The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-01-30
THE HORSE EVERYBODY WANTS.

In selecting breeding stock we do not
urge our friends to place a lower esti-
mate on the value of speed, but to place
a higher estimate on the other qualifica-
tions that go to make up the horse that
everybody wants. Intelligent and per-
sistent efforts are making all over the
country to fix and develop and improve
the trotting habit of action, and these
efforts have been attended with very
marked success ever since breeders
grasped the primal truth that to get a
trotter they must go to trotter, and
not a runper. But there is lack Of
balance in this profit. We are building
I'D breed from composite material, and
while we are fixing and developing one
qualification, we should fix and develop
the others. 1t requires just as much
intelligence, just as nice a discrimina-
tion, and just as many generations to
fix and develop the qualifications of size
and beauty and good morals as to fix
and develop the qualifications Of speed.
To be successful, breeders must free
themselves from the crotchet OF single
qualification essential to a perfect horse
and carry them forward together. This
is the only way to realize on every ami
NAL bred, and the certainty of this profit
elevates the pursuit far above the mere
chance of a lottery. That few ami
mails of phenomenal speed, and greatly
lacking in most of the ether qualfica-
tions, bring great prices every year, is r
constant temptation to breed only tor
speed. Blu: il we look behind the cur
tain and see the multitude of failures,
and estimate the cost in producing them
to say nothing of the money thrown
away in trying TO make them fast, we
will be content with the higher average
price which less crotchety methods will
secure.
In the minds OF some there may be a
doubt as to the practicability of success
fully breeding for all the qualifications
we have enumerated. In reply to this
we will say it is altogether practical for
every man to shape his course in the
right direction. If there are two hOr-
ses of equally well developed inheri-
tances of speed and equal individual
ability, he can select the one that comes
the nearer to the ideal horse in size,
color, beauty and disposition. Some
thirg Of superior speed, even in little
ruut, should be rejected in favor Of a
horse of more commanding presence.
The aims and objects of the breeder
OF trotters are very different from the
aims and objects of the breeder of run
ners. AS soon as the racing qualities OF
the latter are exhausted the greater por.
tion Of them are sold tor the purposes o!
common drudgery, and at common
drudge prices. At or 5 years old they
are dismissed from the turf, and that is
the last we know of them. The breeder
of trotteIs seeks to produce horses thai
are good for everything, except running
and that will remain good and servicea
bic till they are 20 years old. He seek.
TO suit the road, the track, the park
the family and the farm. In short, ht
seeks to produce horses that will FL! a.
the places where horses are needed il
our industrial pursuits ard domestic
necessities and enjoyments. To NEE
the demands os this wide field be viii
succeed best who produces the hors,
that everybody wants Walldce'S Month
/ H.