The Helena independent., 1890-02-02
THE MONTANA HORSE.
Sound in Wind and Limb the Native
Flyer is Superior TO The Ken
lucky thoroughbred
How Henry Watterson Plunged on
a Race and Saved His
Friends Credit
Many Zine. Bred Troiters To he Sold at
New York la Maroh--A Noted
Drivers Career

A close observer Of trottlng affairs once
remarked Tint the great campnigners OF the
future would hail from the western noun
tain region Of the United States, says the
St. Paul Globe. Nothing has tanspired TO
reduce this proposition to a certhinty' al
though there are indications that point
strongly 10 that end. Prom the standpoint
of fashionable lines Of blood and speed
descent no close comparison can be drawn
between the horse interests of the east and
those west Of the continental divide. The
more thickly-settled portion of the union
has the great bulk OF the leading strains Of
trotting and running blood, and the only
comparison that may now be drawn he
tween the products Of the above mentioned
sections is that OF individual excellence.
Kentucky is conceded 10 be the banner
horse breeding state of the union. Her
fields al waving blue grns. and streams ~
limestone water are household words, yet
the great secret II the rapid 'vrlupnent of
her young stock Is the system followed OF
forcing and stimulating the growth by gram
feeding. The same is true ~ the northern
breeding states. IN competition with ~"
mountain region cf the west d the } IN
chesnly. The question of cost OF proddc-
ton. however does not enter into tins sub
ioci ms lt il conceded that " ere lands are
fertile and cheap there horses can he raised
~ the best advantage. \ great portion oi
Montana is not adapted TO horse raising.
The most available portions Rre the Gala
tin, Deer Lodge, Bitter Root and Pnckly
Pe8r valleys, vast plains Of arabic lands
!ncloSed by foothills and lofty mountains.
Al. all al
the purcst water, and one and al raise
crops of rich grasses that rarely fail. Owing
10 the chcapness Of land. each proprietor uc-
cupies large tracts, over which the stock
roves for miles. Ibis freedom OF latitude.
together with the clear, brhcine mir of the
mountain regions, develops lang power,
bone and muscle. Much Of the best forage
is found on the foothills, necessl,atlng
certain amount OF climbing. The soil on
these hills is Of light, Qravellv nature.
which keeps the unshod hoofs hard and
healthy. Montana bred horses art proveIbihl
FOR soundness of limbs and feet. Ia fact, the
diseases incidental 10 these members In east
ern-bred horses are almost unknown IN the
Rocky Mountain region. The development
IL general. leggy, weedy colt IL "a rara
avis. il Is common thing to see year
lngs that average fifteen hands. with the
substance of maturod horses. The ordinary
Itftl ON tue nnCultNtltu lhnttn II oNiNu
grass. a perennial that cures itself and Is
very nutritious. All the most valuable
grams and grasses are grown IN these val.
leys for winter feeding, which lasts Tor a
period Of two months As rule, horses
run ont tie year round, as, unlike cattle
they can rustic for themselves when
snow covers the self fcured herbaRe. Mon
tana has drawn largely on Kentucky for her
breeding material, and from the parent
stock has developed II physically superior
type Of horse. II is only within the past four
years Montana has figured as breeding
and racing state. aud IN that time she has
developed Ranchcro. Fantasic, Montana
Regent and spokane, III addition to a host
OF other speedy irotiors and runners. Mon.
t1na IS ia her infancy aR breeding state,
and with the many natural advantages fav-
onng her will vet hoid high rank as a pro-
ducer of great horses The success of the
Montana circuit uf l6s9, whose five mem
bers offered q large aggregate OF purses
for mixed races. has had a highly en-
couTaglng effect. A. those meetings many
of the noted performers of the far
west competed, aud Montana herself
matriculated several ambitious candidates
for future honors. whose bone and Drawn
grew from her soil. The Montana circuit
may he regarded as Il fixed event. In the
natural order Of progress still greater results
are looked for in the campaign of 1880, and
II is possible the attention of eastern
breeders and practical turfmen may bc
more strongly directed toward this noun
tain country. II should be remembered
that the racing establishments OF Montana
are crudo as compared with those of the
east, and what sIeed has been developed
over her tracks would, under more favorable
conditions, have raadea faster average Of
time.