The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-01-07
Special to Farm Magazine.

Ii AhC "
- pect for a strong demand at good
prices for horses of desirable type,
no better time could be found to es-
tablish the annual Spring colt shows,
so popular and helpful in the East
ern States, as a regular Oregon
event. This plan Of fostering the
good-horse propaganda has so many
advantages that it is not possible
more than to name some of them
with the hope that this will start
owners and others to thinking on
the subject, which will doubtless re-
suit in definite action.
OF course the main thing to be
gained by colt shows is the improve
ment of horses. This improvement
will be brought about by implanting
in horsemen higher ideals of the gen.
eral and the special purpose horses,
by a%cquainting them with the char
actor!stics of colts that grow into
horses of desirable types, by in
struct1ng them in methods designed
to secure better horses, and by Gre
ating a strong public sentiment in
favor of really good horses.
Public Unframed.
Undoubtedly one of the greatest
hlndrances to the development of
pure-bred and high-grade horses Is
lack or general appreciation Of good
horses, due in a large measure to the
fact that the public is unframed In
the observation and use of the best
types. The practice of annual colt
SHOWS would go far toward correct
Ing the fault and do much to educate
the public to an understanding and
appreciation of the noblest of farm
animals. All of these things would
tend to create among farmers and
horsemen a strong incentive to pro-
duce the best types, which can be
done by keeping good brood mares
n breeding them to sires of high
quality and breeding, stunning those
OF inferior and mixed types.
1t has been found that the colt
show is also an important factor in
strengthening and directing social
and business activities. 1t is an ef-
fective means of bringing farmers
from different parts of the commu-
nifty together, when they may confer
on subjects of mutual interest, espe-
cially those related to the horse bust
ness. 1t brings large bodies of the
rural population into town, where
firmer relations are established be-
tween the farmers and the business
men of the town, and it fosters the
principle of %patronizing home indus
tries, both by farmers and merchants.
Primary Interest to Owners.
And the families OF the visitors
and of the residents of the town come
to know each other better, greatly
to the advantage Of both classes.
Even the young people mingle freely,
and especially in smaller towns learn
to value each other before the power
to do so is weakened by prejudice.
While it has been proved that colt
shows are Of great value to the peo-
pie generally, it remains true that
they are of primary and greatest in
terest to stallion owners and farm
ers; therefore the duty of organizing
and carrying on the work in connec-
ton with them rightly belongs to
these two classes of citizens.
Perhaps the most difficult step Is
the first one-creating an interest in
and a demand for the colt show.
Those who are interested may do this
by calling a meeting of their own
people and talking over the situation
fully. A temporary chairman may
be appointed and committees select
ed to attend to the various phases of
the work. These committees should
canvass the situation thoroughly
among the horse owners and the
business men.
AS the inventory Of possible mate
rial for the show progresses and as
the committees learn just what ma
terial will be available, classes may
be established and conditions for en-
try and awards agreed upon. Then
the work Of publicity should begin
to get the attention and support of
the business men and public gener-
ally.
Value Of Advertising.
In this campaign one of the most
potent forces will be the newspapers.
Newspaper men stand unfailingly by
public enterprises Of this kind and
help them along both editorially and
by many and frequent announce
ments in their news columns. Nor
should the advertising columns of