Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-10-28
For the Oxford Democrat.
HORSES AT OUR COUNTY FAIRS.


Considering that the primary object
of our Agricultural Fairs is to bring into
competition the different kinds of farm
stock, and thus make it an incentive to
the farmers to bring out and improve
their good qualities, it seems strange that
the many desirable qualities of our differ
ent breeds of horses should be almost
wholly ignored, and the one quality of
speed be made foremost to all others.
Even the testing of this is often left in the
hands of gamblers and weak minded
Judges, who allow a horse TO come in
second every heat when it is plain to beseen
that by substituting another driver he
would come in first; and also when
horse is compelled to make faster rec
ord than his owner thinks it is for his in
terest TO have. obligingly substitute
slower one. Now / do not wish it to be
understood that hold to abolishing horse
trotting at the fairs, but only to recon-
mend that it be managed in fair and
honest manner, and that horses designed
for other and equally useful. purposes,
should receive as much attention as the
trotters. claim that it is Of as much
Importance to encourage the breeding Of
gentlemen's driving horses, coach horses
and draft horses, Us II is TO encourage the
breeding of horses for mere speed, and
even more so, for / think II would be
more profitable for the average farmer to
turn his attention to producing fine sized,
stylish driving horses, or crossing with
the Perchcron- Normaus, and raising draft
horses, than it is to try to raise uotters.
The measure OF speed which horse
must possess in order to be frst-claSs
trotter Is now so great that only men of
capital who make that their business can
produce them with any profit There Is
no money to be made in $50 horses un-
less they have some good qualities to
recommend them besides their speed; and
those farmers who, having good gated
colts, expect them to astoniSh the world,
when three or four years old, with their
marvellous speed, and sell for large
price, should bear in mind that but very
few trottcrs have Won great fame or ,old
for high figures, but what had TO pass
through long and expensive course of
training: and the cost Incidental to buy
ing sulky, harness, toe weights, aahlc
boots. knee boots, shin boots, and all the
other kinds of boots, together with ten
or twelve quarts Of grain per day, the
year round, and the time spent in groom
Ing and training, which ought to be spent
in the field, make 1t altogether more
costly job than most farmers can afford.
\ young horse that bids fair to make
a fine carriage horse, or a half. blood
Percheron-Norman weighing 2OOto 400
pounds. will find a ready market any
time at remunerative price.
Ii the managers OF our fairs wish to
promote the interests of the farming COM
muuity, why should they not offer pre-
miums for the kinds OF stock most profit
able for them TO raise: Lc, there be
liberal premium offered for the stallion
best suited for getting large, stylish road
stcrs, and for best draft stallion; also for
bes, span OF draft horses, best gentle
mans horse, and best broken family
horse; and let the trotting be Judged by
men who can neither be bribed nor fright
cued, and who viii enforce all Of the
rules, and there will not be so much
complaint Of the fairs being monopolized
by horse gamblers. MAMBRINo.