Middletown transcript., 1875-02-13

out in the effort to accomplish mere
trotting speed with light weight We
should as soon think Of employing aero
bats and circus performers to do our
farm work as the mercurial trotting
horse for the plow. We think the ten
dency Of breeding 50 largely for this
one purpose Of speed has been to in
crease the nervous action at the expense
Of muscular force and endurance
Now. walking is the most important
gait for the useful horse, yet SO little
attention is paid to developing this most
valuable quality, that the managers Of
our fairs seldom include this among
their premiums. In fact, the qualities
required in the horse that does all our
most useful work, are not taken into
consideration by these promoters Of i'm
provement but five to ten dollars in
premiums on speed are offered to one
dollar for all other horse premiums.
These are agricultural fairs (so-called),
organized and sustained by the farmers.
yet nearly ignoring the horse for the
farmer. The fast walking gait is Of
immensely more Importance than the
fast trotting gait. An increase Of one
mile per hour in the walking gait Of all
the farm horses Of the country would
represent hundreds of millions in the
economy Of labor for a single year. Yet
this might more easily be accomplished.
than what has already been done in in
creasing the trotting speed The ordi-
nary walking gait Of horses on the road
is about three miles an hour, and to the
pillow, two and quarter to two and .
half miles. Suppose this could be in
creased one mile per hour in each case !;
it would represent thirty-three per cent.
extra travel, or ten miles per day on
the road and about the same number on
the farm The money value Of this for
The $500, 900. working teams would
be enormous, but is perfectly capable Of
accomplishment. IF the attention could
be turned to this practical improvement
as it has been to the pleasurable and
fanciful one Of trotting, it would, in
ten years, add more than hundred
millions to the annual productive in
dustry Of the country.
We hope the managers Of fairs, who
are supposed to be made up Of advanced
farmers. will see the necessity Of en-.
couragingi real improvements, and Of
advancing the true interest Of agricul-
tuse. instead Of frittering away their
time and money 10 horse trots. This
had much better be given up wholly to
the sporting fraternity.
In England. the draft horse is not
permitted to be driven faster than .
walk On the public road. Heavy draft
and steady movement 60 together, and
any attempt to mix up trotting action
with work must result in failare. But
the useful horse should be trained with
the same care and zeal for the special
purposes to which he is to be devoted,
as is the trottiRg or running horse ;
and could the same enthusiasm be in
fused 10 the breeders Of these faithful
servants. as the sporting fraternity give
to the rearing and training Of their pets,
it would soon produce almost revolu-
ton in the motive power Of the farm
and local commerce. The walking gait
is the working gait, and the work Of
the world is more important than the
pleasure Of the world therefore let not
breeders ignore the useful horse, that
is connected with the highest progress
Of mankind