New-York tribune., 1905-11-17
THE AMERICAN HORSE.

The sustained popularity Of the horse show Is
cause for qualification, though 1t Is not IN the
least surprising. few years ago there was
much talk originated by bicycle enthusiasts ana
developed to fulness by devotees OF motor We
hcIes about 'horseless age, when the 90
NESTLE eouine race should become all but extinct
It was foolish and visionary, Of course, though
II did find some credulous listeners and time
has effectuaIly disclosed its vanity. Despite Its
mechanical competitors, the horse is steadily
growing In favor and In interest, and also III
use; and it will doubtless continue to do SO. it
has many uses, both for business ana Ior pieas-
ure which it is not to be expected any mecnahi-
cal device can ever satisfactorily discharge, just
as with all our development of labor saving
machinery hand labor is still and doubtless VIII
always be necessary.
While the success of the horse snow, year
after year is agreeable TO contemplate, however,
it would be much more pleasing if more atten-
ton were. paid there to the pre-eminent Ameri-
can type of horse. We mean Of course, lne
trotter In all the history of mans improve
ment of the lower order of animated lie tnere
is probably no chapter more noteworthy or inore
creditabe or that signifies more FOR the practlcai
advantage of mankind than that wnlch tells OF
the development of the American trofting morse.
It would probably be judicious to consider that
animal the most truly valuable of ali equine
engaging characteristics. The thoroughbred
has q longer and more picturesque history and
is of much value But for "all around service,
for business use and for pleasure driving, ror
work and for play, 1t is outranked by the trot-
for If is true that in the changed status Of the
horse which is being brought about by the In
yentfo1 and introduction Of motor vehicles the
trotter viii have to meet stronger competition
than fhe runner Nevertheless, the time will not
come in this generation or the next when this
typicaI American horse will be conspicuously
less useful than now.
into the vexed questions of the origin or the
trotter and his influence upon other strains we
shall not enter. That way madness lies. 1ne
advocates and adversaries of Hambletonians.
Morgans Stars Clays, Messengers, Abdallahs
and what not may wage their. -wordy wars at
will Also II may be said that our trottlng
stock enters or does not enter into the numerous
other strains which so popular. All these
questions are aside from the real one. The
point is that the American trotter, not as the
Dart procenitor of ponies or hackneys or any
such thing but as trotter pure and simple is
the most useful and the most valuable or all
horses and is second to none in beauty of form
and action and in practically all the elements
of attraction Moreover it is the one type OF
horse that is distinctively American in origin
and development. Whether trottng races Will
ever at Ieast in and around NewYork. Ouuank
running races in popular and sporting" favor
NAV he questioned. At least those who are not
merely using racehorses money making ma
chimes but who take the amateurs true inter
est in the culture of the nobest of all animals,
would do we'll to give TO the typical American
horse the rank which he so abundantly deserves.