Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-02-21
Hi sctllane q II q.
Mr. Robert Bonner'S Stables.
FAMOUS HORSES. AND HOW THEY ARE
CARED EOI,

FAMOUS HORSES. AND HOW THEY ARE
CARED EoR.
It is said that every man has foible, a
hobby. as it is commonly called, and thac
to know man thoroughly you must set
him in his humor; In other words, look at
him mounted upon his hobby. 1t was not
however, with any such inquisitorial in
tcntons that the writer of this recently
paid n visit to the stables and horscs Of MIR.
Robert Bonner, but simply 20 g'atify his
own curiosity. and possibly. that OF some
of the readers Of the EVENING POST who
love horses.
THE STABLES.
The main stable, which contains within
| its walls six almost priceless liOrses-thc
fastest trottcrs, prohahly at this moment,
in the whole worlds an uppretcndng
building. of pressed brick externally stand
ing in IL small courtyard on West twenty
seventh street. between Ninth and Tenth
avenues. Within this building i. divided
into wagon house and stable, harness room
hay and gaain lofts. The wagon rooal is
also used as wash room. one side of it
being paved with lagstoncs, graded to
| uldtll Hiopc.Ns WIN 'iiN'
necessary water apparatus, thus enabling
the groom to cleanse the vehicles under
shelter, also economsing space.
The stable proper. opening ly broad
archway from the wagon room, Is divided
by passase-way about six feet broad, Oh
one side Of which are four roomy stalls
aud upon the other two large lvose boxes
each about twelve feet square. Thee,
boxes are enclosed with sold we den
walls six o. eight feet high. aud separated
from each other hy a similar partition.
The floors of the stalls are made OF
Georgia pine, up 10 the point occupied b!
the fore feet of the her,e; the rc'na ming
portion is we'll pounded dirt, which Is
thought softer anA more Wholesome for the
horse 20 rest upon with his front feet. The
floors of the boxes are also of Georgia
pine. over which is placed layer of mar
row plank, set slightly apart. to facilitate
drainage and to give an elastic surtace.-
Both stalls and boxes are, when not in
use, kept plentifully stewn with fresh
straw. The drainage is taken through a
crate fixed in the centre of the stall or
box. through which the fluids run OFT un-
der the stable to the street sewer.
HOW TIE HORSES ARE EED.
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. MIR. Bonner
thinas that nature placed the horse's food
at his feet. and he means to follow nature
! as far as he can. Anothc. simple cen riy
ance is a long wooden roller inserted hori-
zontally into the partition between the
stalls. Horses are fond of rubbing them
selves agagnst partitions, and frequently
thus rub Oft the hair and injure their coats.
When Mr.. B0nncr's horses rub them
selves. these rollers turn as they rub, and
60 there is no friction.
Behind the main stable is another build
lug containing three "foyes" 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 a
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 ever -recurr-
ing round. Spite of this monotonOus Oc
Gu patton. the boy seems healthy and cheer
full. Besides this youth. there are three
men employed in tho stables, one Of whom
is specially devoted to tho famous "Dex,
ter"
THE HORSES.
Lantern, Peerless, Flatbush Mare. La.
dy Palmer, Pochahontas, The Auburn
horse, Deyter--what tale of wOndrous
and unrivallcd speed does each of these
names unfold to the mind of the sporting
man, eliminating in tho "2:l7 la Of
Dexter.
Let lis take them in the order above
written, and give few words Of descrip-
ton.
Lantern. then, is bay, with long tail.
atnndng about sixteen hands high; not re-
narkabic for beauty of form. but rather so
for muse ular development. His head.
though somewhat long, is well shaped. and
his eve clear and mild. His hind feet are
white for some distance above the fetlocH,
and he has white streak on his face
Lantern is the double. e.team champion.
having made 2:24 l-2 in dead heat
against Ethan Allen and his mate: and
his mate; and having been driven siuce
then privately. mile in 2:2O.
Peerless is spotted white or rather
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. ln-
deed she is so gentle that she is used as a
country driving nag by the ladies of Mr..
Bonncr's family. Yet she has made the
fastest time on record to wagon, trottirg
her mile in 2 % IA.
Flatbush mare is double teamster. She
is brown bay, about the size and make Of
Lantern; and with Lady Palmer,in double