The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-04-25
HOSS SWAPPING FAIR
STRANGE GATHERINGS OF FARMERS
RECENTLY HELD.
Where Broken Down steeds Are Mysteri-
ously Doctored Up and Transformed For
Few Hours While sale-How
Trades" Are Effected.

ihIRt ptlctnlaRe vi tnc inaio pOpuldtlOn
Of the county Of Madison, N. Y, is in
terested in the strangest conventions
ever held in any part Of tho Empire
State. They are called in the verracular
Of the locality "hoss traders conven-
tions. " or "hoss swapping fairs, and
they bring together men from every
part Of the county and often visitors
from other sections.
Generally these conventions are hold
in the little hamlets Of Lenox Basin
and Five Chimneys. but the first Of the
series was held this year at Morrisville.
the county seat.
On these occasions the hills, valleys.
black deestricts." hamlets, farms and
towns Of the county send out their stock
Of swapping nags aud jockeys in great
numbers, and when the collection is
made and the convention opens the
Madison Square horse show is not a
comparison TO the wonderful array here
presented
The delegations begin arriving the
day before, and the night is an anxious
and busy one. Some Of the nags come
in sadly out Of repair and must needs
be braced up with wonderful concoc-
tions. the ingredients Of which are
known only TO the shrewd owners of
the animals. Where they have learned
all the tricks by which deception is
practiced is a mystery. but it is believed
that some of them are secrets handed
down from father to son for generations.
Certain it is that some of those who
make it practice TO attend these con-
ventions yearly have the art of turning
a sorry looking nag into presentable
animal in the course Of a few hours.
When all is ready. the doors of the
various barns in the neighborhood are
opened, and the swapping commences.
Horses of all colors. sizes, ages and
breeds are shown. There are cribbers,
bakers, kickers, hackers and runaways;
horses that are blind toothless, lame
and wind broken beasts that have done
time ON the canals, the farm or the
dray; broken down carriage horses and
occasionally one that in years gone by
had been a favorite ON the track.
The sparring for advantage il always
interesting ind furnishes many char
acter study. For instance. farmer
from the northern part Of the county
drives respectable looking chestnut
mare down the road. AS he nears
group of men, who stand with their
backs against barn. each one industri-
ously whiting, he is greeted with a
challenge to swap.
WAL" he replies. 81 dunno as
want to get rid of her. She suits me
- l.. So. l,o
wimmin folks to drive. | didn't come
over to trade her, but thought I'd come
down an SEQ what was goin on"
Then the several members of tho
group walked out in the road and COM
menced looking the mare over.
"Where'd yer git herr" one inquiries.
"Waal, she ulster belong to Doc
Smith, up to Durhamville. an she's
pulled him more miles than any boss in
the county ever travelled, an she amt
hurt n mite. .Jes' as good as she was the
/ day he bot her. The only trouble is
docs gettin so big an fat that she s
hardly heavy enough fer his long drives.
II 'twasn't for that yer couldn I bot her
Of the doc fer 5000. | traded him big
bay boss that paid sl25 fer an give
him $50 to boot. She jes' suited me, an
hain't got any reason to be sorry fer
my bargain. p"
Sound, s'pose?" questions listen
er, with wink.
Then the voluble owner Of the chest
nut mare starts off on a . minute de-
scription Of the animals health and
physical condition that would take n
novice Off his feet and lead him to in
vest in horseflesh ut once, but which is
merely heard by the veterans of the pro-
fession and believed in no particular.
Finally the owner of the chestnut
consents to get out of the buggy and go
in the barn and see roam, and if he
doesn't trade for that he looks ut a
black, brown. a gray or sorrel and
makes "swap" with some one In the
meantime a half dozen other trades have
been started up, but the excitement new
er increases. The professional country
"hoss trader" never betrays anxiety, ex-
element or even interest. He is as in
different as log and plays his cards in
the coolest possible manner He whit
ties necessarily, chews straws and to-
bacco, talks as loud rs a campaign ora
tor. swears moderately, lies without
knowing it. spars and parties for ad-
vantage but is never led into showing
disappointment or chagrin.
Most of the transactions. or changes. -
as the members Of the profession term
them. are ON an even basis. but occa-
sionally few dollars boot money
will change hands. Sometimes two men
will talk half day about n trade, and
both horses in the deal may not be
worth $40. When the trading grows
dull, venturesome dealer will put NJ
one of his nags at auction, and the sums
realized range from so cents to IS. OF.
ten one man will own dozen or Is diff.
ferent horses during the day, and yet
the actual cash value Of his entire hold.
ings might not reach 800.
There is charm about il. however,
that brings the Madison county resi-.
dents ont whenever a convention is adj
vertised, and frequently 200 or 800 per
sons are in attendance. The trades they
make and the receptions they practic,
upon each other furnish material fol
reflection and congratulation through
-