Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-07-03
AMONG THE FARMERS.
"sPEHp rHI rLov."

Ccrrespondence on practical agricultural topic,
10 solicited. Address all communication In
tended for this department TO HKSKY II. HAN
noSp. Agricultural EDITOR Oxford Dcmocra
AMERICAN HORSES STANDING
ABROAD.
The superiority Of the American trot-
ting horse abroad has become so vel
established Ia the last few year, that
European breeders have sent agents tc
this country TO study our methods OF
breeding, and In Germany and France
the local horse-breeders have induced
their governments to place an embargo
on further importxtions. Two years
ago the American trotter went abroad
10 enter tho races In various parts of
Europe. and after winning In dozens OF
important contests, their virtues become
fully recognized. The Russian govern
ment imported several thousand for
breeding purposes and established an
American trainer aud breeder In the lm-
perial stud. In Austria wealthy lovers
of horse flesh paid from five % ten
thousand dollars apiece for Amer rican
trotters, and in London similar high
prices were offered for exceptionally fine
American trotters.
In the international races held st Nice
the American horses won nearly all the
medals and money. Some OF them were
clsssed a. Americsn-bred horses, but
owned by Europeans. This condition Of
affairs was painfully similar In other
Races held on the continent, and while
admiration was felt for the American
trotters In some quarters, their unfsiling
success caused envy. The local trainers
felt they had 40 chance of winning In
the race. In Russia the American-bred
trotter Is now handicapped in all races,
the American breeder has been dismissed
from the Imperial stud. and the imports-
tons Of further American horses stopped.
In nearly all OF the continental races the
American trotters have TO enter under
such odds that there Is no possibility Of
their winning.
But while local breeders can manage
the racing associations so that the
American trotters cannot win when pit
ted against their horses, they cannot
besmireh the enviable records and repu-
tation that our trotters have established.
Their virtues are 50. well known that the
demand for these animals by prominent
European racing men is extensive, and
to-day this country Is supplying more
trottiug horses for the European market
than any other. Our export trade In
horses reached its minimum in 1894,
when the bicycle and trolley threatened
the doom OF the horse, bet five years
later, In 1899, the pendulum had swung
20 the other extreme, and our export
trade reached its maximum. Last year
We exported nearly 100000 head OF
horses, and = fair percentage OF these
we're trotters to be used either for rae
ing, coaching, or for the parks. A large
number of cavalry horses were also
shipped, and these are still going abroad
in continuous stream.
The American trotter, AS bred to-day,
SAYS the Scientific American, Is the most
useful and servicesole horse in the world,
and he has outclassed all others Sc the
shows at home and abroad. he Is the
ideal type of horse, with just sufficient
mobility about him 20 permit the breed
ers TO rear him for variety OF uses.
he Is bred from Is 70 1. hands in height,
and from 900 10 400 pounds in weight,
suitable alike for racing, trotting on the
speedway, or for road landings. He Is
bred TO trot from 2:20 to 2:03, and he
sells from $500 TO $40 900 on the average,
not taking into account the extraordl-
nary prices paid for Maud ). or Sunol.
There Is demand to-day in Europe for
American trotters that can meet the
market requirements st prices ranging
from 5000 TO $4,000. Trotting-bred
road horses OF extra speed and beauty
sell to-day In the London market for
$4,000 pair, and In nearly all instances
Of such sales the horses are either bred
In America or are from American-bred
sires.
This condition OF our trotting stock
abroad has given = new impetus 70
horse breeding In this country, and there
Is : revival in the business that promises
well for the future. The present scarcity
OF good salsble horses Is forcibly con-
trssted with the condition OF the market
tiye years ago. Then the horses In the
far northwest were so plentiful and In
such little demand that they were left by
the farmers TO stsrve on the range. On
the great ranges OF Texas, California,
Oregon and Dakota the stations were
shot TO stop the increase, aud premiums
were even offered for removing the
herds. Only recently the Union Pacific
Railroad closed contract 10 carry from
the Oregon ranges some 5000 head OF
wild horses 70 the grsin-growing states.
The organizers Of this movement sntici-
pate making money out Of these wild
horses when they have been fed and pre-
pared for the market. Instead OF the
wild horses being nuisance on the
plains to-day, they are in great demand
both for export and for home use. This
change OF condition is partly due TO our
war in the Philippines. The Pacific
coast has been shipping horses 10 the far
East for our soldiers snd army trans
ports st the rate of nearly thousand q
month. These hslf wild horses when
broken 20 the saddle make the best sort
OF army and cavalry horses. So well Is
this recognized that both Germany and
Russia are now buying American horses
for this wing Of their armies The South
African war has demonstrated the value
OF 3 large cavalry army, and nearly sil
the European nations are increasing
their mounted troopers, with the result
that the American horses are IN greater
demand than ever. Not only are the
American trotters and range horses OF
the wese great winners, but we prscti-
cslly have corner in the horse markets
OF the world according 10 the Scientific
American. We have the breeding stock,
and above sll the cheapest ranges and
feed in the world. The American breed
er can put the products OF his stock
farms on the European markets At less
cost than the local breeders, and his
animals will be superior in speed, power,
and endurance 4. Farmer.