Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1868-01-15

Wnite tali, SoOO neau, ciedn legs, ana re-
markedly 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's family
/ Yet she has made the fastest time record
I to a wagon, trotting her mile in 223-l-4
! 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 trotted
| in two-mie heat to a road wagon, namely :
/ 5.0l-l-4
! Lady Palmer is chestnut sorrel, about
sixteen and a half hands high, with two white
/ feet and white nose. She is somewhat
I 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 GIG pound wagon and
| driver in 4:59-the greatest feat of the kind
yer performed.
Pocahontas is assurely the handsomest trot-
/ ter, and one of the most symmetrical, grace
/ full and perfectly-formed horses in this coun-
try Standing about fifteen hands, dark
rich bay. with a small. fine head, proud arched
nostril, brilliant eye. her ears wide apart, her
tail sweeping the ground for at least foot,
and luxuriant as foxes brush, she is a
I splendid picture of equine Development
| Her appearance in public is always the signal
| for enthusiastic admiration among connois-
seurs and Commodore Vanderbilt once said
to Mr.. Bonner that it % was worth one hun
dred dollars day to look at her. This
beauty trotted in 2:23 when only six years
old, but mas made even better time since in
Mr.. Bonners hands.
The Auburn horse is a sorrel, with four
white feet and white face he is not
specially handsome nag to look at, but Il
sporting butcher said, he is g a nasty one to
CO. He has, however. never been fairly
tried in public, Mr.. B9nner having bought
him immediately after his first appearance on
the turf on the strength of Hiram Woodruff7s
remark, that he was :. the fastest horse he
ever drove"
Last, but greatest, so far az cP0ud is con-
cerncd, comes the famous Dexter. This
champion of the trotting turf of America is
sturdy, short-barrelled dark-brown horse with
four white feet, white nose and streak,
large, though well-forfned head a rather
wicked eye and a flowing tail. There is
nothing particularly attractive about the
appearance of Dexter he is to the gaze of
the ordinary looker-on very ordinary
g chunk of horse, as the Jerseymen say
but then he has made a mile in 2:17-l-4 in
harness, and 2:lS to saddle feats which are,
SO far, unequalled in the turf annals of the
world.
This completes the list of stars " that now
occupy Mr.. Bonner's stables No such array
of remarkable horses, nor any approach to it,
was ever before gathered together under the
ownership of private gentleman in any
country. And when it is remembered that
Mr.. Bonner has purchased these horses for
his own pleasure, that he does not permit
them to be driven for any wager under any
circumstances, nor will drive them himself
for any such wager, the existence of such
stud becomes the more extraordinary.
4 curIOuS circumstance bv the nv will he
noticed in connection with these horses. 1t
will be observed that Lantern Lady Palmer,
The Auburn and Dexter are each marked by
two or four white feet and a white nose
these horses or have been avowedly the
sovereigns, so TO speak. of the turf, in their
several degrees. Yet there is an old quatrain,
familiar to turfmen, which says
-Four white feet
And white
Cut off his head
And fling him to the crows"
Dexter, the fastest trotter Lexington, the
fastest runner /; and Pocahontas, Senior, the
fastest PAGER in the world, have or had . four
white feet and white nose
So much for s. old saws
SHOOTING AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT
The proper shooting of horses is a matter of
great importance in all cases but in those of
comes vital question both for speed and
comfort Mr. Bonner is SO particular about
the manner in which his horses are shod, that
he always superlntends the operation himself,
remaining in the shop during the fitting and
mailing of the shoes, both of which details he
not only directs, but even assists in person
ally.
AS the perfect flatness of the shoe is neces-
sary to even and comfortable stepping. Mr..
Z ID Il y, nd a.
of marble, upon whose surface he places every
shoe before it is nailed to the horses hoof,
and if the iron does not lie plumb on the
stone, it is hammered and filed until thor
oughly level surface is obtained. lie has also
theory about fastening the shoe. He
makes the smith hammer the nails alterna-
tely on each side, stroke for stroke. nail by
nail, left and right, SO that the tightening of
the shoe to the hoof is gradual and equal on
! both sides. He also has the shanks of the
shoe stretched very little wider than the
hoof; and by his system of driving the nails,
the foot is brought out to the shoe, and the
| frog and heel are expanded in the operation
The result is highly conducive to the sound
ness and toughness Of the hoof and the free
dom and firmness of step in the animal
Mr. Bonner's horses are driven solely by
himself. Occasionally trusted man drives
one or q span under Mr.. Bonner IS eye, bat
| ne never allows his grooms to take his horses
out for exercise into the public streets or
roads unless he is present himself. The only
exercise they have, besides that which Mr..
Bonner gives them in his regular daily drives.
is the monotonous So walk around as the
MINISTRIES would call it, on the stable path,
under the boy before mentioned.
The food of these famous steeds is the same
as that OF the most ordinary horses. Oats are
the staple of diet, with occasional - mashes.
and now and then little corn or carrots. in
proper season. The vehicles used by Mr..
Bonner are simple, and of the ordinary road
form and, though light and well made,
without any attempt at ornamental display
Some are with and others without top, some
double and others single but all equally
plain and neat. The harnesses are in keep
ing with the vehicles, light but strong, "neat
but not gaudy,'' the saying has it, with
nothing to attract the gaze of the passer-by.
In fine, Mr.. Bonner keeps his horses for use
and personal enjoyment, and not in any way
directly or indirectly, for show or pecuniary
gain. He has resolved to have the fastest
trotter in the world. and SO far he has kept
his determination, Dexter being confessediy
without a rival.-Netc York EUening Post
Canital Oh the Farm.