The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-09-26
HORSES AT THE FAIRS.

HVkSES All TILE FAIRS.
The first thing that will attract the
attention of the average farmer in the
equine department of an agricultural
show, will be the draft horses; and
most numerous among these, especially
in the Western States, will be the Per-
cherons, or, us they IRE usually called
in this country, the ssf
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
They are also frequently called Nor
mans, or French horses, in the western
States. But by whatever name called
they arc all practically the same, and
are distinguished by their uniformity
in color, being nearly ALWAYS grey.
Occasionally black, roam, bay, or
chestnut is seen; but fully ninety per
cent. of them, both in this country and
IN France, whence they are imported,
are grey. Those imported 10 this coui-
try will range in weight from 400 to
1900 pounds. They usually have good
heads, rather short necks, with rumps
rather short and often lriflc dropping.
The breed originated in La Pcrchc, All
ancient province of France, and impor-
tations from that country TO the United
Many mares have been imported, and n
stud book is published in which The
imported az well as the native purely
bred animals arc recorded. n few
stations have been imported from
Belgium -somc of them greys, but usu.
ally bays-that are rather largcr and
coarser than the Pcrchcrons, but these
are not eligible to record in the Per-
chcrOn- Norman Stud Book.
THE CLYEsDALEs.
This is breed that originated in
Scotland, and is highly priced by many
Americans. They rank next in import
ance, in point of numbers in this coun-
try, to the Percheron-Normans. In
color they are mostly bay, but there are
occasional blacks, browns, sorreis and
greys among Them and no matter what
the color of their body may be, they
nearly all have strong markings OF
white in the face and on the feet.
White spots about the belly are also Of
ten found. In point of size those i'm
ported to this country will average
somewhat larger than the Percheron-
N6rmars. They are also usually long
er in the body and in the hind quarters
than the French draft horses. An
abundance of long hair OH the legs is
considered good point in well-bred
Clyesdale. These horses are now bred
in considerable numbers in this coun-
try; and so important has the interest
become, that movement is now on
foot to establish a stud book for lhis
breed in the United States and Canada,
ms has already been done in Great
Britain.
ENGLISH CART, OR SHIRE HORSES.
These are now the largest draft hors-
es known, and with these the Clyes-
dales have been so extensively crossed
that it is often difficult TO tell just where
the Clydesdale leaves off, and the Cnt,
or Shire horse begins. 1t is, as The
name indicates, an English breed, and
the stations frequently reach enormous
weights considerably over ton. In
color they are more often black than
otherwise, although bays and browns
are occasionally seen. They have not
been so largely introduced into this
country as the two other draft breeds
mentioned, the impression having nrc-
vailed that so large and clumsy q horse
was not suited to our wants.
TIE THOROUGHBRED.
You will often hear people talk about
thoroughbred Morgans, Thoroughbred
IanIbletonians, thoroughbred trotters,
etc., but such talk only indicates lack
of information concerning the breeds OF
horses. There is but one breed of hor-
ses designated as Thoroughbreds .by
horsemen, and this breed that orfgi-
mated In England, derived from Turk
isb, Barb, and Arabian ancestry. 1t is
the oldest and purest breed of horses
in existence; Is noted for speed, stout-
ness, endurance, energy, and resolu-
ton. For nearly hundred years past
their genealogy has been carefully re-
corded in stud book, and the records
of their performances upon the race
course have formed an important part
In the sporting literature of Europe and
America. They were introduced into
this country al very carly day, aud
those bred here are certainly the equals
OF the very best produced in England.
In fact, so frequent have been the In
portations OF the choicest animals from
England 10 America, that the blood of
the two countries Is identical. All run
ming horses are of this breed. and none |
but Thoroughbreds can make credit |
able showing in long distance or heat
races. A horse with dash of this |
blood may make fast race for q short |
distance, but II takes the genuine sthfl
to 90 q mile aud repeat, in good time. |
They are of all colors, bay, brown, and |
chestnut predominating; are rather
light OF bone, and long In the body,
with thin neck, small head, wide be-
tween the eyes, fincly-pointcd ears,
long quarters, and deep chest, and are
usually rather "leggy." In height they
are from 10 to 16 l-2 hands, although
they may sometimes be found half
hand above or below these figures.
They are nervous, restless, determined,
and excitablc, and are highly valued
for crossing upon all other breeds.
rRorTERs AND RoADsrERs.
We have as yet no distinctive breeds
Of driving horses, or roadsters. The
horses used tor light driving, fast irot-
ting, ETC., are largely congloineration
Of al breeds and types. Some approx
innate the French Canadian pony in
form and action, while others possess
most Of the characteristics Of the Thor
but so popular has fast irot-
ting become In this country, and so
universal is the fancy for fast driving
horses, that at almost all our fairs the
Roadafar Glaze will ha f.und moro