Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-13
The Popular Horse
By Frederic ]. HaskiI,

Washington, D. c.. Oct. 10.-The
popularity OF the horse, temporarily
eclipsed by the motor car, has sud
denly been revived with renewed en-
thusiasm. More big horse shows and
race meets have been held this year
than ever before, the purses have been
higher and the horses entered Of un-
precedented quality. Private race
tracks are now "a feature of many
large country estates, and are becom-
ing necessary to the success of every
fashionable country club.
This renaissance of the horse may
be traced to several causes. In the
first place, like all i1explicable
things, it is supposed to have been
brought about by the European war.
During the past two years many IA
nous racing stables Of Europe have
been sold to help the cause. A large
number OF thoroughbreds that had
figured conspicuously on the historic
race courses of the continent. were
placed In cavalry service, and still
more were sold to Americans. After
a few milli0naiIes had set the fashion
by importing Noted race horses from
Europe, the demand for them became
tremendous. It is estimated that over
two hundred famous steeds were i'm.
ported from the British isles alone
this year, and the state of Virginia,
which has great reputation for
breeding exceptional horses. has been
stripped Of almost every thorough
bred over i've years old.
The rivalry among these millionaire
horsemen in acquiring horses is in
tense. Horse experts are employed
as scouts to scour the whole coun-
try for colts. Occasionally in small
Virginia village stranger from the
north will appear, ostensibly interest
ed In farm Investments, and inciden.
tally in horses. Maybe the horse he
chooses to buy will be carriage
horse that has never attracted much
attention in the village, or perhaps 1t
will be harnessed to a plough. Any
way, 1t Is bought at what all the vii
layers consider a fair price and it is
not until some months later that the
farmer recognizes his horse as the
pet thoroughbred of some millionaire
sportsman and the winner OF blue
ribbon in an amateur horse meet.
OF course, a horse Is not taken d.
rectly from plough and entered in
. contest. 1t requires weeks, some
times months, Of hard drilling and
training before he is in a At condi-
ton for 1t, but the fact remains that
a Virginia plough horse sold to horse
scout for hundred dollars, has some
times taken blue ribbon at Ave hum
dred. Last year saw so many of these
horse deals, however, that now the
average Virginia farmer is apt to over
value his worst horse a hundred per
cent at the first approach Of a strang-
or.
Virginia il the greatest horse state
I'm the union, although It were wise
not to venture such an opinion In Ken
lucky. The two states 60 in for wide
ly different types-Kentucky special
ICES In racing horses and Virginia in
hunters-but IN recent years great
stimulus has been given the Virginia
horse breeding industry by its horse
show circuit. Beginning with Lees
burg at the opening OF the season,
horse shows are held at Upperville,
Manassas, Warrington. Culpepper.
Charlottesville, Orange, Front Royal,
Berryville. Virginia ard Charlestown,
West Virginia.
The Virginia horse show is unique
institution very different from the
amateur race track Of the north. It
is the great social event OF the sea-
son and at the same time 1t has its
business aspects. Uusually few To-
cal citizens incorporate themselves in
to company to guarantee the purses
and send out circulars and posters an
the opening date Of. the horse
show. On the day before it starts. the
horses are led into town by their own
ers and put In the stalls established
along the horse ring. Most of them
come from the surrounding farms and
villages. but there are also exhibitors
at these shows from as far north as
New England and as far west as Kan
sas City.
On the appointed day as soon as the
sun Is up the country folk begin to ar
rive In large numbers from every d.
rection. In huge farm wagons and