Glass. Book. AlffiRIGAI^I HORSES A!-I^ HORSE BREEDING A domfl-d^ hisf»t^ o-p fhe, hot^fL. ft-ov-n i-h^ l-'e.mofesf f^tiod. in his hisiohj -f-o dd4^ . . . John Dimon J. JJi m o t\ i ^^5 .Iss g^(licatt0u. To Mr. ROBERT BONNER, THE GEEAT LOVER OF GOOD AND FAST HORSES, AND WHO, BY HIS LIBER- ALITY IN PURCHASING AT HIGH PRICES, HAS DONE MORE FOR THE EN- COURAGEMENT OP BREEDING THE "AMERICAN TROTTER" THAN ANY OTHER MAN LIVING, THIS VOLUME (WITH HIS CONSENT AND APPROVAL) IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, AS A SLIGHT TOKEN OF RESPECT, BY THE AUTHOR, JOHN DIMON. (3) CONTENTS. Pkeface, . ' 17 Introduction, 19 Author's Remarks 21 Plan op the Book, 23 CHAPTER I. THE HORSE. Embracing his birthplace — Earliest history — Advent into America — Climatic influence and food — GreeS^ythology claiming immortal- ity — The first horse-dealer of the world, 25 WILD HORSES OF AMERICA. Their origin, habits in a wild state — Males have frequent contests for su- premacy — Their modes of warfare — Origin of the Indian Pony and Mustang — Breeds and what constitutes a breed— Skill required in forming new breeds — Names of eleven distinct breeds in America, . 31 CHAPTER II. THE ARABIAN HORSE. Mahomet its founder and the first breeder of blood-horses of the world — Foundation mares for Mahomet's stud — Beautiful points of the Ara- bian—The Arabian, the foundation of the English thoroughbred — Arabian blood in the Percheron, Morgan, and Narragansett Pacer. Six distinct breeds in Arabia — History of the Liudsey's Arabian — Importation of Grand Bashaw in 1820. Importation of Ishmael Pacha in 1872 — A. Keen Richards' views on breeding the Arabian in Ken- tucky — Difficulty of obtaining good specimens in Arabia, ... 35 CHAPTER III. THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE. The oldest and best established breed of America and Europe— Breed built up on an Arabian and Barb foundation — The Darley Arabian — Definition of Thwoughhred — Imported Messenger — Imported Diomed— Imported Trustee — America's greatest sire, Lexington — Value of thoroughbred stallions — Influence of the thoroughbred in American-bred horses, 44 (5) 6 CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. THE NARRAGANSETT PACER. The origin, rise, and progress of the breed — Daniel Pearce and his Stal- lion Rambler — Imported Rambler — Rambler as a Stock-horse — Great durability of the Narragausetts — Demand for export — Narra- gansett blood in the Morgans — "Little-neck Beach," Narragansett, R. I., as a race-course for the pacer in 1720 — Mary Langworthy Southcote of York, England, as connected with the history of the Pacer, 52 CHAPTER V. THE FRENCH CANADIAN HORSE. Early Imported into Canada from France — Climatic influence on the early horses of Canada — Hardiness and utility of tlie Canadian horse — Canadian blood in the American trotter and pacer — Noted Canada horses brought to the United States — Surry, the dam of Henry Clay, was a Canadian, 56 CHAPTER VI. THE MORGAN HORSE. The Morgans strictly an American breed — Beauty and power of endur- ance — Justin Morgan the founder — Pedigree of Justin Morgan — Description of Justin Morgan — Sherman Morgan — Pedigree of Sher- man Morgan — Vermont Black Hawk, pedigree and history — Ethan Allen, his pedigree and history — Daniel Lambert, the great sire of beautiful roadsters and gentlemen's driving-horses — Daniel Lam- bert's table of honor as a sire of speed, ■ 60 CHAPTER VII. MORGAN HORSES -Continued. Woodbury Morgan — Royal Morgan — Morgan Csesar — Green Mountain Morgan — Morgans for stage purposes — Morgan horses for cavalry service — Morgans adapted to rough and hilly roads of New England — Morgans as trotters — Ripton — Last Message of Ethan Allen, . 