Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-09-09
THE SHOW RING HORSE.
Points the Exhibitor Must Look After tc
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The first and most necessary thing in
the show ring is to have horse with
marked individuality and the very
highest type of the class he represents.
His pedigree may be all that could be
desired, but here pedigree is not the
test. 1t is the best horse that gets the
honor. A fine looking horse of no par
ticular breeding, but which knows how
to handle himself in the show ring and
is all right as AN individual, will carry
off the ribbon over. those of splendid
breeding, but poor individuality. There
seems to be an art in showing horses
that all do not have by any means In
our county there is farmer who is
natural horseman who always has few
extra good ones to exhibit, and while
they are in the ''pink of perfection he
knows just how to manage to make
them outshow all other. There is no
doubt but one can talk" to horses
through the lines. This the famous
Gleason and all experienced horsemen
admit, and this man can so enthuse
his horses with his own spirit that they
put on their very best manners and show
up beautifully Quite number Of times
have seen horses beaten in their class,
and the owner would engage this farmer
to drive the beaten animal in the sweep
stakes ring and oftentimss the beaten
horse would beat here In an experts
hands the horse looks full of life, comes
t1n cf, ofrt
flashing and looks as if he were delight
ed with his work and means business
and is sure to attract attention and ad-
miration. But, on the other hand. if he
comes stumbling along looking careless
ly about and puts no vim into his work,
he is almost sure to be beaten
Many one goes into show with an
animal in poor condition, oftentimes
blemished and with very little train
ing. hoping the judge will not see the
blemishes and excuse the other points.
This is very foolish. That curb may be
the result of an accident, the little
white speck in the eye due to a blow,
and neither the result of an inherent
weakness, but it takes too long to ex-
plain all this, and in the meantime the
judge has tied the ribbon on another
horse and called next In the show ring
is poor place to make excuses for not
having horses in good condition and
not educated as show stock Many a
good horse is beaten by one not worth
half the money, simply because he was
thin in flesh. Fat and 'tbig fat at that
covers multitude of sins in the show
ring, and it is perfectly useless to go
in without it. This may be all wrong.
but 1t is the case. and we must govern
ourselves accordingly. 1t is not entirely
wrong either A horse that will not
take on flesh and get slick is not we'll
animal. If he has poor digestion, he
is not fit for track or road work, because
he cannot stand it, and if he is to be
used as sire he is almost sure to trans
NIT the weakness; hence we see that
fat, slick horse is well one at least.
No blemished horse should be allowed
20 compete for premium of any kind.
Any animal competing for premium
should be first passed upon by COM
petent veterinary surgeoll before being
permitted to enter the ring. and the
driver should show the judge certifi-
cate that the horse was all right. In
such classes as require written or print
ed pedigrees to make animals eligible
to the show ring these pedigrees should
be examined by those who are more
likely to know and appreciate them
than the judge.
Size is quite an important factor in
the show horse whether it be the draft,
general purpose, coach or roadster. 1t is
not always the largest animal that
should or does win, but everything else
being equal the larger horse viii win.
Except in ponies the ideal horse is one
large for his kind, up headed. stylish,
full of vigor and with the ability to
move along at good gait-Mrs- W
W. Stevens In National Stockman-