Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-08-29
Farm and Fzreszde.
SH.sLL E.zR.NERS RAISE TROT-
TING HORSESc

The question is often asked by the farm
ers of the West, "Will it pay to raise trot-
ting horses?" Our opinion upon this ques.
ton is, that usually it will not; in excep-
tional cases, it will. The farmer who has
only the mongrel common mares of the
country, cannot afford to pay the prices de-
manded for the services of first class
trotting stallion and if he should decide
TO incur this expense, in ninety-nine cases
out of hundred he will be disappointed
in the result. Should he patronize any of
the cheap, quick-stepping, mongrel little
stations, with which the country abounds,
in the hope of raising trotter, he is almost
certain to be disappointed, and the proge-
ny will be comparatively worthless. True,
there is now and then an exceptional case,
when horse of unknown lineage has
proven valuable trotter; but the chances
for success in this style of breeding are
about equal TO those of drawing the capital
prize in the Royal Havana Lottery" by
invest ing in tickets in that institution.
But if mares of unmistakable and decid-
ed trotting action, showing points of good
breeding and strong individuality, can be
bred in trotting strains, and showing deci-
ded trotting action himself is within reach,
then the chances are that it will pay to at
tempt to breed trotters. And If, in addi-
ton to the foregoing, the mares are known
to possess good share of the blood of
some of the well-esablished trottng fam
ilies-the Messengers, Bashaws, Morgans,
Clays, Pilots or Mambrinos-then the
Judicious selection of stallion is pretty
certain TO produce satisfactory results. 1t
need not be expected that every foal thus
produced will prove "world beater," be-
cause only the fastest among the fast are
the winners; but good trotters and road
horses will usually be the result, and YOU
are in the legitimate succession for a win
ner. But it will not do for the farmer or
his boys to spend much time or money in
training the foals thus produced. 1t will
be found mere profitable to sell those we'll
bred youngsters at fair, remuneratlve rates,
and leave the training TO the professionals
who have the requisite skill to prepare
them for the track. 1t has been remark ed
that "the American trotter is the creation
of the American trainer" 1t requires
skill, Judgement and perseverance to de-
velop the highest rate of speed in the trot-
ting horses. Training trottng horses has
become profession, and we would not re-
commend farmers TO spend their time in
competition with those who make this their
sole business.
Under the circumstances above described.
with well-bred mares and good stallion.
and selling off the foals when young, the
farmer can scarcely engage in a more prof
liable business than in breeding trotting
horses. But the great pass of farmers,
owning only the mongrel, clumsy mares of
the country, will find more certain profit
in breeding large horses, patronzing the
Norman or Clydesdale stations, or large
well-formed thorouhhbred If with inreach,
, producing good draft and coach horses that
always find ready sale at remunerative
prices.-Nationdi Live Stock Journal