72 CHAPTER VIII. RYSDYK'S HAMBLETONIAN. History and pedigree — The Charles Kent Mare — Imp. Belfounder — Abdallah the sire of Hambletonian — Hambletonian's Stud Career — Great Value of Horses sired by Hambletonian — Hambletonian's sons of renown, 82 CHAPTER IX. ' ALEXANDER'S ABDALLAH. Pedigree and early history — Potency in speed for generations — Sprague's Hambletonian one of his best sons — Sprague's Hambletonian sire of Gov. Sprague — Alexander's Abdallah in motion 90 CONTENTS. 7 CHAPTER X. THE ELECTIONEERS. Electioneer, the greatest trotting sire of tlie world — Superior to his sire in beauty of form and style of movement — Fully developed and natural trotter — Put to severe test by crossing on thoroughbreds — Marvin's description of Electioneer — Ability to get early and extreme speed — Electioneer's list of performers and dams of performers, . . .93 CHAPTER XI. THE BASHAWS AND CLAYS. Grand Bashaw, an Imp. Arabian, the founder of the families — Young Bashaw, the founder of the Bashaw family of American trotters — An- drew Jackson, founder of the Clay family — Green's Bashaw — The Patchens, 106 THE BLUE BULLS. Wilson's Blue Bull — His great success in the stud — Great progenitor of harness speed — List of trotters and dams of trotters sired by Blue Bull, 106 CHAPTER XII. THE AMERICAN TROTTING HORSE. As a breed — Component parts constituting the breed — Establish the American thoroughbred trotter — The American trotter as he should be bred — Breed for beauty, brains, and business — Breeding the trot- ter a progressive science — The American Trotter an American pro- duction — Chance trotters — Racing in early days — Connecticut the first State to produce the trotter — The trotting horse Yankee — The two-minute horses, 117 CHAPTER XIII. CLEVELAND BAY. Their origin and especial merits — As now bred — The demand in this country, 125 FRENCH COACH HORSE. The Government studs of France — The wonderful knee action of the French Coach horse — Color, 128 CHAPTER XIV. THE PERCHERON HORSE. Breed divided into three classes — Percheron, son of the Arabian — As a draft horse — Road qualities of the Percheron, 135 ENGLISH DRAFT OR SHIRE HORSE. Origin and history — Disposition — Importers, 137 THE CLYDESDALE HORSE. Introduced into Scotland in the 13th century— Clydesdale Society of America — Importers, 139 8 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XV. SHETLAND PONIES. The Shetland Isles — Sustained by the survival of the fittest — The purest of all breeds of ponies, 141 CHAPTER XVI. HORSE BREEDING. Principles of Breeding — Breeding a scientific study — ^^ Nature's great law — Breed for a purpose — Selection of the breed — Choice of the sire — Breed best mares only — Intelligence, beauty, and disposition very essential elements, 145 CHAPTER XVII. SELECTING BREEDING STOCK. Importance of starting right — Selecting the stallion — Influence of the dam on the foal — Stallion for stock purposes should be out of the best mares of the breed — Best age for stallions, 151 SELECTING THE BROOD MARE. Dams usually have more influence on foals than the sires — Unsound mares for breeders, 155 CHAPTER XVIII. CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION. Box Stall — Paddock — Treat kindly — Avoid undue familiarity — Feed regularly — Exercise — Avoid pampering' — Grassing — Winter ca-re — Carrots as food — Keep clear of vrorms — Controlling when in use, 159 CHAPTER XIX. CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. Getting doubtful mares in foal — Eternal vigilance price of success — The productive period — Period of gestation — Marking their foals — Use the brood mare — Stabling pregnant mares — Wheat middlings as food — Enlargement of the abdomen — Attention at foaling time — Jealous mothers, 164 CHAPTER XX. MANAGEMENT OF THE FOAL. Care of young foals — Getting to nurse — Evacuation of the bowels — In- jections — Feeding the foal — Injured by heated milk from the dam — Raising by hand — Weaning — Scant feeding deplored — Caring for weanlings — Halter breaking — Oats as food — Handling — Breaking Foals — Naming the Colt, 171 CHAPTER XXI. BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. Speed one of tlie most attractive features — Only a small portion trot fast — Breed for beauty, size, style, and action — Demand for first-class roadsters and gentlemen's drivers always in advance of supply — CONTENTS. 