The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-07-03
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE SADDLE HORSE.
Branch of Rural Economy that HI
Suffered But Little.

Branch of Rural Economy that Hal
Suffered But Little.
1t is a matter of record that saddle
horse breeding has suffered less in the
pinching time of the past few year:
than any other line of equine produc
ton. This comes about from the fact
that the good sort of saddler is in com
paratively small supply, says the
Horseman. We have been breeding
trotters, runners, coachers and draft
ers in this country, but for the most
part have been depending on insists
for our saddlers. This is certainly an
anomalous condition of affairs in q
country in which the entire field OF
production is ordinarily covered. Asa
matter of fact the breeding, of saddle
horses has been chiefly confined to
Kentucky and Missouri, and some OF
the other southern states to lesser
degree. The old "blue grass State
is the nursery of the breed. For fear
that some may not understand why
the word ''breed" is used in this con-
nection it may be said that breed OF
saddle horses has been evolved that is
much more closely confined to one
type than is the breed of trotters. Ken
lucky is entitled to the credit of max
ing this breed. 1t was grounded on
the blood of the race horse, and some
hardy "Canuck" blood and Morg an
blood was mingled in its foundations,
and latterly breeders have been add
ing dash or two of trotting blood,
in order to make their horses more
valuable in harness. For it is com
bined horse that has been produced
one that goes equally well under sad
die and III harness. Some people to
this day sheer at that dual purpose
idea, but they are misinformed. In
England latterly the practice has been
growing in favor of putting the best of
the hunters in leather between sea-
sons. A good saddle horse is not hurt
by work in harness. This breed of gated
saddle horses has pedigree register
that was established some years ago
and is conducted ON strict basis of
registration, and the fairs and shows,
following the example set by the
Columbian, are now beginning to re-
quire registration in that stud book as
condition of entry in their saddle
classes.
Saddle-horse trainers in Kentucky
are scarcely out of their buckskins all
winter, but on the approach of spring
their work is fairly doubled. A saddle
horse is not only born, but he must
have certain amount of making, and
it is this making that requires work.
aud plenty of it. 1t takes lot of labor
to key trotter up, but it can hardly
be said that the conscientious saddle
horse trainer has much easier time
than the successful developer of speed.
1t is no child's play to mouth and man.
ner real saddle horse, and as to gait
ing him, that takes time, skill and
labor 1t is fortunate, however, that
saddle bred horse win retain his ed
ucation when once acquired so well
that it must be a laundering, heavy
handed novice that can not get salts
faction in his use on the bride path
The demand from the east for
saddlers is chiefly for what is
called the plain-gaited kind--those
whose education in gaits has been car
ried only to include the walk, trot and
canter. The east takes its fashion from
England, and the gated horse, or the
single footer as he is generally called,
is not in much favor. Some people are
unkind enough to say that it is because
easterners can not ride well enough to
keep racking horse on his gaits, but
this suggestion is hardly acceptable, as
well-trained raclzer will stick to his
knitting If you merely sit on him and
give him a slight touch of the curb.
Whatever may be the reason for the
preference, it undoubtedly does exist,
although it may fairly be said that
asy-gaited horses are growing in fa-
vor in New York city. Indeed for two
years past the highest priced saddle
horse sold at public auction in that
city has been a racking horse. The
trade in walk, trot, canter horses opens
up first in the season, and hence Ken
lucky trainers take up the plain gated
ones first and put them through their
limited PAGES before they do much with
the Others After the plain gated sort
has gone to market, the hackers are
brought into the barn and the finish
ing touches are put on them.-Colman's
Rural World.