The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-10-15
CoUDERSPoRT. Pa, Oct. Is. 1878
WE HEAR it asserted in connection

with agricultural fairs-indeed. l
think the JOURNAL has said some.
thing Of the kind-that a trotting
course, or some form of racing is
necessary to their success. If this
is so, | am afraid the quality OF the
people will deteriorate as much as
that of horses will advance, and that
it will take greater benefits in other
respects than we can hope for from
the fairs, to atone, if anything can
atone, for such deterioration. Not
that there is anything bad in testing
the speed of a horse, provided the
animal be not urged beyond his
strength-but all gatherings for this
purpose attract great proportion OF
people of the baser sort who are
there in their element and who in
fuence all who mingle with them,
especially the young. 1t does not
require very high moral qualities to
breed or train fast horse, and the
rough manners, low talk and swear
ing that usually prevail in all assem-
blages where the speed Of animals is
the chief attraction, ought to make
us careful how we foster any such
institution.
But is a trotting course or other
racing an essential part of an agricul-
tural fair? or is speed the best quail
ity in horse to be exhibited? In
common with many others we regret
the decline Of equestrian exercise,
Of the cultivation Of those habits OF
riding and training that add so much
to the physical and moral force of
the human character.
The training, riding and sympathis-
ing with a good horse until ne becomes
not only your servant, but your
friend and companion gives not
only a sense Of physical power, but a
feeling Of being better and stronger
morally-more ready to cope with
temptation to evil; more sensible of
all the helps given to us in the natur-
al world, more conscious of how lit
tie and helpless we are of ourselves
and how all things are made to help
us if we only use them Alright. And
hold it to be positively an eleyating
occupation to train strong. brave,
gentle horse so that he shall be ready
for any deed Of strength and daring
and yet perfectly easy to guide when
even a lady's hand IS on the rein.
\ young gentleman might exhibit
such a horse in all its movements
and feel happy pride in so doing
without any temptation to being
coarse and vulgar; without attract
ing around him such as are 50. We
would be glad to see exercises OF
skill in riding & permanent part OF
our fairs. both among gentlemen and
ladies; and think it would be well to
cultivate skill and taste in this direc,
tion.
At the Chemung county fair the
Hon. A. S. Diven offered a premium
to the best lady equestrian and we
think this was wisely done. Not fol
display but to encourage cultivation
Of the noble art of horsemanshiE
which is 50 lamcntably falling into
disuse.
But for good training and the best
riding horses must not intrusted tC
vulgar and coarse people. Like peo,
pie they are influenced by their asso-
Citations and it needs thorough gen,
tleman to manage and train a colt to
bring it to its perfection of gentle.
ness and courage, speed and docility
and above all trustworthiness. ]
use tl.c word gentleman in its best
sense-one with an honest, pure
heart. stainless honor and brave
manly character-such as any farm.
er may be and many are.