Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-01-26
OUR HORSE INTERESTS.
The National Horse.

Correctly speaking there has never
been a distinctively American horse,
such as many other countries possess.
England, for example, has her
Thoroughbred, Shire. and Cleveland
Boy; Scotland, her Clydesdale; and
France her Percheron, French Coach.
etc. By generations of care and culti-
walton, under the governmental regu-
latioDs, these countries have developed
a strictly typical horse, which has been
one of their richest sources of animal
revenue. All the outside world have
furnished their market, and continue
to depend upon them for seed stock in
its purity and perfection. No breeder
seeking to be abreast Of the times
would be satisfied with anything less
than an imported animal for bis seed
stock and foundation. The animal is
a monopOly to the country that origi-
mated it, and always will be.
This is what has led American horse
breeders of intelligence and enterprise,
to seek to create horse of our own,
the equal OF superior of any produced
by other countries, and that will be
conceded as distinctively and typically
our own, and that will create a demand
the world over, and furnish a, market
that will always be seeking new sup
plies of the best we are producing. And
the animal chosen and that now gives
promise of becoming such product is
what is commonly known as the Light
Harness." or ''Trotting Horse"
While tracing primarily to the Eng
lish thoroughbred. and through him to
the source of all high bred horse flesh,
the Arabian yet by reason of the in
PRODUCTION of some fortunate OutcrOsses
and more still, by persistent cultivation
and development in the single line and
direction of making the trotting
roadster, and performer, different
type from anything the world has ever
yet had has been produced and has be-
come so well established that even
foreigners are beginning 10 recognize
and speak of it as The American
Trotter.'
The only element now wanting in any
essential measure is fXedness and
, certainty in type, so that reproduction
becomes as sure as the runner from the
Thoroughbred, or the drafter from the
Norman or Clydesdale. And this seems
to be being very rapidly achieved.
1t is true that breeders may breed
many animals, even well within az
proved and fashionable lines, without
getting an extreme turf performer, but
it is also true, that with rarest excep-
tions, trotting roadsterS will be pro-
duced that will eclipse any other class
of horses as far as the English
Thoroughbred does the Mexican mus
tang or Texas, pony, as runner.
Senator Stanford, a man of tht highest
repute for International truthfulness
and veracity as a breeder, gave it as
his opinion that his great stallion,
Electioneer, never produced foal
sound and all right that was not
capable of developing speed equal to
2:3O or better. And while, perhaps, the
most uniform and consistent producer
of speed up to the date of his death,
yet there are rapidly coming forward
others of younger generation promis-
ing just as much, or even more. And
with the rapid strides in increasing
speed and the multiplied numbers
attaining it, it can not be long until
the average will be so we'll down that
the most sceptican will have to concede
that the horse is type and class of his
own and is safe to be reckoned upon in
his breeding as any improved product
of animal kind.
When this comes to be the case, it
will not require much argument to
convince the world that we have in our
possession the most useful and valuable
all-purpoSe horse that has ever been
produced-the champion equine of the
ages-the highest product that science
skill, and art can produce-the king
and crown of the horse kind.
Unlike the horses, the boast of other
lands. suited TO one kind of use only
the American Trotter possesses quail.
ties fitting him for every useful purpose
He has the size and disposition to plow
or draw the heavy load; he has the
style and gait for the coupe, the car
riage, or the cart; he has the game and
speed to excite and thrill by bis
marvellous exhibitions on the turf; he
has the gentleness and docility to be
come the household pet and pride. Nc
other equine ever developed was seem
ingly SO happily constituted, and fitted
to become the worlds horse. Combin
ing in one the finest traits, and riches
blood elements of his species, he stands
ready to do whatever the most ad
yanced civilization may demand o.
him. His destiny. thus, is bound to be
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