Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-06-18
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE SADDLE HORSE.
A Branch OF Rural Economy that Has
Suffered But Little.

A Branch of Rural Economy that Has
Suffered But Little.
II is matter of record that saddle
horse breeding has suffered less In the
pinching time of the past few years
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 a 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 n dash or two of trotting blood,
in order to make their horses more
valuable in harness. For 1t is com
bined horse that has been produced
one that goes equally well under sad
die and in harness. Some people tc
this day sneer at that dual purpose
idea, but they are misinformed. In
England latterly the practice has beer
growing in favor of putting the best OF
the hunters in leather between sen
sons A good saddle horse is not hurt
by work in harness. This breed of gaitet
saddle horses has a pedigree register
that was established some years age
uhu 10 CohuuStSu vi ottiSu puSio VI
registration, and the fairs and shows
following the example set by thu
Columbian, are now beginning to re
quire registration in that stud book a
condition Of entry in their saddle
classes.
Saddle-horse trainers in Kentucls,
are scarcely out of their bucllskins al
winter, but on the approach of sprinl
their work Is fairly doubled. A saddl
horse is not only born, but he mus
have certain amount of making, an,
it is this making that requires work
and plenty of it. 1t takes lot of labo
to key trottcr up, but it can hardl,
be said that the conscientious saddle
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 an
labor. 1t is fortunate, however, tina
a saddle bred horse will retain his ed
ucation when once acquired SO wei
that it must be laundering, heavy
handed novice that can not get salts
faction in his use on the Bride path
The demand from the east 70
saddlers is chiefly for what
called the plain-gaited kind-thos
whose education in gaits has been cal
ried only to include the walk, trot an
canter. The east takes its fashion fror
England, and the gated horse, or tn
single footer as he is generally called
is not in much favor. Some people al
unkind enough to say that it is becaus
fasteners can not ride well enough t
keep raclting horse on HIS gaits, bu
this suggestion is hardly acceptable, a
n well-trained racler will stick to b
knitting If You merely sit on him an
give him slight touch of the curl
Whatever may be the reason for tn
preference, it undoubtedly does exis
although it may fairly be said tht
easy-gaited horses are growing in +;
vor in New York city. Indeed, for tw
years past the highest priced sadd
horse sold at public auction in tn;
city has been a raclsing horse. III
trade in walk, trot, canter horses oper
up first in the season, and hence Kel
lucky trainers take up the plain gate
ones first and put them through the
limited PAGES before they do much wit
the others. After the plain gated so
has gone to market, the hackers a.
, brought into the barn and the finisl
ing touches are put on them. -Colman