The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-10-17

TEE KIND OF HORSES We W an
TorjssANEsF.-A correspondent OF the re-
tersb,rp Tnder communicates to that paper
some facts concerning the approaching State
Fair. He notices the hurdle races, ana
speaks Of the tone they will probably give
to the opinions and sentiments OF the pco-
nile with reference to the most useful de-
scrinfion of horses for Virginia, and the
manly outdoor exercises that will encou-
roce the cultivation of those horses. we
COPY a part Of his article, especially for It's
very lust remarks about the very absurd
tournament :
"Unfort unately. good riding horses are
scarce. and the demand for them here Slight
almost in proportion. A buggy, with 4
tolerab,e trotter to draw it, or even a
n,c;nQ ponG to ride, may be scraped up Tor
an afternoon excursion. but good road
| ster-a hunter-an animal that under Inc
saddle can prove the combination OF en-
durance. activity, and speed, though Tor
merry common IN Virginia, Il no" t"leiJ
found in her borders.
Scan it he that the taste Of our young
men IL becoming effcmtnated, as rcae-
tionary effect Of the war, or is 1t mat we
do not breed horses with reference to such
a reSultI
owe read all through summer-never IN
winter. the proverbial season for outdoor
exercISe-of tournaments where brave Slr
knights ut some gay waterlng-place, In va
riepated plllmagc Of cooked hat and colored
calico, iustigated By innate galantry, risk
their lives to prove the peerlcssness of their
/ lady loves charms by cantering ntty yards
, on hHck.hOrse and running a stick through
; 4 hoop. The report OF such daring leafs Is
: invariably accompanied with conven-
tioual dissertation in which the names OF
King Arthur, Sir Walter Scott, and Ivan
! hoe are ingcniously confused, and those
| gentlemen severely reflected upon. Why
! ttilts at tho ring should In Virgil
MIA he called tournaments, or why
crown men, or even iarge boys, should Of
| feet an engagement in either Of these two
VERY distinct varieties Of useless old games,
/ ha4 never been told us ; but yet there must
| be tournament conventions lat tho springs
: of course 10 arrange the principles Of this
; manly sport. When gentlemen have Tune
; TO devote to recreation, and their tastes
| lead them TO use horses or other means TOT
outdoor Icise. tor gracious sake don't
get up circus and then call 1t by another
name. 1t Is mainly by athletic exercise as
| we'll as climate that the Englishman mas
! been made the hardC being that he IL, ana
| IL Is from the demand for such an aiiliiia''
| and the consequent Systematic DrefulhS
that the English hunter IS the superb ahl.
nal that he is. Why should owners o,
| grass farms in the South waste time ana
/! money in trying to produce trotters OF rap,
ulous speed, when if perchance they should
! succeed, there is no use for the animals, pc
cause there are no suitable roads on when
! to display them; and there never can he
. good roads where there is no abundant
; bard natural material for making them.
. The stout roadster, on the contrary, IS
needed everywhere, and most so In VIZ
| ginia and Tor pleasure purposes, as we
| Guyc said above. he should combine with
sto,tnc>s the other characteristics OF ac-
tiyiiy and ilcetucsS.'