Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-08-04
THE SADDLE HORSE.
THIS IS THE TYPE TO BREED FOR
REMUNERATION AND
PLEASURE.
A Very Able Paper by Mr.. j. A. Potts,
of This City, Who is the Sad
dler's Firm Friend.

read by MIR. Joseph A. Potts, OF this
city, before the State Board of Agri-
culture:
lam here to-day, by invitation from
the Hon. Secretary of the State Board
of Agriculture, to speak few words
in favor of my favorite animal, "The
| Missouri Saddle Horse" 1t will be
my purpose in this paper to undertake
to show that we are able to furnish to
the markets of the world, at prices
that will pay the producers, two types
of saddle horses that are now being
extensively used by the more fashion
able classes of society. Irefer to the
gated and the walk trot and canter
saddle horses. The latter is highly
appreciated in all our large cities, and
differs mainly from our gated horses
in their education. They are taught
to walk in an elastic, graceful way; to
trot high, straight and bold, and to
lope as near like fawn as possible.
These horses command good prices,
| especially in eastern markets, and
Missouri has furnished quite num-
ber of them in the last few years that
have not only sold for fancy prices,
but have made themselves famous in
the show ring.
The other type of the saddle horse
to which / alluded is the "gaited," or,
| as he is sometimes called, "the mod
| ern saddle horse" This is the animal
to which 1 expect to devote the most
of this paper. I have been from my
boyhood up an ardent admirer of this
class of horses, and my recollection
does not carry me back to the time
when the music of the patter Of his
feet upon the ground did not thrill me
with emotion. There is cord in my
nature that is ever ready to respond
to the graceful and harmonious step
of this, the prince of horses. 1 prize
the gated saddle horse for reasons
more substantial than boyish senti-
ment. He has been to me the source
of some profit, and great deal of
pleasure all down the path of life. He
has stood the test of depressed mar
kets that we have contended against
for the past few years, and has secured
to his breeder and developer a reas-
enable profit for his investment and
trouble, while the losses in breeding
all other classes of horses can only De
measured by the number raised and
developed.
The bicycle and other inventions of
man have, IN measure, ruined values
in other grades and classes of horses;
but, in my judgment, the bicycle has
done much for the rising generation
that will inure for good to the saddle
horse. The bicycle has established in
the breasts of thousands desire for
pure air-a taste for outdoor exercise
that will continue through life; and as
sure as fortune smiles upon them, the
lnanimate, lifeless, motionless bicycle
must of necessity give way to the
higher and more exhilarating exercise
of horseback riding. In support OF
this I will call your attention to the
remarkable number of new equestrian
clubs that are being organized
throughout this land, and you will
realize at once that the time has come
when we should prepare for the in
creasing demand now upon rs for
good saddle horses.
The demand for these horses is ex-
tensive and increasing; the supply is
small and diminishing. In fact, but
five counties in the United States have
given much attention to the breeding
and developing of this class of horses,
and these few counties are found in
Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee.
In no place has this business been
more successfully carried on than in
Missouri. We have had such noted
sires of the gated saddle horse as
Old Montrose, Black Squirrel, Artist,
Rex Denmark and many others the
best, intelligent and progressive sad
die breeders could raise or money
could buy, and they have served US
long and well. The good seed from
these sires made for Missouri name
at the Worlds FAIR that has gone into
history, and will be read with pride
by the generations vet to come.
On the battle field at the great st.
Louis Fair Grounds our gated saddle
horses have crossed swords annually
for many years with the best Of the
land, and have never been left with
out honors. The king of saddle stall
lions, Rex Mcdonald, the horse that
is now barred from contesting for the
largest prizes that will be offered next
season on account OF his unequaled
excellence, is a Missouri production.
Is it now any wonder to You that en-
terprising horsemen from Kentucky
came here and bought at high price
Old Montrose and old Black Squirrel
when their bones had almost ripened
for the grave, and took them home
with them? Is it any surprise to you
to learn that Col. John T. Hughes paid
more for Missouri saddle stallion
than was ever paid for any other sad
die horse, mare or gelding in Americai
| The foundation we have laid here In
Missouri for the production of this
the modern saddle horse, has proven
by results to be OF the best, and II We
will continue along the same line
keeping constantly in mind that like
produces Ike, avoiding at ali timet
weaknesses that are liable to be trans
mitted to the offspring-bad tempers
. Ill shapes, slow action and stiff knees
we need have no fear of the future
and the honors will still be borne
away In triumph from many hosly
contested show rings by horses owned
or ut least bred in Missouri. How.
ever, we cannot expect every horse
!, we breed or develop of this class to bt
q blue-ribbon winner, but we car
reasonably expect, barring accidents
thst they win all pay the cost OF pro.
/ duction, which can not be said Of any
other class or breed Of horses.
The horse has always been, 10 TO-
b day, and win ever continue to ba I