Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-01-25
A MODERN STOCK FARM.
How Horses Arc Bred and Trained in
Northern Vermont.

Newport stock farm is located just out
side OF Newport. a thriving town in
Northern Vermont, says the New Eng
land Farmer. Tho farm is situated with
| in the limits OF the village of West Derby,
| the two villages being separated by only
| narrow arm of Lake Memphremagog
connecting u bay with the lake proper.
| The farm Is situated on u beautiful plat
! eau overlooking the lake with u com
| handing view of the surrounding country.
| The buildings, which comprise one and
| one-half acres of land, are all new. hay
! ing been completed November Isl. 1909
| They include 1000 feet in length of roof
| age. The house, which is GO rect IN
| length, 90 feet in width and two stories in
| height, is surrounded by beautiful
grounds, with broad vorandas, and Is
| finished with all modern improvements.
! The large maple trees surrounding the
! buildings give to them an appearance of
! having been built many years. This was
| formerly a site of one OF the early set
! tiers. An excellent cut of the buildings
is given on the first page of The New
| England Farmer.
The large barn, which Is 100 feet in
. length with a row of stalls on either
side, comprising an office. harness room.
| the center, and is fitted with steam heat,
electric lights and all of the fittings for
a flrst-class training stable. In the rear
and ut the north of the large barn is
u shed 200 feet in length and IA feet in
width, which is intended for walking and
cooling horses on cold and stormy days.
The building connecting the house with
the barn is n carriage house GO feet In
( length and two stories in height. the up-
, per part being used for the storage OF
wagons, etc. In the rear OF the carriage
house and connected by a bridge with the
large barn is a building for the storage
Of manure. and still farther north is a
| building known as the tool barn, which Is
30xGo feet for the storage of farm implc-
wonts, etc. Beyond this is barn zoe
feet in length used for the brood mares,
colts. etc. These buildings are so ar
ranged that a large yard is enclosed with
paddocks, etc, which are entirely protect
ID against wind and storms. All who
have seen the arrangement of these
| paddocks say they are the best they
have ever seen for our changeable eli
mate. Another peculiar feature of the
buildings is that the arrangements such
there is absolutely no shoveing of snow
and the horses can be hitched and un.
hitched without exposure to storm.
The farm comprises between 200 ant
300 acres of land with meadow sufficient
to provide the stock with hay besides
some of the very best pasture land thai
Is to be found in northern Vermont. The
pastures have been selected from LAND
which was high and the soil of such 6
nature as would tend to give bone anC
substance to stock being raised upon it
The proprietors of Newport stock farm
arc I. O. Blake and DR.. ]. II. Gaines
Mr.. Blake, whose home Is in New Yorl
city, was born in the town of Derby about
80 years ago and went to New York a:
a boy, where he became successful II
business. He comes to Newport with hi'
family every summer season. DR.. Gaines
who is about the same age as Mr.. Blake
. was born in Berkshire and after spend
ing his early life upon farm secured ,
medical education and lives in Newport
, Both Of these men being brought up oil
a farm and both being lovers of horse
during their early days, they naturall,
took up the breeding OF the same in
: small way for recreation. Several year
ago they began to buy and own SOM
stock together. and in 1900 Island Wilkes
> 21S y. owned jointly by them, was taker
|
Used with other horses as the Newpor
, stock farm. Finding it necessary to Sc
cure large accommodations the presen
site was selected by them, and the bust
ness was continued under the name 0
the Newport stock farm.
Mr. Rlake's first choice for hroo
mare was the mare which he raced un
der tho name of Nellie c.. giving he
record of 225i.. After her racing day
were over she produced for him the goo
race horse which was campaigned by tn
farm in 1904 and secured n record OF 2:l2>
> under the name Of Octave y. The secon
foal of hers to obtain n record was tn
mare which was raced by the farm dur
ing the past season under the name o
Fire Fly, obtaining a record of 2;2i' .
placing her dam in the great brood mar
list.
The first selection made by DR.. Game
for n brood mare was the mare nov
known as Bonita Wilkes, 2:29l.. She wa
purchased for breeding purposes; wa
bred as n three year-old and trained dur
= ing the season following. and after pro
. ducing two foals. the first OF which wa
Amber Wilkes. 2:24I and Island wilkes
< Jr., 2:o6i4, she was then given recor'
= of 2:29l. and has since been kept 70
breeding purposes She has produced il
I all nine foals, five by Island Wilkes
: 2139i, the first of which was lslan'
Wilkes, Jr, 2O6ti The other four ar
| very promising and bid fair to make he
one of the great brood mares. The Keep
ing capacity Of the farm is about 10 head
The methods of breeding, developin!
and training at the farm are somewha
different from those of most other breed
ing establishments. No stallion viii b.
kept for breeding purposes that has no
already a low record or can show hi
ability for taking one. The proprietor
do not believe in breeding from stallion
that have been over raced and over work
ed but from stations that were colt trot
tiers and lust raced sufficiently to SHOW
that they possessed race-horse qualities
Only stations have been selected tina
were absolutely sound that were no
afraid Of objects: that Were perfect!
kind. and all possessing good action Will
great style and beauty. In the selection
of brood mares tho same rule which the,
adopted in the selection of their stallion
holds good, and they have not been So
, lectcd 50 much upon their blood lines a
upon tho qualities which they wish Il
reproduce. The large collection of sound
rugged colts which the farm has alread!
+ produced with the large number which
can already show extreme speed woul'
indicate that they We're breeding IN tn