Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-06-10
Horses.

Mr.. EDITOR Il have lately read several
articles in the newspapers treating of thor
ough-breds, with occasional sneers at some
races of horses that are in high repute among
u.s. As far as l am able to observe, the
principal excellence claimed for thorough.
breds consists in their racing qualities. |
confess myself so "puritanic that am un-
able to see any benefit to the community aris-
ing from horse-racing. 1t does not produce
dollar, Or aught that can feed or clothe or
promote the real welfare Of the community.
I have owned several horses, driven them at
the pillow and on the road, and though none
Of them were called thorough-breds, some of
them nstyle, strength and endurance, were
good enough SO satisfy the most fAstidious
We are told to keep up the blood of our hor-
ses, we must resort to thoroughbred sock.
That the Morgans have deteriorated in size,
&c. Now believe that it is for the interest
of the farmer to breed such horses as will
work at the pillow, or, in short, are good
business horses"
The attempt to raise and train fast horses
has emptied two pockets where it has filled
one. | do not deny to imported horses many
valuable qualities, and some of them have
become the progenitors of excellent animals.
But l protest against this attempt to spread
the foolish idea that it is for the interest Of
our farmers to breed from none but thorough
breds, so called. Our Morgans and Black
Hawks are not the mere "runts " that some
of the city papers speak of. Come up here
into the country, and will show you plen-
ty Of Morgans and Black Hawks, whose
weight from ten to fourteen hundred pounds,
is sufficient for most purposes. A writer in
the Tribune stated that it was "acknowl-
edged that the Morgans had deteriorated in
size Acknowledged by whom? Not by
Vermonters, in the State where they have
been bred for about fifty years. l do not
know what kind of pony has been seen in
the city, but so far from deterioration in size
very few can be found that are not heavier
than Old Justin, the sire of the race, whose
weight never came up 10 one thousand
pounds.
As for strength or endurance, l had rather
have the smallest Morgan pony that can be
found, than one of your light-limbed, long
legged, long-necked, rat-tailed thorough-breds.
Running mile in 2.40 is no part Of the pro-
per use of horse. Give me a good sized,
we'll formed animal that is able to draw
load, trot in the buggy eight OR ten miles in
an hour if need be, and when he is properly
cared for, will repay that care with some.
thing besides laziness and unsoundness. L
love to feed such an animal He will earn
his living, not gamble it out of fools pockets.
If speed were the object, | think the pro-
found critics on Morgan horses might learn
little modesty, and wait until they could
match Ethan Allen, to say nothing of young
Morrill, owned at Manchester, N. H., who
by-the-bye is very fast going handsome
trotter, and can hardly be matched by any
thoroughbred entire horse in the country.
One of his colts owned at Laconia N. H.,
by l.. Z. Tucker, Esq, trots down close to
2.40. Also the North horse, sired by old
Black Hawk, splendid animal, going in
$40 or less But enough OF this.
desire to see our farmers turning their
attention to raising class of good roadsters,
such as we have seen in times past-horses
that eau work every day. Brother farmers,
when you have good mare that will COM
mand good price, keep her for your own
service; do not sell her to the first man who
offers fair price Keep her to raise stock,
and for service on the farm you will find it
a good investment. PLow LOGGER.
Addison, w., May 6, 1858.