The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-12-16
THE PRESIDENTS HORSES.
His Private Stock Noted for Sweet
Temper.

HIS Private Stock Noted for Sweet
Temper.
President Roosevelt maintains the
largest stable of any of his %predeces-
sors of recent years, reports the
Brooklyn Eagle. His "string' includ-
es a couple of splendid jumpers, two
carriage horses, two saddle horses
for women, a polo pony and a diminu-
tive "calico" pony. These animals
are all the personal property of the
president, and are separate and dis
tinct from the horses that are fur
nished by the government for the
official use of the president. Neither
President Mckinley MOI President
Cleveland was given to horseback
riding, but the former would frequent
ly take the reins for a drive through
the surrounding country with Mrs.
Mckinley. President Harrison kept
only three horses. President Arthur
had a splendid stable of thorough
breds, and his horses were a distinct
feature of the White House establish
ment.
The presidents favroite horse is
Bleistein, who has a wide reputation
as a jumper. He is a noble looking
animal, being a pure bay with a white
star in his forehead. If President
Roosevelt feels the need Of some
vigorous exercise, he calls for Bleis-
tein and orders his Australian saddle
to be placed on the horses back. He
then rides slowly out Connecticut
avenue, until he encounters the dirt
roads beyond Rock creek bridge. Then
a wild ride invariably follows over
the toughest course that can be pick
ed out, including some stiff jumps
over bitches and fences that would
try the seat of an expert cavalryman.
Bleistein is a noted hurdler, having
cleared the bars at six feet. Last
spring the president took him out
to the Chevy Chase hunt course and
had a photographer stand by while
he went over the jumps. The lens
caught the rider and horse as they
were clearing a five foot eight jump
and the president sent the pictures
to a number of his friends.
RenoWn is the stable companion of
Bleistein, and is himself a jumper
Of no mean ability. He is a<real
brown and a trihe larger than Bleis-
TEN. He gets e the rails at five
feet six without much difficulty. The
carriage horses are a we'll matched
pair of bays, named Judge and Gen
eral. Yagenka is Mrs. Roosevelt's
favorite saddle horse. This week the
polo pony of the president was ship
ped to Washington from Oyster Bay,
and o occupies a stall at the White
House stable. His name is Black
Diamond, and although he still has
much of the fire and spirit of the old
former days, his sporting times are
past, for the president would prob
ably hesitate to subject himself and
Black Diamond to the dangers of a
polo game now. In the last stall is
the little calico" pony, with the long
name of Algonquin. He belongs to
Archie, and is led out for a canter
every day after school hours. Algon-
quin is only thirty-four inches high,
and seems lost in the big stall he
couples.
All the horses of the presidents
family are remarkably gentle and
sweet tempered, not one of them be-
ing the slightest bit vicious. They
occupy the stalls on the north side
of the stable. In the stalls on the
south side are quartered ten animals !
that we're furnished by the quarter
master of the army. They are for
the use of the official staff of the
White House, four of them being rel
served for Secretary Cortelyou and
Assistant Secretaries Loeb and
Barnes. Uncle Sam is very generous
in supplying livery for his high Of
~ficials, all the cabinet officers and
chief officers of each department, in
Guiding the White House, being pro-
vided with horses and carriages.
While they are supposed to be for
official use only, it is not surprising
to learn that they are called upon to
answer all demands.
Don't be imposed upon by taking sub