The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-31
They Come From All Parts Of the
Land and Bring All
Prices.
The Best Horses are Bred In California
and Afterwards Sold in the
Metropolis.

can see every variety of this type Of horse
at all ages, from the foal of few days 10
the developed racer or roadster, together
with the venerable brood mare, whose days
of activity are over and her usefulness con
fined 10 her ability TO reproduce herself or
the sire TO whom she is bred. These
animals were all for sale 10 the
highest bidder under tho management
of Kellogg d Co., who have come
to be in this country what Tattersall is in
England. During the ten days occupied in
the disposal of the stock consigned 10 the
New York market, says the Sun, nearly
half million of dollars have changed
hands from buyer to seller. and n goodly
sum still awaits a similar transfer when the
lot from Palo Alto farm is put up this week.
Some of the reasons why these high-bred
animals command ready market at big
prices have already been presented, and II
is of interest TO note the methods employed
in showing these valuable horses to the GUS
toners that come from all parts OF the
land.
To the casual observer there is nothing
particularly impressive In the sight OF a
colt moving brskly over the dirt-covered
floor driven by man who rides a mustang
trotter at the same time. Nor is the APP
pearance of an older animal broken TO har
ness, hitched to a road cart, OF any great
moment. But go up near the auction
stand, mount the seats where you can see,
and the secret of the successful sale is out.
Here are hundreds of keen-eyed horse
men with well-flled pocket books, every
one of whom is intently watching
the animal in competition. That's
my kind of a gait" says one. "See
him speed up the straight" remarks an
other. There is a handy-footed one"
comments third, ''look how fast he goes
around the turns" When the groom is
told TO halt there are more remarks about
the makeup, speed, conformation, and the
various points that give value 10 the trotter,
till even the novice feels the magnetism of
the crowd and finds himself considering
whether IL would be well 10 bid ON this one
himself. No wonder, then, these men who
have an inbCrn love for good horse and
have the wherewithal to indulge their fancy
should not be inspired to send the bidding
higher and when somebody wants his Sc
lection and seems bound 10 have il at any
| cost.
| IL requires a skilled hand and lots of ex-
perience to show these horses and colts to
harness or to lead them. There has been
more than one instance since the present
sales began where the man in the cart or
the saddle failed TO do the animal justice
and his value WAS affected thereby. Many
trotters, especially if just broken, do not
get round turns easily and the driver in
stead of slowing up and letting the horse
show what he could do where the course is
straight tries TO send him along at the
wrong time. As result the horse loses his
stride or gets mixed in his gait and the bid
ding stops at once.
Ii requires even more art TO handle the
youngsters, many of whom are little more
than natter broken. and are naturally ex-
cited by the crowd through which they have
10 pass. OF the riders that have been
doing duty Mt the Kellogg sales one has
commanded general admiration for the
clever way he has handled the colts and
fillies intrusted TO him. He does not look
like groom, nor is he one; on the con-
trary. he is a woll-to-do citizen of Meriden,
Conn.,, who has owned several thousand
good horses is his lifetime. George J..
Clark Is his name, aud he has been famil-
lar figure at the big sales in New York ever
since they began, Mr.. Clark is the propri-
etor of the Silver City farm, near Merlden.
where he has n most promising young sire at
the head of his stud in Haldane, son of
Mambrino Russell and Brownie, BY Daniel
Lambert. Hnldanc made n record of 2;aii
at -four years, and will probably be on the
turf again, MS he is only seven years old.
His owner Is clever driver, us well ms a
rider, and has always piloted the horse.
Mr.. Clark saws he has used mustangs at his
farm for n long time, and finds them OF
great service in teaching his colts 10 trot. He
would sooner act as tutor 90 yOlng trotter
than anything else and is always IN de-
mand when there is 4 sale III the metrop"
lis. There is no doubt that he has added
4 L. Aa.II - slaa.
value Of juvenile troiters whose PAGES he
has exhibited TO buyers in the American in.
stitute. Like the late lanented Josh Bill
lings, lie does this "for fun and some
MONEY" II is the hardest kind Of work
TO ride for hours, handling these half.
broken colts, many of whom were never led
before, but Mr. Clark, in spite OF his gray
hairs, can outlast any of the young fellows
at this business. The broncos for this work
require TO be those that hnve been broken
10 drive cattle, for colt will stop and
whirl round so rapidly that only a we'll
trained horse and AN expert rider can con-
troll him. Once during the last California
sale a big. strongly-built filly stopped and
turned round with Mr.. Clark but he and
the pony were too rnpid for her. and all
three were going the other way quicker
than il takes TO tell about it.
Some of the stock sold last week were
SHOWN bN EIpoIha Mup ran hlpuEhiutt uut
that method does not compare with the
plan of riding the mustang and driving the
Youngsters when 1t is desirable TO work
mp an enthusiasm and make the bidding
lively.
did il ever strike you" said we'll
known breeder who has been in constant
attendance nc these sales, "that IL the same
stock which we see here had 10 be dis
posed of at the farms where they were
raised they would not bring more thnn 10
per cent. of the price they command at pub
lie auction III this buildingY It's n fact.
nevertheless for | have tried both plans
and know that il pays TO bring horses,
however we'll bred, 10 the place where you
can exhibit them 10 the greatest number of
people, and that is New York city. Senator
Stanford. Mr.. Rose. and others can get
large sums for their choice products no pri
yate sale, but they would find IL impossible
TO sell the rank and file from their nurseries
in the California market at the prices they
bring here
you are right" said another breeder,
and it's a funny thing bow buyers fix the
value at these sales. Sometimes an animal
that had marked for a good figure went
dirt cheap, while another WAS bid up 20
three or four times what had estimated.
These surprises generally bring the average
out 10 my satisfaction, and have nothing
10 complain Of, even If | suffer an occasion
nj disappointment when colt or iilly that
was my special pride sold for a song"
But the Californians beat You out of
sight," said the reporter, after bringing