Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-10-04

HORSES AND HORSE BREEDING.

AT the meeting of the New York State
falf there was an interesting discussion in
relation to horses and horse breeding.
MIR. Curtis led off.
Mr. Curtis said that he was not very
much Ut breeder of horses, but still he
had certain theories which he was willing
to submit to the meeting. He considered
tne morse most in demand just now-bar-
ring the fancy stock in which. presumably
the Farmers took very little interest-was
that breed best suited for service at the
omnibus, horse cars. express wagon and
and such like heavy vehicles. The wear
and tear on omnibus and horse car horses
was tremendous. Statistics went to show
mat the average length of life of New
YORK omnibus or car horse was not above
nVe years, even in cases where there was
no disease. He had labored under the
impression for some years that a heavy
style of horse, something weighing 900
or 200 lbs, was especially adapted for
the hard work on city streets or car tracks
but on talking with some of the superin-
tendents of horse railways in New York
he found that he was mistaken. Expert
ence has shown that the horse weighing
| 900 or l 100 lbs. does better than heavy
weight. What is especially needed is
strong sinews and bones and easy action.
and the horse having those qualities is the
animal the iarmer must devote his atten-
tlon to when he goes to breeding. He,
himself, had no sympathy with trotting
horses, and thought that the New York
state Agricultural Society was heartily to
oe commended for setting their faces
against agricultural trots, andoifering no
lnducement to those who are wrapped mn
in trotting stock. Good morals and good
Judgment alike favored the policy adopted
by the society. Too many agricultural Or
ganizations had been ruined by putting
too much morse trotting in the programme
OF their fairs. The influence of fast horse
was bad on the farmer, and worse on the
farmers son, and tended to demoralize
both. Hence he went in for a style of
horse III which endurance rather than
speed was the leading characteristics
looked Ter. In regard to what breed of
horse to choose there was much to be said.
tie favored cross of thorough breds on
the best obtainable mares.
| what was needed was, as he had already
said. endurance and easy motion. Weight
did not count or rather counted the wrong
way. The New York car people say that
the heavy horses ''pawed'' themselves to
pieces in no time. Endurance was found
IN periectlon-in the running stock of this
countrywide racers from their extreme
youth We're constantly under severe exer-
else which rendered them hard and en-.
during. Hence some thoroughbred blood
was desirable. To be sure it was not Il
handsome horse, it was too high in the
shoulder; and too much slope on the hips
10 admit OF its being adjudged handsome.
But nevertheless handsome or not thor.
Il
trotters were from thorOughbreds The
Hambletonian strain which is now held in
such high repute is made up from Mes
senger blood, and hence the secret of its
success as stock-getter. Some advised
farmers to breed from American trotters.
lie held otherwise and preferred, for the
reasons stated. the thoroughbreds.
l.: Clark, of Orange county, said that
the history Of horse breeding in this coun.
ty had been this They began with Bell
founder, Old Star. Abdallah, and finally
the Hambletonian stock succeeded, This
Hambletonian horse weighed about 1900,
and gave great satisfaction in that section
of the country. In the days of which he
was speaking, in the old times, hay sold
from $l2 to SIS per ton, and the keep of
a horse was not large item of expense.
The Hambletonian had good feet and
stout legs, and consequently was well
adapted Tor active service. The conse-
quencc was that the stallion got to be in
great demand. and his get were easily
disposed of for $3.50 or $500. Then FIJI
lingham and other of the strain showed
noticeable speed, and it finally got to be
that every farmer in Orange county and
that locality bred the Hambletonian. The
Orange county horse-brueders raised
horses for New York city market and
found their best profit in trotters, Those
farmers in the interior and who were si..
uated back from the market, NAV well try
another variety. He differed from the
gentleman who had proceeded him he
did not think that trotters ever resulted
from breeding with thoroughbreds.
MIR. kellog read short paper in which
he said: In discussing this question l
hope 10 hear demonstrated, not only the
best class or style OF horse for the farmer
OF average circumstances TO undertake to
breed for profit, as 4 business, for a sue
cession OF years, but also how he shall to
the best advantage, obtain possession of
the best material from which to breed his
animals for sale for it should be remenl-
bered that the farmer of average circum-
stances can not always spare the money to
purchase the breeding stock from which
he may reasonably expect to produce, in
the first cross, draft horse like Prince
Imperial a Carriage horse like Morris
Grey Messenger, a race-horse like Long
fellow, a trolter like Goldsmith Maid, or
saddle horse like Bayard. Yet how will
we deny that if he essays to breed in eth.
er OF the classes to which these animals,
severally belong, his ultimate aim should
be to accomplish the highest possibility Of
that class. Whatever is worth doing at
all is worth doing well. ssss - "a
The fact that nearly all the animals that
have made horse history famous, and have
brought the highest prices, us we'll as q
very large proportion Of the best trotting
and race horses, were br, d by farmers Of
moderate circumstances, rather than by
wealthy breeders, leads to tho conclusion
that under well directed management, the
farmer who in connection with other
branches of his occupation is won't "a
breed annually a colt or two, may make
the matter an item Of considerable and