Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-13
|SPORTINGNEWSI
sOO Mile Ride
Nm Horse Back
Will Test Stamina

Iyon. n. Y, OCT. IL IA. P.)-The
ia. ~ the horse world will be CEN
.'..a on the Genesee Valley from
o.,oh.r is to 20. when the annual
.,,op.l endurance ride will be held
D.b Avon as the center point of the
.,,.st. More than the usual inter-
:, 4. being manifested in the Avon
49,, this year because of the entry
!, string of pure Morgans. breed
.o.d for stamina and endurance.
\ nh. Morgans were brought from
g.. mont early in the spring by H. e.
,aI,cv,D Fretz of Alpine, Tex,
SS broncho buster and rope
ies.nn,on. with the idea of putting
.s.n, through a thorough course of
ll.;n,rq in order that they may have
.n.,v opportunity to demonstrate the
ss.liities for which their breed Is
noted. u,a. ..,s
under the auspices of the American
psmount Association in c4Inction
With several other nationN horse
..;ociations, are approved by the
Var Department, the chief of the
u.mount Service and the chief OF tie
n,reau Of Animal Industry OF the
nspartment Of Agriculture. They
"a designed to stimulate general
,,t.rest in the breeding and use of
.ood saddle horses of a general
ntilitv type, possessed of stamina
And hardness, and at the same time
s.yinp the necessary quality to
ronder them suitable for use in the
monnted service OF the United
States.
1, training for the test was made by
rr,tz after an extensive trip through
Vermont. the home of the breed. He
aid he had inspected thousands of
: sorses before making his choice of
,hs final eight. Among horses upon
rhom Fretz Is banking to uphold
IN, traditions of the Morgan breed
a, Rlack Diamond. a black gelding.
nine years old. which was discovered
nv Fretz between the shafts Of a
livery rig. ., :, =,
interest to the Avon race is the en-
try Of the winner and second place
horse OF this years Colorado en-
durance ride. This contest was
hold at Broadmoor. Colorado Springs
from July 80 to August 4, and was
won by the thoroughbred gelding
Norfolk Star, with the thoroughbred
mare Nintu, second.
Iieutenant-C Colonel Shiverick of
Avon, nationally known as a horse
man. Ia the route master for the test,
and has laid out five routes. over one
az which the participants will travel
ZACH dav of the ride. In this respect
the 1928 test differs from the four
previously held, which We're con-
Quoted over a straight away course
OF 300 miles.
In the coming contest the partici-
pants will start from Avon each day
and will he required to make sixty
miles. to a designated point and re-
turn. The riders will be obliged to
take care of their horses enroute. OK
cent for the services of a farrier if
needed. The horses will he required
10 carry minimum weight of 225
pounds, dead weight being added to
make up for weight lost by the riders
during the ride. Horses and riders
will he weighed each morning and at
nsht after each days ride.
The participants will be judged on
the morning after the completion of
the ride and will be placed on tn"
basis Of so percent for condition and
40 percent for time. The riders will
he allowed minimum of nine hours
and a maximum of II hours for each
DAYS ride. Money rewards totalinG
sl.75o will be divided among the first
ak places