The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-01

eAAS(NANA0 Green Mountain Horse association, which was held in Rutland on Mem- Brial Day, 1t was decided that the tO0-mile Trail Ride should be con- Nnued. Consequently this annual event is to be held again and will b one of the few large horse af- laifs in the East this year.
 A great many of the horse shows have already been cancelled as the lack of tires and gasoline makes 1t impossible to have @ large attend ance aE these meets. There IS also a question as to how many of the usual exhibitors would be present. Many feel that there is no justifi- cation. at this time, for keeping horses simply for show purposes and are either roughing their snow stock or using them for more prac- tica1 purposes.
 The 1O0-Mile Ride Is considerably different from an ordinary horse show as two of its chief obJecttveS are to stimulate interest in breed- tHne and to determine the type and breed best suited for saddle pur- poses. There is a very definite feel ing among many men that great number of horses will have to be brought into service before this war is over. German and Russian armies, each with over 8 mlllOn horses, make our 50,000 animals look small and the enormous pool of horses and mules that we had i'll this country at the time of the first World War has dwindled by more than iO,OO0,000. There still seems to be a place for horses in war and if they are going to be available when needed, we must go to ex- tremes. not alone in schooling and conditioning them, but also tn ad- vocating an enlarged breeding pro- gram. Another thing we must do at this time is to encourage the use of horses, for only by creating a demand for them will 8 market be developed. A farmer or breeder may feel that raising horses Is 8 patriotic thing to do, but unless 8 market can be found for them he will sooll become discouraged.
 In connection with the 1OO-mlle Trail Ride, school of instruction for civilian mounted defense groups will also be carried on. A ride similar to our 50-mile Pleasure Ride of former years will be on the pro- gram but will be in the nature of a schooling period for mounted pa trolg. It is hoped that large group will ship or ride in their horses to participate in tl11S school. Cross country rides will take place in the morning and the afternoons will be devoted to classes. These classes will include instruction in transpor- tatiCn of injured persons by means of horses, fire control, pack trip ping, map reading, orientation, and much other useful information, and we feel it will be very interesting to ell participants. ...
 A course of the above nature will give one an opportunity to have a splendid riding vacation with horsey neo1le as we'll as receiving a type of instruction that will be both inter- egtirg and useful. This instruction and plan, If carried home, may re- suit in the formation of many mounted civilian defense units and will do much to justify and encour- age the retention and purchase of saddle horses. We are in a period when the tendency is to cut out all unnecessary expenditures. Horses may seem like such an item but II we can use them for defense pur- poses. 1t becomes & patriotic duty and not a luxury. We also will be able to enjoy the good things that come for horse use and horse own- erSllip.
 The 10O-Mile Ride Is fast becom- Vng an institution and no riding event in the country has 50 in- creased in popularity. Each year, since it was first inaugurated, has seen new rides started. What is the cause of all this interest, one may ask, when many other horse activities have been on the wane? First of all 1t Is a real sporting af- fair. You pit your favorjte horse and your riding skill against John Smith and his mount, and you have just as good a chance to win as he regardless of the horses, as here is Q contest that ss judged on condi- ton and time-not on horses breeding, looks, conformation, color age, gaits or anything also. A fifty dollar cow-pony picked up at the stock yards may give better per gormance than 8 five-hundred dol lar show horse and a child of six teen may bring his horse in at the finish in better condition than a professional rider. This is what al- ways makes 1t an exciting event and many enter it year after year because they have found no other horse affair that equals 1t.