The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-08-27
AMERICAN STOCK.


The Springfield Mass. RepHbtteGE
says: The first successful attempt
at breeding a particular class o.
horses in this country dates back to
the close of the last century, and
commenced with the career of the
famous Justin Morgan, sire of the
more famous breed which has siGce
borne its name, who, singularly
enough. was first owned in Springfield,
and here first showed that endurance,
/ spirited action, docility and courage
that have been such marked charac-
teristics of his descendants ever since.
/ Previous to his appearance Tin lI94)
New England had indeed been more
or less noted as the only country
possessing horses that would trOt-a
peculiar gait at that lime-but neither
New England nor any other part OF
the United States boasted any class
of native horses that was esteemed
worthy of being cared for and per-
petuatcd. The blooded stock consis-
ted almost entirely Of imported
English and Dutch racers, and the
best business horses were brought
from Canada. But in 1895 the orig
inal Justin Morgan, who was foaled
and kept a year in West Springfield
was taken to Randolph, Vt. and in
due time became known as the sire of
the famous Morgan horses which
Vermont and New Hampshire
breeders have since raised so exten-
siveIy and shipped all over the world
Indeed, for many years northern New
Hampshire and Vermont almost
monOpolized the horse trade of the
country, and horse raising was about
the most profitable employment of the
inhabitants. The fertile valleys and
hillsides furnishing abundant pastur-
age, and the cold, dry air and pure
water of the mountains aided not
little in giving to the Vermont horses
that stoutness, courage and lasting
ness for which they have ever since
been noted. But the advent of the
railroad and the substitution of steam
for horse power created a widespread
belief that the demand for horses was
to be perceptiblv decreased, and many
Vermont and New Hampshire
farmers gave up the business of horse
raising, thinking that it would be no
longer profitable The result was
that the supply became perceptibly
smaller, while the demand steadily
increased, until the city dealers found
themselves unable to find the needed
supply in the old market, and where
obliged to go outside. Naturally
enough, their attention was first
turned to Canada, and before the war
large numbers of horses were annually
brought across the line and taken to
the leading horse marts in this part of
the country But the demand for
horses steadily increased, and as the
west became more thiekly peopled |
western farmers began to turn their I
attention to horse raising, at first to
supply themselves, and atterward as a
profitable branch of their business
The blue grass regions of Kentucky /
were the first Of the western grass
lands used as pasturage, but the taste ,
Of the average kentuckian ran to
racing stock, and the Kentucky |
pastures soon gained celebrity as the
home of many noted flyers Grad
ually, however, it was learned that
horses could be raised successfully on
any of the western prairie lands,
where the air was cool and dry and /
the water pure, and horses began to
be raised in large quantities in Ohio,
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin
md Iowa, and of late years Caliior-
lia graziers are taking up the bust
ness, and are laboring enthusiastically
20 beat the world, especially in the
.earing of trotting stock Before the
war many fine horses, mostly racers
md hunters, were owned in the