The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-05
a TALK ABOUT HORSES.
The Owner of Il Half Million Dollars Worth
of Trotters Replies to MIR. Gergh.

The Owner of Il TIalf-Mllion Dollars Worth
of Trotters Replies to Mr.. Gergh.
Interview with Robert Bonner
do not think Mr.. Bergh understands what he
is talking about when he states that clipping iS
a cruel and senseless practice-the device of
lazy grooms. There is not q horseman who
does not know directly to the contrary Pro-
fessor William Williams a professor in the
Edinburg Veterinary College, and one of the
best known authorities on the horse advocates
clipping and says: Il have seen the lives of
many valuable horses saved by timely clipping"
Clipping is unnecessary to a horse with a fine
light coat, if he has been kept to work all sum-
mer and autumn and has been well groomed.
If, however, he has been allowed to run on grass
few weeks and has not felt the curry-comb he
needs clipping, for his coat has become heavy.
Some borses have such fine light coats that they
never need clipping. Old Dexter never was
clipped, neither was Edwin Forrest. They did
not need it."
Mr.. Bergh begs horse owners not to nick the
tails Of their horses" said the interviewer. DO
you object to nicking!7
Il know very little about it. 1t was seldom
done to road horses. being mostly confined 10
saddle hacks and cabs 1t has grown entirely
out of fashion. No with valuable horse
would nick him. But know so little about it
that | can't venture an opinion. You may rest
assured of one thing, however and il is this:
No man owning a valuable horse is going to risk
him through abuse poor care. Here, for in
stance, have paid $40, goo for Maud S, the most
ValuaDle horse IN the world $50, UU0 TOR tCartlS.
$35 900 for Dexter $35, 600 for Pocahontas, $l6,-
600 for Edwin Forrest, and so on Do you
think would have any one of these horses
clipped il | was not perfectly sure that clipping
was good for himF 1t is a question Of money TO
a man"
You have noticed, doubtless" said the re-
porter, that Mr.. Bergh declares that speeding
horses is cruel and inhuman! He denies that
horses enter into the spirit of the sport!"
"Ali bosh A horse, if he is not lazy beast,
takes much interest in his own performances.
If you are driving a 3-minute horse and 2:40
animal comes up alongside to pass you, you viii
notice your horse prick up his ears and stretch
his neck out in an endeavor to keep ahead That
is ambition. No sensible man. assuredly no
horseman, gives his horse more than he can do.
Take Maud S. for instance. Last week Bair
put her in training again. He didn't push her,
Of course That would be dangerous for any
animal. Everyone knows that neither man nor
beast should be put to exertion suddenly. Well,
the first day the mare trotted mile in pa, and
another in 226 Two days later she did milo
in 2:37 and another in 225 and on Friday mile
in 23l, another in 2254, and third in 2:l4aa-
When Bair drove up he said that he could easily
have made fast mile with Maud S, but he.
thought best to do it easily Mr. Hubbard Of
the Hartford Courant, was with me and wit
messed her performance. She was not distressed
after her trot She can do her 2093 in COM
parative comfort and it is not cruel to put hog
to it,