9 Easier to breed beauty than speed — The standard craze — The French ahead of Americans as regards general horse breeding — Selecting breeding stock — American Trotter the most modern breed — Color — Rysdyk's Hambletonian and his best sons — Mambrino Chief' — Blue Bull — Early foals preferable — Good care important, . . 177 CHAPTER XXII. OLD-TIME TROTTERS. Topgallant — Ripton — Lady Suffolk — Flora Temple — Ethan Allen — Geo. M. Patchen — Geo. Wilkes — Goldsmith Maid — American Girl — Betting on races — Dutchman — Americus — Columbus — Lady Suffolk, In Memoriam, 189 CHAPTER XXIIL FLORA TEMPLE. Pedigree and place of breeding — Sale to Wm. H. Congdon for $13 at 4 years old — Her sale to Jonathan Vielee — Sale to Geo. E. Perrin of New York city — Her first race (in 1850) — Her peculiar race against Whitehall, Delaware Maid, Napoleon, and Hiram — Her races in 1853 ' —Her sale in 1852 for $1,000 — Her 21 races in 1853 — Flora's great race against Lancet for $3,000 — Flora's sale in 1858 for $8,000 — Her best race of her life was in 1860 against Geo. M. Patchen when she won three straight heats by a throatlatch — Flora's last race was in 1861 — Flora was confiscated to the U. S. government in 1861 — Sold in 1864 for $8,000 when 19 years old, 199 CHAPTER XXIV. ETHAN ALLEN. Color and description — Breeding — A natural-born trotter — Eighteen years on the trotting turf — His great race against Dexter in 1867 — Crowned King of the Morgans — King of all trotting stallions of his day — His success in the stud — His death in 1876 — Ethan Allen, In Memoriam, 209 ■ GOLDSMITH MAID. Her breeding and pedigree — Sold at 8 years for $350 — Her purchase by Alden Goldsmith — Sold in 1^70, when 13 years old, for $35,000 — Her races in 1871 — In 1874 she lowered the trotting record of the world to 2:14 — Trotted in 2:14 at 20 years old — Retired to the breeding stud in 1876 — Goldsmith Maid, In Memoriam, . . . 211 CHAPTER XXV. GEORGE M. PATCHEN. Foaled 1849 — Pedigree — Distanced by Ethan Allen 1858 — Unfinished race with Flora Temple in 1859 — Defeated Ethan Allen in 1860 — His last race 1860 with Flora Temple — Died in 1864 — Sire of the campaigners Geo. M. Patchen, Jr., and Lucy 215 10 CONTENTS. GEORGE WILKES. Founder of the Wilkes family — Pedigree — Raised by hand — First trotted under name of Robt. Fullingham — Defeated Ethan Allen, 1862, winning $10,000 — Defeated Lady Thorne in 1868 — His record 2:22 made 1868— Died in Kentucky in 1882, aged 26 years — Roll of honor, 216 CHAPTER XXVI. DEXTER. Place of breeding and pedigree — Recognized "king of the trotting turf" — Commenced turf career in 1864 and ended in 1867 — Timed a sep- arate mile in 2:16 in his great race with Ethan Allen — Gen. Grant's ride after Dexter — Died in 1888 at 30 years, 221 AMERICAN GIRL. Pedigree and birth — Her sale for $3,500 — Won many thousand dollars in races — Died in harness — Monument erected to her memory, . . 223 CHAPTER XXVII. THE FIVE GREAT TROTTING BROOD MARES OF THE WORLD. Green Mountain Maid : Dam of nine in 2:30 list — Two in 2:20 — One in 2: 20| — Dam of the great Electioneer, with 1.55 trotters in the list — Pedigree, 226 Beautiful Bells : Pedigree — Dam of seven in 2:30 list — Dam of six- teen foals, 227 Miss Russell: Pedigree — Dam of nineteen foals — Dam of Maud S., 2:08|, etc. — Canadian blood mingled with thoroughbred in ped- igree, . • 227 Dolly : Pedigree — Dam of three great sires — Dam of Czarina — Object lesson for breeders, 228 Alma Mater : Pedigree — Dam of eight 2:30 trotters — Dam of Alcan- tara — Threw trotters to six different stallions, 228 CHAPTER XXVIII. BREAKING AND TRAINING COLTS. Educate vs. breaking — First lessons to teach — Bitting — Teach " whoa " — Give short lessons — Reward good behavior — Hitching double — Patience required — Kicking — Shying — Confidence — Training for draft — Train in line, 229 CHAPTER XXIX. TRAINING FOR SPEED. High-bred and high-mettled most easily educated — Give lessons on track, street, or road — Early development of speed — Watch temper and disposition — Short brushes recommended — Don't overwork — Skel- eton wagon — The mouth — Pulling — The check, .... 