The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-02-01
Mr.. Robert BOnner's stables
Famous Horses, and How They
are Cared for.
THE STABLES.


The main stable, which contains within
ITS walls six almost priceless horses-the
fastest troters,, probably, at this moment,
in the whole worlds an unpretending
building, of pressed brick externally, stand
ing in small court. yard on West Twenty
seventh street, between Ninth and Tenth
avenues. Within, this building is divided
into wogan house and stable, harness room
bay and grain lofts. The wagon room is
also used as the wash room, one side of it
being paved with hagstones, graded to drain
properly, and furnished with the necessary
writer apparatus, thus enabling the groom
to cleanse the vehicles under shelter, and
also economisng space.
The stable proper, opening by a broad
archway from the wagon room, is divided
by a passage way about six feet broad, on
one side of which are four roomy stalls, and
upon the other two large 'loose boxes"
each about twelve feet square. These
"boxcs' are enclosed with solid wooden
walls six or eight feet high, and separated
from each other by similar partition.
The floors of the stalls are made of Georg-
ia pine, up TO the point occupied by the
fore feet of the horse the remaining por-
ton is we'll pounded dirt, which is thought
softer and more wholesome for the horse to
rest upon with his front feet The floors of
the boxes are also of Georgia pine, over
which is placed layer of narrow plank, set
slightly apart, to facilitate drainage and
give an elastic surface Both stalls and
boxes are, when in use, kept plentifully
strewn with fresh straw. The drainage is
taken through a CRATE fixed in the centre of
the stall or box, through which the fluids
run of under the stable to the street sewer.
how THE HORSES ARE FED.
There are no racks in these enclosures,
the horses eating their grain from simple
box or trough set in one corner, and pick.
ing up their hay from the ground in front Of
them, where it is thrown. Mr.. Bonner
thinks that nature placed the horses food
at his feet, and he means TO follow nature
as far as he can. Another simple contriv-
ance is u long wooden roller inserted hori.
zontally into the partitions between the
stalls. Horses are fond of rubbing them.
selves against partitions. and frequently
thus rub off the hair and injure their coats.
When Mr.. Bonner's horses rub themselves,
these rollers turn as they rub, and SO there
is no friction.
Behind the main stable is another build.
ing containing three 'boxes,' similar to
the two in the front building.
There is no attempt at display or orna-
ment in any part of this establishment !;
everything is plain, solid, and for use and
comfort.
Finally, around the main building is
soft dirt path, upon which the horses are
regularly exercised every day at walk, by
boy whose express and only duty it is to
ride them carefully in this overcoming
round. Spite of this monotonous occupa.
ton, the boy seems healthy and cheerful. -
Besides this youth, there are three men en-
ployed in the stables, one ofwhomis SPECIAL.
ly devoted to the famous "Dexter."
THE HORSES.
Lantern, Peerless, Flatbush Mare, Lady
Palmer, Pocahontas, The Auburn horse,
Dexer-what a tale of wondrous and I'M
,lvalled speed does each Of these names UNI
fold to the mind Of the sporting man, cul-
minating in the so. III" of Dexter.
Let US take them in the order above writ.
ten, and give few words of description to
each:
Lantern, then, is bay, with long tail,
standing about sixteen hands high not re-
markable for beauty of form, but rather so
for muscular development. His head, though
somewhat long, is well shaped, and his eye
= clear and mild. His hind feet are white for
some distance above the fetlock, and he has
a white streak on his face. Lantern is the
double team champion, having made 2.24l
in dead heat against Ethan Allen and his
mate and having been driven since then,
privately, mile in 220.
Peerless is spotted white or rather a
gray mare, about sixteen hands high, with
long white TAIL good head, clean legs,
and remarkably gentle demeanor if one may
so express himself of horse. Indeed she
is so gentle that she is used as country
driving nag by the ladies of Mr.. Bonner 8
family Yet she has made the fastest .ime
on record to wagon, trotting her mile in
2.23l.
Flatbush mare is a double teamster-
She is brown bay, about the size and make
of Lantern, and, with Lady Palmer in double
harness has made the fastest time ever trot
ted in two mile heat to road wagon.
namely: soil.
Lady Palmer is n chestnut sorre, about
sixteen and half hands high, with two
white feet and white nose. She is some
what heavily built behind, but has fine
head and clean sweep from the shoulder
Besides her famous time with Flatbush Mare.
she has trotted two miles to q al9 pound