-

94 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES.

izes that to find a ready market for the horses he raises he must eater
largely to the wants of tlie export trade, and breed such horses as
there is a demand for. I am informed by horse dealers who are
frequenting all parts of the United States, purchasing horses
for the Buffalo market, that from the information which they
derive from farmers and horse breeders, every effort is being made
by them to procure suitable sires and dams for producing the
class of horses demanded for the export trade, especially the cav-
alry, artillery, and coach horse. The very low prices that have
been obtained by the farmer for the past few years have caused a
shortage in the production of all classes of horses, while the demand
for the past eight or ten years for a cheaper class of common horses,
such as are used by American street-car lines and for other similar
purposes, has been largely done away with by the substitution of
electricity as a motive power and by the large use of bicycles, and
on account of the financial depression of the entire country during
the past few years. These causes have naturally forced the farmers
and horse breeders who have been raising and breeding horses of an
inferior class, without regard to any quality whatsoever, to discon-
tinue the raising of horses of this kind. This really has been a boon
to the horse trade of the future, as all inferior stallions have been
castrated and either turned loose on the prairie to obtain their own
living or sold for some ordinary draft work, while brood mares of the
inferior class have also been disposed of. This fact has left nothing
but the better bred or high class horses to breed from in the future.
This, coupled with the knowledge that the farmer has acquired regard-
ing the necessity of raising a class of horses which will find a ready
sale both for foreign and home consumption, and the encouraging
and large demand of foreign countries for the American horse when
suitably bred, points to but one conclusion, and that is that the future
prospects of the sales of American horses to foreign countries is
extremely good, and one that warrants horse dealers and breeders in
using every effort in their power to improve the quality and breed of
horses so as to insure their receiving a suitable price and a large
demand. There is no doubt but that the American horse, properly
bred, has iDroven his superiority over all other horses in any part of
the civilized world.

Buyers and dealers of American horses for the export trade express
themselves in a way which signifies that they are of the opinion that
some action should be taken by the American Government in the way
of inspection and supervision of shipment, both by rail through the
States and also on board of the ocean steamers, in order that, by a
proper inspection of each individual horse, guaranteeing his health
and freedom from diseases of a contagious nature.

636.1