Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-02
HORSE HISTORY.
The Native Horse Of the
Golden State.
Ers WONDERFUL ENDURANCE.

what the Fathers Did For Cali
fornis in the Early
Days.
GnF1ANc1sco, January 2.-Califor-
MA 4 indeed q wonderland. From
the time the first mission was estab-
kshed at San Diego, in 1853, it has
been . land of romance. There was
romance attending the founding OF
these first tokens of civilization on
this coast, romance which would re-
quire volumes to portray in their his
tory, and q romantic ending was a fit
ting finale. The fathers were assured
" men of great mental power. They
practically absorbed the whole coun-
try from San Diego to San Francisco
by establishing missions along the
whole Of the coast line, the boundary
Of one joining the other and reaching
% far into the interior that
other settlements we're practically de-.
barr. d. For nearly three-quarters OF
. century, viz, from 1859 to 1923. the
Church was supreme, temporal as
we'll as spiritual government being in
its hands. The overthrow OF Spanish
dominion in Mexico was the death
knell, although the palmy days Of the
podres antedated that time. There was
partial decay before, and the last mis-
sion founded was in 1928. Notwith-
standing that the best Of their days
had passed, in 1925, the Mission of
San Francisco owned 10000 head Of
cattle, $50 "tame horses" 1000 breed
ing mares, "a stations of choice breed,
$50 mules, 10000 sheep, 1000 hogs
and 456 yoke Of working oxen. Not
TO enumerate other stock, Santa Clara
Mission had 1890 horses broken to
saddle, 4235 breeding mares and 725
mules; Mission San Jose had $40
broken horses, 1900 mares and 420
mules; the Mission Of San Juan Bap-
tista, in 1920, had 1850 tame horses
and 4S7O mares and colts; San Carlos
Mission, in 1926, had 1900 horses and
mares: Mission of San Antonio, in
1892, had 1900 tame horses and 5000
mares; San Miguel, in 1921, had
1000 tame horses, 5000 mares and
1000 mules; San Luis Obispo had
1000 tame horses, $500 mares and
37OO mules. The work from which
these figures are copied states that
the Soledad Mission had "larger
number of horses and mares than any
other mission" As seven of these
missions owned 9940 tame horses and
~, los breeding mares, it is safe to es-
innate the horses in California. so
early as 1926, at 100, 900.
As It is the aim of your correspon-
dent to pay the most attention in his
letters to the horses and horse inter-
ests of California it is manifestly
proper that the earliest history of the
equine race is worthy of q place, es-
pecially to Eastern people, as an er-
roneous impression prevails on your
side Of the continent regarding the
native horses of California. Many
associate them with the mustangs OF
Texas, or the bronchos of the North
west. There is only a slight re.
sem blance to the Mexican,
none at all to the broncho
or cayuse. Nearer like the
thoroughbred in appearance, es.
pecially the type of blood horse,
which prevailed fifty years ago
many Of them of high form, not a
few nearly models of beauty, and
quite q number which could make
q fair showing on the race cou Sc.
Old residents Of the Southern country
inform me it was not unusual for them
10 run mile in 80, carrying an Or
dinary sized man with such a pre-
paration as would be thought by mod
ern trainers, an effectual drawback to
speed. Whatever their capacities to
run short distances, there is not the
least doubt that for long journies Or
even for hours between "sun and SUM-
In midsummer, there never was a
breed that could cope with them un.
der the same circumstances. There
are we'll authenticated accounts OF dis
tanees accomplished in time that TO
say the least is nearly marvellous, and
this is done over hills and dales with
only q trail to gallop upon, and for
pFovender the grass that could be
cropped within the circuit of a lariat.
Great horses, these first settlers
Of California. From a royal
stock, as their progenitors were
Of the best blood in Spain and the
foremost horseman of his day. Will
lam Cavendish, Duke OF Newcastle,
extols them above | others and
gives substantial reasons for his
preference. His English work was
Published in 1857, rather more than
8 hundred years prior to the time
when the Fathers and their military
escort brought the starters to this
shore, and as they we're sound busi-
ness men In all of their enterprises,
there is little hazard in claiming that
ct Least tho sires were we'll chosen.
When the records show that the
mission of San Francisco had eighty
four stations Of good breeding to 1000
breeding mares, it is altogether likely
that the other missions we're equally
~ we'll provided for in that line.
The native horses were bred espe-
eially for the saddle. There was no
use for harness horses. In 1920 there
was not q single vehicle from San
Francisco to San Diego that had
wheels made with spokes. The mis-
dons were 80 far apart that horses
capable Of going long distances, while
there was daylight, were the kind
that were needed, and this necessity
besought q return. The survival Of
Tho httest! But with the downfall OF
The missions there came another era
which had also an influence in shap-
ing equine form to higher model.
The officers under the Mexican Gov
eminent were men of rank, and most
q them had . fondness for fine
horses. They were also partial to
H-~~,~I - n.I