The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-05-02
Horse Sense.


-Four or five years ago, when the horse
breeding industry was more prosperous
throughout the country than it Is today,
a great many comparatively worthless
stations were foisted upon the public,
and the results of this iniquitous traffic
are plainly visible today in the num-
bers Of unstable, nondescript brutes to
be found in many breeders yards. At
that time the importing business was in
its prime, and trotting bred stations
also brought long prices, their individ
uality and speed capabilities being of
little moment so long as they were reg
istered. Bogus pedigrees were freely
manufactured and distributed, records
admitting the registration of crossbred
and short bred animals were established
in fact, every means, fair and foul,
wn employed to get a certificate of
registration, because with such a pass
port to public consideration a stallion
could be sold at remunerative price.
1t was known well enough then that
spurious pedigrees We're being manufac-
tured and tackled onto animals of no
known lineage, and in the end govern
mental interference was invoked to pre-
vent the landing on our shores of i'll
bred horses recorded in registers organ
lied solely for the purpose of securing
the animals duty free entrance into the
United States. The breeders associa-
tions which existed at the time men
toned discussed again and again the
best means of protecting their members
against the pedigree frauds of unscrupu-
lous dealers and importers.
In Iowa it was proposed to solicit
legislation creating a state inspector of
stations whose duty it would be to ex-
anime all horses standing for public
service in relation to their soundness.
1t was also desired to have law enacted
providing that no stallion should receive
public patronage unless he had been
granted certificate of suitability from
the inspector and subjecting offenders
against this measure to a large fine.
In Wisconsin some less general legis-
latiOn was contemplated, but in the end
neither state accomplished anything in
the premises. The breeders associa-
tions in the different states then agitated
the matter of appointing an inspector
whose services could be secured at will
by any person desiring to purchase a
stallion. The duties of the inspector
were defined in that he should proceed
with the buyers, examine the animals
carefully and to the extent Of his abil-
ity aid in selecting sound, serviceable
horse. There were methods of REIN
bursement suggested, but for obvious
reasons nothing ever came of the agita-
ton.
1t therefore remained for the associa-
ton of Vermont breeders of trotting
and road horses to blaze path in this
direction. AT recent meeting of that
society an inspector was appointed
whose services along the lines mentioned
will be given free to any resident of the
state who desires his assistance in pur-
chasing stallion. There is no doubt
that this step will result in benefit to
the Vermont breeders. The general
farmer is not, as rule, versed in pedi-
grees and records, and if he has the
benefit of superior knowledge he will
not be so readily imposed upon by sharp
dealers, as has hitherto been the case.
Whether or not the advantages offered
by the association named will be ac-
cepted remains to be seen. 1t will, how
ever, DO interesting to watch the prog
ress of measure which has been SO
long, with all its advantages and disad-
vantages, before the breeding public
H0rsenlGn.