Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-04-27
JOSEPH BATTELL,
Middlebury, VT.
OBJECT LESSON FOR BREEDERS

OBJECT LESSON FOR BREEDERS
The horse stock of the country pre-
sents an object lesson of interest TO every
breeder There is no Disgusting the
fact that the coming summer will see
pastures and stables overrnn with
class of horses and colts for which there
is no demand. Connect this with the
fact that road horses of superior excel
lence readily sell at prices far above the
cost of production. and it is evident that
lack of quality in the stock is the cause
of its remaining so long in the hands OF
the producer. 1t requires little mental
effort on the part of the breeder to un-
derstand that he must breed for quality
or quit a business which. intelligently
managed, is the most profitable OF any
or all farm production. The Mirror
and Farmer often chronicles almost TAB
ulous prices paid for horses simply be-
cause they have the quality most desired
by the wealthy purchaser. If only one
in ten of the scrubs that now crowd the
land were of superior excellence, they
would sell readily fer more money than
the whole will now bring. little
thought and mental arithmetic make it
main that through lack Of well-directed
effort the farmers have bred fed and
matured multitude of horses for less
money than might have been obtained
for limited number. The causes that
have contributed to this are varied and
numerous. The breeder must know
what the market today demands, antiei-
pate the future, and breed TO produce
what will sell best years hence when his
now prospective foal will be matured,
developed and ready for sale.
That the purchasing public demand Il
higher degree of excellence now than
formerly no one can doubt. Away back
in the tifties the = 40 trotter could III
most cases win share of the money,
and three-minute horse was not com
mon to every hamlet or country race
track. An occasional high price in those
DAYS had stimulating effect on produce
ton, which then increased slightly be-
yond the demand, so common stock was
drug in the market. But the 300
minute to 2:30 stopper found ready
sale, and breeders endeavored to pro-
duce that kind. Natures laws of repro
duction were not by the masses as well
understood then as now, consequently
but Indifferent results were obtained.
Prices tumhled, the markets were clogged
with inferior quality and there was no
end to the number of wise ones ready
with the ever present 81 told you so.
The eXigency of the government came
to the breeders relief and the surplus
stock was soon at the front in battle
array. The demand continued, prices
doubled and more were wanted. The
attention of breeders had been diverted,
less were bred, consequently for years
the supply was less than the demand
Prices kept up; horse was horse
Everything bred sold at profit beyond
any other farm production. Farmers
bred for numbers rather than excellence
With the return OF peace the sports OF
the trotting turf were renewed. This
with the vast purchasing power and
cultivated taste of few lovers of speed
at the trottng gait, caused unprecedent
ed demand for the highest rate of speed
Fortunes were freely exchanged for q
single flyer. Then as from time imme
no xuaalthU had ip1i.
tators with speedy turnOuts, opponents
of the owners judgment to select and
ability to purchase. With some ne
doubt pride and desire to exhibit shOddy
wealth was the propelling impetus
Others actuated by desire for innocent
recreation combined with a love for the
useful and beautiful entered the market
and bought the fastest and best fol
private use. The market demanded
speed. Breeders, awake to self-intNrest
commenced in earnest to investigate
the blood lines of the fastest. Pedigree
and fast records were the all-absOrbine
questions of the hour. The name o.
Rysdyk's Hambletonian became house
hold word. Great minds discussed tn,
question and the Standard and Register
were evolved. Large breeding estab
lishments, backed by untold wealth
sprang up mushroom-like all over thu
county, and speed was the demand O
the market and the chief desire of thu
breeder.
The Hambletonan family immediate