Rew Dork State College of Agriculture At Cornell Gnibversitp Ithaca, M2. D. HD 9434.U6A3 Special report on the market for America SPECIAL REPORT ON THE ARKET FOR ‘AMERICAN’ HORSES FOREIGN COUNTRIES. ah et Pee WASHINGTON. GOVERNMENT , PRINTING, OFFICE. 18:98. SPECIAL REPORT ON THE MARKET FOR AMERICAN HORSES FOREIGN COUNTRIES. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1898. To the Congress of the United States: I transmit herewith for the information and use of the 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, 1898. 2 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF 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 already much impressed with 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 throughout the country were correspond- ingly depressed. It is quite possible that in this apparent cause for discouragement there really was a blessing in disguise, for it is prob- ably due to these extremely low prices that the first impetus to the foreign demand for American horses was due. Whatever the 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, has 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 procured 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 ship- pers and consequent discouragement, but, by placing undesirable animals, undesirable at least from the European 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 altogether 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 OF TRANSMITTAL. information as to the extent of the demand in horse-importing countries, and as to the various kinds of horses wanted in those countries, and the distinguishing characteristics 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 the 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 present 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. Thereis 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 import 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 itis 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. 5 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. Résumé of individual reports CONTENTS. ANtROMUGtORY 36 ea cin t-te erga eters weeie eels ore oo eee Soe a neetaeamnere WHS: Army: NOTSC am iceererpre ue oo mcd se sco aoa mca ewe nie mtr dcicisiatenciancis Horses for business purposes _..............-.----.--------_---------- Importation of horses into Germany._.._.............------.--.------ Number and value of horses exported from the United States._..____- Reports and extracts from reports relating to the use of American horses in EOVOIGT COUN GTC cat haya eye ele oh tall ei cacuucees Great Britain’s purchases of cavalry horses in Argentina _____....__.- American horses in Belgium _....._._.__._..22222.2-22---- eee -------- Report of American military attaché...................222.22---- Carriage horses, etc .....-.------------------- enn e eee ene ene eee Hackneys, coach horses, ete......_..-.-.---.------2--------------- SAG ISSN ORSCS apes ssh ae bf peace tec ets hap re Grae Hunters and jumpers.----.....--.-..--.---- 2-2-2222 ---- ee eee ee Dratt Norses\ss cssemasewese veccck asicseenoneee us dceccescencceseekcen Requirements for German army horses -_-_....--.-------------------- A statement of experience and observation in shipping horses to Ger- MAD Y? oc seae omaha Soe asec ee sua setae nee ere meee eae Horsesiin. Hrance-<-.02.csssese ccc eeeceasaaacseaasesmenaepeneeneasaase Encouragements for improving the race and for breeding-------- HOtS6S: Gd Thelf W868 jo eee eee cndaadecses secey Seco ee ee egemesae American horsed pecnemeneemeseee eae eames aerate Summary of a communication regarding American horses used by the large horse companies in Paris, France ----------------------------- American horse trade of Great Britain__-...------------- EAaeaeeaeee Wiflectiol @Sba VOYAP Cn. one cn cdden casmmaenuecineceseeerteceaeonnmase MNSlsh Opinii ONsissa sce sececccemse sos ascoses eset ee acmeteemere Horse trade with Great Britain _-......-------.----------------------- American horses in Denmark--...------------------------------------- The demand for and kind of horses suited for European uses and the present status of the horse trade in different countries __..-.-.------ inthe: Gnited Kingdom: 222222222. cncgceeccies ceeececeectacen Tit HraneGl cnmcasanesseGeaasccmmtiamscmecohimeesie ce ciedaasiascmonaace In Bel git... Wo niooncanssceseeneeeeeencesen Pee mec ae eer aos Wn Germ any tcc cicecnsctics so naee acc nen eieaces ss ecamecceemaneue In Russia and. Waly joes cacasezciyee eee ee eset deees ee see ee aicaltices Summary: ........0-c the richer nouri Ne believe that under the name of Irish stock many American I have reason to description given of them closely resembles horses are sold in Hamburg, as ie 80 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES. the American horse, and many of these are imported into Hamburg, 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 $200. 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 purposes 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. T 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 which I must 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 officers. 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 peculiarity 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 export 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- 8. Doe. 35 6 mention incidentally, and 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. Ihave 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 spoken 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 cavalry 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 horses. 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 producing 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 paid 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 people 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. Tt 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 within 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 words, 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 you 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 follows: £5 10s., to include freight, feed, attendance, and insurance, the latter risk, on a valuation of £25 per 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 per 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 will 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 who ships but a few. It is the intention of the above report, 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, Ill., September 3, 1897.] Str: 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 1896 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 types 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 pounds, standing 153 hands high, short coupled, 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 per 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 off at a fair 86 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES. gait. Horses of this character are used on the London omnibuses and tramways, 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 France 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 disposition, 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 draying, 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 numbérs of those horses purchased as cabbers, when resold in the London or Continental markets, are purchased by representatives of European powers for military purposes. 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 sufficient 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 transportation 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 plugs and common horses, leaving 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 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 destination of 40 per cent of the number of horses estimated as exported from Chicago during the year 1896 and 60 per cent of those exported during the first eight months of 1897. : - Bor- |Copen-| Os- | Ham- Month. aoe ean, Havre.|Ghent.| geaux, Taper: tend. | burg. Totals. January ---....---...--..-- February ....-------.-...-. Marcha. secwacesnvecessckad April. July-. August -.- oe September--__._....__...--. October .-. 2 November December. January -....-.-....---.--- February --------.-..--..-- IM ATOW ecstdece Soe aa ase April. OY we June _ July-- AMG USE recess aoaehee ene 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, heavy and light hunters, trotters, and pacers.. The light and heavy van horses are used for all draft purposes. Tram horses are used for street railwaysand tramways. Omnibus horsesare 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 OF HORSES FROM BUFFALO. 89 funeral work, and all the purposes for which American coach horses of this country are used. I am informed that a jobmaster in a foreign country is aman 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 tramway.—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. . ‘ Cavalry 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 purchase 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-developed 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 16 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 plenty 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 heavy and strong, clean bones; 90 FOREIGN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN HORSES. large, round hoofs, not flat; sloping and powerful shoulders, short backs, well ribbed; smooth-turned hips, and should be kind in dis- position, thoroughly 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 very 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 harness; 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. Cobs.—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, with plenty of muscular power behind for propelling and jump- ing purposes; a good, clean, flat limb, with plenty of bone substance; solid color is preferred, 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 height 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, where 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 pacérs.—This class of horses being originally an Ameri- can production, the demand is increasing very rapidly for foreign trade. This is especially so in regard to Great Britain and Germany. Iam 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, Illinois, and some in the Dominion of Canada. They are bred principally from imported stallions and mares of the English shire, Clydesdale, 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, tramroads, omnibuses, and other common uses are principally from the States of Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wis- consin, and Michigan, alsoafew 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 activity, the proper 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 pacing horses are bred in nearly every State in the Union, although New York State, Michigan, Kansas, Wisconsin, Ken- tucky, and Tennessee seem to predominate 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, ete., are secondary considerations. NUMBER OF 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 heavy 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 New York on steamer on the following lines, viz, White Star, Atlantic Transport, Leyland Line, German Lloyd, Dominion, Wavr- 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 24 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 aninial 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 paying 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 profit. 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 cater largely to the wants of the 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 proven 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. °