Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-12-07


standard animal. 81.
The first, second, third, fourth, fifth
ard sixth of the old rules were the same
as those now in force, with the exception
that where 2 :35 now appears, the old re-
quirements were only 2 40. Rules seven
and eight in the old code admitted the
male as well as the female progeny, and
rule nine admitted mares which had
record of 2 40. The change in rules
seven and eight makes it necessary that
the male progeny have two immediate
standard crosses instead of one. Now If
standard were Synonymous with merit,
this change would certainly tend to in
sure a better class of animals. Those
who advocated the change evidently be-
lieved that the more standard crosses an
animal possessed, the greater the pros
pect of becoming fast trotter.
1t is clear that the greater number of
trotting crosses an animal has on the
dams side in an unbroken line, the
stronger the trotting instinct must be.
Breeders and practical horsemen of all
professions who have studied the matter
carefully are beginning to recognize the
fact, however, that there are other quail
ties nearly as important as trotting in
stinct, which an animal must possess in
order to win honors in the grand circuit.
stock in the country is always to be
found. The winner in these great con-
tests must possess the power and will to
outstrip his competitors, as we'll as sufli-
cient trotting instinct to control the
action.
The capacity of trotter depends more
largely upon what is termed nerve force
than any other quality. and this, as well
as courage, comes by inheritance. Trot-
ting instinct and habit of action can be
greatly strengthened and improved by
training. Nerve force and pluck are
susceptible of but very slight improve
ment, if any, by cultivation. These
qualities must be bred in the animal, or
he never will get to the front when big
purses are hung out, even though his
trotting inheritance is so strong that he
cannot be whipped to break.
No class of horses in the world possess
so high degree of nerve force, courage
and endurance, at high rate of speed, as
as the most successful thoroughbred race
horses. This accounts for the fact that ma
ny of the very fastest and most successful
trOtters and PAGERS that have ever appear
ed upon the turf are.closely related to dis
tinguished thoroughbreds. Some of the
Eye See (2:l0), Favonia (2:l5) and the
wonderful two-year-old Sunoi (2:1S)
have thoroughbred cross only two re-
moves away. The change in the rules
registry. 1t may be argued that if they
possess merit, they can make themselves
standard by their own performance, and
so many of them will, in time, if given
an opportunity, which we fear is more
than can truthfully be asserted concern
ing the majority that are standard under
the present rules.
1t is argued that rules seven and eight
of the old formula were cut of because
they were pernicious. Was this a logica
conclusion, reached by study of the
records, or was it mere fancy of some
theorists brain? If these rules were per
nicious, what shall be said of rules six
seven and eight, as they now stand
While the old rules were in force there
were registered 1913 stations that wonlt
not have been eligible under the present
ones, and this, too, in total registry o.
90S7. 1t is fact that nearly one-half
or, to be exact, AZ 10 per cent, of tn,
standardized stations in this country
today could not now be registered a.
standard, yet under the present rules the,
are on an equality with the others, and
so long as rules six, seven and eight con
: tinue in force, their produce can be reg
istered as standard, the same as that BY
e the other so 30 per cent. Now if tn
D animals admitted under the obsolete rule
! were not worthy of a place anon;
t standardized ones, was it not a yer,
: short-sighted piece of business in leavin,
Y the rules so as to admit their progeny
e particularly that from mares which woul,
v not be standard under the present rules
S If physician called in to treat pa
+ tient suffering from a deep-seated ah
e scess, which was constantly generating
t and discharging large quantities of pus
t should first set about healing the sore a
: the surface, and to accomplish this shout
S plug the opening of the abscess with lin
i and bind on plasters to stop the die
! charge, what would the fraternity an
every other Irrational being who under
: stands anything about the human syster
S think of him? Now, granting that tn
It animals which were standard under tn
/ obsolete rules are inferior to the Others
/ was not the work of those who suggest