St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-01-31
Some NesU York Horses, and hoaC
they are Kept.

Some Nesc York Horses, and hotC
they are Kept.
The following readable article on some
of the celebrated horses and horsemen of
New York, is from correspondent of
the journal
WORD ABOUT HORSES.
The Central park has made a great
demand for horse flesh. Before its drives
were thrown open to the public the
New York horses were a burlesque and
a subject of ridicule among horsemen in
other cities. The grand drive TO Nc
Coom's Dam has made demand for fast
horses. Fobulous prices have been paid
and are offered for animals of speed
There is great uniformity among our
horsemen in the treatment of their teams.
Valuable horses are fed on system.
They eat from three TO four times a day.
They are not allowed chopped feed and
but little hay. Oats mixed with bran
and steamed with boiling water is the
favorite food. The times ior feeding are
usually SIX, nine, one and nine =. NJ.
Before the final feeding a quantity of hay
is allowed once day. The horses are
muzzled after their meals to prevent them
from eating their bedding. Box stalls
are usually assigned TO horse and these
are from eight to twelve feet square. In
some cases they are lined with leather
and stuffed TO prevent the horses from
rubbing. The animals are carefully
groomed and especially SO when they
come in from hard drive. The owners
OF the fast teams in New York do hu-
name thing when they take horse from
the turf Lantern is nineteen years old.
He is rs fleet and vigorous as ever. All
his companions on the turf are dead, and
he would have been if Bonner had not
owned him. Some of our tleetest horses
have been in the hands of their present
owners for ten or dozen years, and are
bale and hearty to-day. 1t hurts fleet
horse no more to make 2:40 than it does
a common country horse to JOG along six
miles an hour, that is, if he is carefully
driven and thoroughly groomed. Few
OF the fleet horses are used i'll the winter.
They are kept for the spring drives
They have daily exercise morning and
afternoon, but not in harness, and never
faster than Il walk.
BONNER'S STABLE.
Mr., Bonner keeps his horses in his
private stable on twenty-sevenih street
1t Is PLAIN, unpretendlng brick building
but contains every convenience for the
care and comfort OF his horses. 1t is en-
closed by high board fence, and within
the enclosure his celebrated animals are
exercised. The first portion of the stable
is the carriage house, harness room and
stone pavement for washing the wagons
OF carriages he has Il very plain outfit.
substantial, strong, but not snowy
Everything is conducted on system. Four
persons are employed TO care for the
horses, and the stable is pattern of neat
ness; everything is in its place-tools,
medicines, and the paraphernalia con-
nectcd with fast teams. His stalls are
built in harmony with the latest improve
ments. Dexter and Peerless have box
stalls provided for them, ,plentifully strewn
with fresh straw. The other horses are
accommodated with stalls. These have
no racks and the horses eat their grain
from simple box or trough set in one
corner. When hay is served out it is
placed Oh the floor. The horses eat
nothing except at the regular times when
they are fed, The rest of the time they
are tied up and muzzlcd Lantern, fine
bay, 10 ! hands high, has made his mile
in 2:2O. Peerless, a mottled gray mare,
has made the fastest time TO n wagon on
record, trotting her mile in 2:23 I. yet so
gentle that she can he driven by a lady
Flatbush Mare, with Lady Palmer in
double harness, has made the heetest
time ever Travelled in two mile heat to
a road wagon, 5;0l ]. She has also trot-
ted two miles to a BIG pounds wagon
and driver, in 4:5O. Pocahontas is the
handsomest trOtter and the most perfect
lv formed horse, it is claimed, in the
world. Her tail sweeps the ground for
four inches. On it she frequently treads
while standing. This splendid animal
when six years old. trotted 2:23 and has
made better time since she came into Mr.,
Bonncr's hands. The Auburn Horse is
sorrel and is of enormous size, being 16 /
hands. Hiram Woodruff pronounces him
to be the fastest horse he ever drove. He
is the iavorite horse of Mr.. Bonner on
the road. The Champion of the turf is
Dexter Ills color is dark brown, feet
and nose white, a bright clear eye and
flowing tail, Il form sinewy with points
like a greyhound. lie has made his mile
in PHI ! in harness and 2:lS to saddle.
He is reserved for greater things than
these. 1t is said that these horses have
cost Mr.. Bonner over S25O,0OO. Twice
that sum could not buy them. He sccur-
ed them for his own pleasure. He drives
them himself and is one Of the best horse
men in the country. He will not allow
his horses to be used for show or for
gain. He races with nobody and bets
with nobody. If any team can make
faster time than his, driven by the OWL
er, $4,000 are deposited, and that sum
the owner may apply to any benevolent
cause he mayplease. During the winter
Mr.. Bonner drives but one horse He
reaches his stable about 4 o'clock every
afternoon, His team is ready for him.
He dons his riding attire and takes to the
road as regularly as he goes to his bust.
| ppSS He ulypS DIIt one reason for rum
ing so many and such valuable horses
When a printers boy he determined tc
be the first boy in the office. AS prin-
ter he allowed no one to excel him i'll the
| SMiftnnss with (which he SGT tyne and II