The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-09-30
PRESIDENTS AND THEIR HORSES.

of the United States are no exception
to the general rule. Washington
kept the finest horses in America.
There were seldom less than ten sad
die horses in his stables at Mt. Yer
non. He always visited his horses
before breakfast and saw them fed.
The Father of his Country kept all
sorts OF horses, from plow animals to
thoroughbreds. He was very fond Of
fox hunting and kept his own hounds.
His favorite hunter was gray, and
his last hunt was in 1885. Wash
ington was very fond of horses.
The chestnut charger which he rode
when he received the sword of Corn
wallis at Yorktown was never work
ed after the war. Washington kept
him in state at Mt. Vernon, where
the horse died in 1895.
Jefferson. like Washington, kept
the finest kind of horses. They were
his one extravaganza. He would
pay any price for fine horse. AT
his Inauguration he rode Wild Air,
his favorite saddle horse. He rode
every afternoon until within month
of his death. Jefferson kept fine
stable of carriage horses, but seldom
went driving. He was very fond of
horse racing, and never missed a
chance of attending meet when he
could get to it. He was bold and
fearless horseman, but believed in
force rather than kindness, and
liked nothing better than to fight an
unruly animal.
Adams was fond of horse racing,
but did not ride very much. He was
devoted to pedestrianism, and would
walk to the Holmead course and back
again, a distance of four miles, to see
a race. Madison kept fine stable Of
horses and was fond of grays.
Jackson was devoted to racing, and
ran and bet on his own horses.
While he was President he ran his
horses in the name of Majot Donelson.
One of them started in stake OF
$1o,o 900 a side against Commodore
Stockton's Langford. The Presi-
dents horse was favorite, and he bet
a lot of money on him, but Langford
won. So sure was Jackson that his
colt would win that he had a large
picture of him painted and hung on
the walls of the White House,
where the annual ball of the season
was given the night Of the day OF
the race.
Jackson once pardoned mail rob-
Der named Wilson, who was Under
sentence of death, because Wilson
had once informed him of job in
which one of his horses was to be pull
ed in a race near Nashville. Jack
son had bet heavily upon the horse,
and Wilson's information saved his
money. So when Wilson was con-
demned to death for robbing the mail
Jackson repaid his service. Jackson S
famous duel with Dickinson was the
outcome of a quarrel on the race
track.
Van Buren, kept a swell turnout
while he was in the White House.
His carriage was the finest seen in the
country at that time, and was per-
fectly appointed.
Harrison was very fond of horse
back riding, but did not seem to be
particular about his turn-outs. He
bought carriage at the sale OF Mr.
Paulding, Secretary of the Navy un.
der Van Buren, and used it without
removing the coat of arms OF the
former owner. While riding one day
with Henry A. Wise, of Virginia,
President Harrison criticised Mr..
Wise's carriage for its lack of com.
fort. Mr.. Wise replied that he had
bought it first hand, anyhow, and il
he did buy secondhand carriage he
would at least have the coat of arms
of the former owner erased and his
own substituted. Mr.. Harrison took
the hint, had Mr.. Paulding's crest
erased and his own put on.
Polk kept a swell turnout, beauti
fully appointed and furnished, and hi:
eouipage was one of the sights o
Washington. He always drove fou
horses.
TYLER was lover of white horses
and rode one in the Mexican War
He afterward brought this horse te
Washington and used him as saddl
horse. He was a fine looking anlma
and full of life and spirit. He follow
ed his masters remains to the grave
Tyler was so fond of white horse
that he ordered that eight OF then
should be attached to his funeral car
Pierce was a fine horseman AM
loved to ride. He was very fond OF
blind mare. and used 10 ride her abou
the streets of Washington. Barrin!
her blindness she was beautiful AMI
NAL, high spirited and fiery.
Buchanan was excessively fond c
fine carriages, horses and harness
A philadelphia harness maker ono
i tried to make him present OF
magnificent set of harness. Buchan
AN asked him what the harness wa
worth. The harness maker replie
$500. The President kept the har
ness, but insisted on paying tor II
This harness had thirty-six silve
buckles and fifty six silver mono
grams on it. Though fond of spler
did equipages, Buchanan seldom wen
driving and never rode. His niece
Miss Harriet Lane, was very fond {
riding, and he kept several saddl
horses for her use.
Lincoln did not know horse froi
a COW, and is the notable exceptio
to the great men and Presidents wh
were lovers of fine animals.
Grants love ofhorses is proverbia
He kept the best, and many OF then
J His favorite was the saddle hor:
Cincinnati, who had the cow pom
virtue of standing unhitched for a
unlimited period. Cincinnati furnisl
ed the model for the equestrian staff