Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-10


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economist in house
mold matters and in the management OF his
vast landed interests. expended large sums
for the times in which he lived for horses
which drew his coach and for those which
ne used under the saddle His coach horses
were all half bred: his saddle horses were
usually three-quarters full bred, and
were carefully selected from winning
strains in this country and in England.
No man in his time did more to improve
the blood of the American horse than
Washington. Through his influence and
advice a number of importations of repre-
sentatives Of the best racing families in
England were made. 1t was through his
personal solicitation that Light Horse
Harry" Lee purchased the famous Lindsey
Arabian. conceded to be the best entire
horse Of Arabian blood ever introduced TO
American soil, which Gen. Washington
subsequently took to westmoreland county.
Va This horse stood in the latter part of
the last century at Lynn. Conn. One whole
company Of Connecticut cavalry in the
Continental army was mounted on the
by reason Of their endurance. high courage.
tractability and spirit attracted his favor
able attention. The horse Gen. Putnam
rode when he made his famous escape down
the rocks from the British was of
the Lindsey Arabian. and it is said that
Washington's white war charger was by
him. as well as the dam OF the Justin
Morgan.
President washington's coach teams COM
prtsed eight horses. His coach was usually
drawn by four white horses on state occa-
sions. with black position on each nigh
horse. The remaining number of his coach
horses was equally divided between bays
and chestnuts His saddle horses were
white and bay. Only on special occasions
did the first President ride in his coach.
The Virginia gentleman of colonial days.
and even later usually surrendered the We
hicles to the ladies OF the family, while he
followed near by on horseback.
some succeeding Presidents.
President Jefferson was a fair judge of
hors1fiesh His coach teams were of stout
build, and noted more for strength and do
cility rather than fer finish and speed. The
mountainous country in which he lived re-
Quired the qualities mentioned. When he
became President the streets of Washing
and even at their best were not easy 10
travel over with the cumbersome vehicles
OF early days. In the matter of saddle
horses the author of the Declaration of In
dependence was particular. Sir Archy. the
son of imported Dismed, and the progenitor
of what is known in our day as the Bos-
ton and Lexington families. was in his prime
and stood in the vicinity of Monticello.
President Jefferson always rode a son or
grandson of Sir Averey. who was the great
est saddle horse sire of his day. as we'll as
the sire OF the greatest runners. Timoleon,
BostOn'S sire, was a son of Sir Archy.
The two Adamses. President john
Adams and his son President John
Quincy Adams, ii history be cor
rect. cared little for hOrsefiesh of any kind.
Racing in their day was not tolerated in
polite society in New England. hence there
was little thoroughbred blood in New Eng
land previous and subsequent to the revOlu-
q ton. The Adamses. however. required that
their horses should be of good size and that
they should also look sleek and fat Beyond
that point they were not critical
President Monroe was a Nirginian and
was reared among the best horses the colony
and the state possessed Nevertheless 1t is
said that while he knew a horse from a
mule he did not bother himself about blood
lines. All he exacted was that his coach
horses should be we'll padded with flesh and
stout enough to draw his carriage. Like
all well-bred Nirginlans. he was particular
as to his mounts and liked in them plenty
OF thoroughbred blood of the stout strains
Of his day.
President Madison was nearsighted and
a student in politics. The former made
him tinid OF horses and the latter trait was
SO intensified that he had little time to pay
to anything except Statecraft Mrs. Madi
son on the other hand was a good judge
of horses. Horses and carriages were pur-
chased under her direction alone and she
visited the fine brick stables. still stand
fnO In roar Of TOnr ra1i lr'f N Ira N pe
county. Va. frequently when at home and
inspected the grooming of her coach team in
person. When she and her husband be-
came OCCUPANTS Of the White House she
exercised the same vigilance over her pets
that she did when in private life, with the
result that President Madison'S turnouts
were the finest since the days of the first
President
Breeder of ThOrOughbreds.
President Jackson was breeder of thor
oughbredS and raced his horses not only
on his private track at Clover Bottom, -
Tenn, now owned by Representative An
drew Price Of Louisiana as breeding
farm. but he matched them to run on ether
courses. His coach team, as well as his
coach, were constructed on enduring
basis. strength rather than style being the
controlling motive His mounts were in
variably pure thOrOughbradS, whether as
general, private citizen or President. Entire
horses were his fdvorites for the saddle,
espec. ally in war. he holding that the horse
In his naturai state was more courageous.
enduring, spirited and intelligent than the
gelding and mare. he held To the theory
that the rare or gelding would faint when
badly wounded while the stallion WOULD
muster enough strength to carry his mas ter
out of danger.
Presidents Van Buren,, Harrison will
lam Henry and Polk only possessed fairly
good eQuipages anu horses to iriw them
while occupying the presidential chair
Harrison and Polk however, like all
southern-bOrn gentlemen. Kept for their
personal use saddle horse Of good breed
ing, and Orly reSOrted to a carriage on
official occasions. President TayIOr on the
other hand. was not SO particular about his
coaches as he was about The horses that
drew them. When he came 10 WASHINGTON
to take his seat as President he brought
with him four we'll bred and stylish coach
horses, and odd Whitley" lis war-horse
In addition TO the latter. who had become
somewhat Superannuated by reason of age
and arduOuS service. he also brought with
him for the saddle a bay thoroughbred sal
hon that he rode occasionally previous TO
his death.
COnnOisseur in Horsenesh.
President Pierce was a connoisseur In
horsefesh. He was at one time the owner
OF CassIus VI. Clay. the well-knoTn trotting
stallion. and while President was noted for
the elegance of his coaches ard the Style
and breeding of his horses. A span of lofty
bays and span Of housekeeping blacks
constituted his coach teams President
Pierce was an accomplished eOlIsstriln crd