The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-08-07
Byers & Sons Clydesdale Horse and
Colt Exhibition.

OF the most enterprlSlng and successor
farmers Of the county, has long been noted
as great lover Of fine heavy-draft horses
and his splendid team has taken the first
premium at the Baldwin Augusta Fail
on several occasions. His natural fond
ness for this kind of stock caused him tt
determine some eighteen months or two
years ago, to embark in the business Of
| breeding draft horses. His enterprise and
| business sagacity would admit of mis-
handling nothing but the best, and while
in search of suitable stock for his purpose
he visited the stables of Powell Bros, the
celebrated importers and breeders OF
Clydesdale and Norman horses, OF Spring
boro', Pa. Mr.. Byers sagacious eye soon
rested upon just what he was looking for,
and he returned, bringing with him, at
cost of $4,000, Bramah, u three-year-
Clydesdale colt, imported from Scotland by
the Messrs. Powell at fourteen months old.
Bramah was placed in the stud for the
spring season of 1883, at 800 insurance.
| Our farmers had been in the habit OF rails
| ing colts from ordinary horses at from $5
to $40, and consequently only some fifty
mares were served. The result is forty
| five or forty-six colts.
| Messrs. Byers & Son (Mr. B. has asso-
ciated his. son, VIM. Byers, ESQ.,, with
him in the bnsiness), with their charac-
teristic enterprise and liberality, offered a
premium of $40 on the best one of these
colts, with certificate of merit for second
and third best, to be exhibited along side
their sire at Weyer's Cave Station, v T..
r., on Saturday, the I'd inst.
Never before in the history of stock
breeding in Virginia was there brought
| together from SO small an area us was
represented upon this occasion, twenty
six colts which reflected so much credit
upon their sire: indeed. we do not
believe that amy horse in America. bred to
Il similar lot of mares, taken up pro-
miscuously over the country and worked
| hard every day, us all Of these mares have
been, would produce a superior lot of colts.
just hink Of IT, colts three ~ four months
old Weighing from 425 to 525 pounds.
Twensy-six cnlts-and we learn through
reliable sources Shat those not present
compare favoriihly wilt those on the
grounl-and rot III. ordinary colt in the
lot. no matter how old or triiling the dam.
We must say that some on the mares
looked exceedingly sonery.
The Fair was !. decided s.ecess, and
those whofailed toavttEd cofslinly missed
Il rare treat. The crow. numbered at least
400 persons. Most excellent music had
been provided for the OCCASION and was
dispensed by the Union Cornet Band of
Mill Creek, Rockingham county. One of
the Messrs. Powell was expected to be
present and deliver III address upon the
subject of horse raising, but for some I'M
known reason did not arrive, which Cir
cumstance interfered some what with The
programme of the day but the crowd was
too well entertained admiring the magni6-
cent specimens of horse flesh. listening to
the thrilling music of the Band, and dis
cussing in regular picnic style the splendid
dinner which had been prepared by the
Messrs. Byers and their neighbors, and
brought to the grounds, to feel disap-
pointed.
Immediately after dinner, E. M. Cush-
ing, Esq, announced that the mares and
colts would be brought out i'll line and the
premiums awarded. Messrs. Cyrus Brown,
Jas. A. Patterson and - Newman, were
appointed judges, and first selected ten of
what they thought were The best colts
from the lot, then selected the three pre-
MUM colts ont Of the ten, awarding the
first premium to Luther Crickenberger.
second to Geo. Huffman, and third to
Samuel Ii. McCue. 1t was with great
difficulty that the judges decided, and prob
ably no other three gentlemen on the
ground would have made the same Sc
lections The colts were all so good that
each owner left home in the morning fully
expecting a premium, not thinking it pos
sible there could be better colt than his.
Messrs. B. also exhibited, besides BRA
mah," three other Clydesdale stations
which they bought Of the Messrs. Powell
last spring. LIST, Prince, imported, thor
oughbred S years old, dark brown color,
fine style, powerful limbs, and weighs over
1900 pounds. He took first premium at
the Springboro, Pa, Fair last fall made
the spring season of 1913 at Messrs. Powell's
stables and they report his colts unsur-
passed by any they ever saw. End, "Alby
Felby," imported, thoroughbred, years
old. beautiful blood bay, very compactly
built, weight 1900 lbs, and it is thought
by some good judges will develop into the
best horse of the lot. Sd, VALLEY Chief"
three-fourth-bred years old, matches in
color with Prince, weighs 1916 lbs, is
very powerful animal, and is much adj
mired by many.good judges of horse flesh.
But ''Bramah, +" the sire of the colts eX-
hibited, a strawberry roam, with white face
and legs, gray name and tail, faultless
form, and 1900 lbs. weight, is the general
favorite and he has fully demonstrated his
capacities, and his popularity is attested
by the fact that he has up to date this
season served one hundred and eleven
mares, while the other three have served
one hundred and fifty in the aggregate.
These horses are all descended from
long line of the best strains of Clydesdales
of Scotland, and Messrs. Byers will take
pleasure in showing anyone who desires
to see them their recorded pedigrees.
After the premiums had been awarded,
Butler Burk, ESQ.,, offered his colt, four
months old, for sale at public auction, G.
o. D. 1t was started at 1875. The bidding
was quite lively at SIS per bid, and it was
knocked down to VIM. 7. Carpenter, Esq,
Of Rockingham, at $l17.5O. We heard
several other offers of $40 to 1925 for
other colts on the ground, but none of the
bids were accepted, and Mr.. Crickenberger
says he would not take $500 for the pre-
MUM colt. No argument is necessary to
demonstrate the advantages to the farmer
in breeding from such stock when such
prices as the above may be obtained for
colts at four months old. The Clydesdale
is as great an improvement over the ordi-
nary draft horse Of our country as is the
self-binder over the grain cradle and as
the cradle, so universally used only few
e.;.. &c