The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-30
Horses for Coronation.

His pockets bullying with pound
notes, John c. Weaver, proprietor of
the Forrest Farms. just outside of Lex
ington, KY. where the finest of coach
and carriage horses are bred. has Just
returned from London. When he went
over, a month ago or more, he took
with him 30-odd horses. He brought
back money for them.
II wish they'd have a coronation
every year" he said when asked about
I'd have taken over twice as many as
did. 1 could have sold them all, and
then some more. I've got orders for
half dozen matched pairs as it is, and
II can rake together a dozen besides,
I've notion to hurry back to Lun-
non while the market is good.
Anybody who's got a pair Of car
rage horses standing more than II
hands high can dispose of them for
spot cash just now, for the supply of
big horses for the coronation festivities
is far short of the demand. And it's
all due to the motor car, strange as
that may seem.
THE advent of the motor car put
horses out of the running for many
purposes, and the horSe-hreeding bust
ness received severe setback. Of
course, there always will be a demand
for good horses, but just now the call
is for automobiles, and horse breeders
have had to take a back seat. Lots
of them have gone out of business al
together.
'"Then along comes the coronation.
If it were possible to use motor cars
in the pageants attendant upon that
function, there would be no trouble in
getting enough to have one every week
in every city in England. but a motor
car coronation won't do just yet. Ira
dition surrounds the ceremony. and
presidents must be observed. No one
nation pageants in the same breath.
What are wanted are big-boned yet
1.-THE horses, standing II hands high.
They must have certain dignity
about them, be not too spirited for a
slow gait, with well-shaped head, car
ried high. They must be perfectly
matched teams. bays and browns pre-
ferred, blacks acceptable. whites not
wanted at any price, except they be
extraordinarily fine animals.
"Ordinarily American horses are not
in demand in England for carriage use.
They say our horses lack the aristo-
cratic appearance that is Indispensable
and result of long breeding. But
| just now they are willing to take ours,
seeing their own market has been
swept absolutely dry.
Agents OF London dealers have
been here buying horses and sending
them to England, and it was this that
gave me the idea of taking my own
animals over. I reckoned that I could
get better prices there than here, and
that, in addition, I would have the trip
over, which I needed for my health.
Il found that it was just as l had
anticipated. Where 1 could get only
5000 to $3.50 for my horses here, had
no trouble in disposing of them over
there for $500 or more. The people
there simply have got to have horses,
and they are not standing on the price.
so scarce are horses that just an
swer requirements that the agents or
foreign dealers here have been even
visiting private stables in their efforts
to induce owners to part with their
own private horses, offering high
prices for fine animals.
Zone of them told me that big
livery stableman in LONDON who owns
many public buses has rented most or
his big horses for the festive week,
getting as high as $50 foc their exclu-
sive use during that time. don't be-
lieve many of London's old families
would wish 1t to- be known that their
coaches in the coronation parade will
be drawn by bus horses, but 1t is so."-
New York Times.