Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-09-21
THE "5HeLeuRNE FARMS STUD"

or the hundreds OF Vermontcrs who have
visited tho superb stud OF DR.. w.
Seward Webb at Sheburne Farms,
it is doubtful IL more than
few have realized tho full signi-
flcauce of that establishment to tbs horse
industry Of our State. This will be bettor
understood by perusing the handsomely
Illustrated volume just issued by DR.. Webb
under the title 'Shelburne Farms Stud
OF English Hackneys, Harness and
Saddle Horses, Ponies aud Trotter'."
Ia the preface he states hia mo-
tive for establishing the stud In
Vermont, gives an account of the Yer
mont horse of former times, including an
| interesting sketch Of Justin Morgan, the
great ancestor OF the Morgan breed, and
shows how the present Vermont horse can
be improved. DR.. Webb believes that an
infusion of English Hackney blood will
work great Improvement, producing
still more lusty, vigorous horse, and one of
iron constitution. Some of his ideas in the
preface are go well worthy of confederation
by those interested in horses, that we copy
an extract or two:
ITO advance n reason for the establish
ment of an extensive stud at my country
place near the city Of Burlington, in the
State of Vermont, it is only requisite to say
every thing that affects the welfare OF the
State, it became my earnest desire, immedi-
stely after taking up my residence in that
locality, to exert an influence for the bene-
! fit OF the horse breeding industry, which
appeared to me to have declined In recent
years.
"Of COURSE it is, at the present time
slightly premature to declare what the re-
suit of my effort will be, but trupt q core-
ful perusal of these pages will convince tho
reader that at least good start has been
made in the right direction, and that it only
needs proper appreciation OF my views on
| the part of the agricultural element of the
State TO bring about the general adoption
OF the system OF horse breeding as herein
explained, and through it the greater pros
perity Of the whole community"
Under the subject, The Vermont horse
in former days" Dr. Webb says: "ln 1883
the Vermont Morgan horses were the finest
animals in the L nited States, and persons
familiar with the streets OF New York
could not fail to have noticed the magnif-
cent animals, for the most part dark bays
black legs, names aud Jais-buJ a few
! browns, aud now and then, but rarely, a
deep, rich glossy chestnut, which at that
time drew the heavy wagons OF express
companies. They were then considered
fair sample of what draught horses should
be, combining immense power with very
respectable rate Of speed, and short and fine
action. This style Of horse has gone out,
simply because the progenitors OF tue tpye
have not been replaced by others. -
During the Canadian rebellion of 1887, the
! First Dragon guards we're broug btfrom Eng
land, and it is iittlo singular to note that
the Dragon Guards although a heavy cav
airy regiment, known As Cuiras3iers, came
to this country dismouuted, and were all
horsed from Vermont and there must
have been horses of great speed and endur-
ance in the time Of tho revolution, in New
England, for Bancroft tells US that GEN.
Israel Putnam, on tue morning following
| the fight al ConcorI, heard the cry for aid
from Lexington. lie was engaged ct that
time in building a stone wall and without
changing his check shirt that he had worm
in the field he rode to the scene of the con
fiict, a distance OF lC0 mics, which he Gov
ered in Is hours ~
Regarding the Vermont horse of to-day
DR.. Webb makes the following frank com
ment: Tho promiscuous breeding OF all
kinds Of mares, no matter how light or no
thin or how wesdy looking, to stations having
trottiDg blood, has been carried to ridicu-
lous extent In the State of Vermont. There
is hardly farm, matter how poor, but
what can boast Of q weedy, narrow look
ing animal-half trotter and half some thin <
ese-that has been procured in the hope of
getting speedy trotter. Probably the
principal reason why the hopes OF the
farmer in this respect have not been real
ized is thut he overlooked the very import
ant factor that 1t is necessary, il you want
to produce \ trotter to have trotting blood
in the mare we'll as in the stallion. AS q
consequence tue farmer now has on his
place pair of light weedy looking nags
that will trot you, in light buggy, quite
speedily to the station. But they cannot
80 in any race, they cannot pull heavy
load, they cannot even be used for what
may be termed medium weight draught or
express work nor are they erviceabe in
the work OF the farm and certainly do not
realize much when offered for sale.
In other words, tho Nermonters in their
enthusiasm for trottinz performances, for
get all about the general usefulness OF the
horse on the farm.
The following words give the key to DR..
Webb's purpose in insttutlng luis great
breeding establishment at Snelburne:
''Since | established my farm in Var
mont. ! can scarcely say how much | have
been impressed with the degeneration of the
famous Vermont horse / have always
been lover of the horse, and when | stock
ed my farm In this y ate, | deter mined that
instead of engaging in the conmenda BILE
and pastoral vocation Of raising cows and
sheep l would endeavor to do something to
elevate the condition of the Vermont horse
and bring him back If possible, to the high
position he occupied in the favor OF all horse
lovers of the country years ogo
1.-THE first thing did was TO look about
for good horse with bone, size aud action.
| found all these 10 tas French Coaching
, stallion, lncroyable, which had just been
, imported from France. Subsequently
D spent some time In Csvados, France, near
the government breeding establishment, and
there purchased 10 choice French Coaching
mares aud four stations. After the intro
: ductiou of the French horses | still felt that
| WAS not accomplishing fast enough the
work l had set out TO do; 80 in the spring
of 1890 | bought in England 80 Hackney
mares and four stations / am 30 firmly
convinced OF the good that can come from
the infusion of the blood Of these Hackney
and French coach horses with the blood OF