Show Mules an and Horses Making Comeback War-time War auto restrictions plus present and impending future ra ra- ra- ra are the cause of horses and mules making a comeback As gasoline becomes more restricted restricted restricted re re- re- re and tires cant can't be replaced or as the full force of industrial America gets behind its Uncle Sams Sam's war machine you'll see more and more horses and mules going through their daily chores Recent reports coming from both the South and the West Vest show such a revival in breeding and in the sale of available horse and mule stocks Decline Began in hi 1920 It was in 1920 that the decline inthe in inthe inthe the lumber cumber of horses and mules began to take place That year there were over 25 million From 1920 to 1940 the latest data available available available avail avail- able the decline was over 45 per percent percent percent cent to a figure of a little better than 13 million The decline might have been greater but for the work of the Horse and Mule Association of America which organized in 1920 to check the drop Traders today are beginning to benefit by the increased demand for forthe forthe forthe the animals for prices are ing In 1941 owners of stables experienced experienced their worst year as far as sales were concerned But since I then both old and new customers have been coming around for a little little lit Ut- tle first-class first trading swapping or buying So much so that many of the stable owners and auctioneers are planning on building new centers centers centers cen cen- or reopening old places Old timers those who really know good horseflesh as far as being real workers are petting getting interested once again But there is one difficulty which is handicapping ing horse breeders and that is the lack of good breeding stock from Europe The possibility of a permanent stoppage of Belgian male horses because of the Nazi occupation of Belgium is certain One writer discussing the situation situation situa situa- tion in a veterinary journal brought out the fact of a lack of European stock very well It was noted I I though that all is not a dismal pic- pic ture For as many traders and breeders in the United States will tell there tell there are plenty of good stallions stal stal- lions in this country stal-I stal I |