236 CONTENTS. 11 CHAPTER XXX. TRAINING VICIOUS HORSES. Old English method — Biting, kicking, and balking — Patience and firm- ness required — Causes of balking — The cord — Isolation for balkers — Kicking in harness — Checking — Biting, Rarey's method of curing — War Bridle — Pulling on the halter — Shying — Pawing in stall, . 242 CHAPTER XXXI. TRAINING CIRCUS HORSES. Height of perfection in training — Skillful education — Mild treatment best — Sensible to applauds of the audience — High prices of well- trained ring-horses, 353 CHAPTER XXXII. FEEDING AND STABLE MANAGEMENT. Value of different foods — Neatness and cleanness — Change of food nec- essary — Treat kindly — Indian corn — Watering — Overfeeding — Corn meal — Flax seed — Roots — Light and ventilation — Blankets, 256 CHAPTER XXXIII. MANAGEMENT OFTEAMS ON THE FARM AND ON THE ROAD. Don't rush in the morning — Good vs. poor teamsters — Don't yell — Don't swear — Noon feed — Groom properly — Food — Blankets, etc , 262 CHAPTER XXXIV. MANAGEMENT QF ROAD AND DRIVING HORSES. Start out moderate — Long distance driving — Water frequently — Check- ing — Hitching to buggy — Whip — Feeding on the road — Short dis- tance driving — Have reins well in hand, . . . . . . 266 CHAPTER XXXV. HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. Author as a judge in races — The trainer — The driver — The swipe — Big-head — Early vs. Late Training — Toe weights — Jogging — The Mouth — Stabling — Treating a warm horse — Time to succeed, . 271 CHAPTER XXXVI. BUYING AND SELLING HORSES. Requisite qualification — Location — Suavity — Expert on horses — Buy- ing for the market — Showing sale horses — The coachman, . . 281 CHAPTER XXXVII. SWAPPING HORSES AND HORSE JOCKEY TRICKS. Author's experience in trade — Brighton Market — Swapping with a minister — Putting off for slight faults — My neighbor's horse-trade — Getting a fitty one, ' . . . 289 12 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXXVIII. DENTITION AND AGE AS SHOWN BY THE TEETH. Description of teeth at different ages — Number of a full set — Classes — Bishoping — Explanatory cuts — Shedding — Full mouth — General signs of old age — Comparative age of man and horse — Great age of horses — Zoologists' claim, 300 CHAPTER XXXIX. THE LANGUAGE AND SAGACITY OF THE HORSE. Author's experiences — Old Dobbin — Nellie Bly — Lady Barebones — Fanny Fern — Cora Linn — Fanny Kenyon — Maggie Dimon — Bel- mont Maid — Golden Rule — Ruf us Molburn's Mare, . . . 308 CHAPTER XL. GRAY HORSES. The White Turk — Places White Turk — Imported Messenger — Harris' Hambletonian — Gray Eagle — Crack regiment of the British army — On the American turf — Kitty Bayard — Emma B. — Joe Brown — Miss Russell — Pilot Medium 316 EXHIBITION OF HORSES. The first National in Springfield, Mass., in 1853, 319 CHAPTER XLI. THE HORSE'S FOOT. The Wall — The Sole — The Frog — The Bars — Coffin-bone — Pedal bone 320 SHOEING HORSES. First introduced into England, A.D. 1060 — Public shoers should be re- quired by law to understand the business — Injuries by bad shoeing numerous — Leveling and balancing — No foot, no horse — Never pare the sole or frog — Fit the shoe to the foot — The clip — Use of the rasp in shoeing — Fiber shoes, 324 CHAPTER XLII. THE CHECK REIN. Taut checking injurious — The Over-draw check — Study the natural beauty of the horse — Stumbling, 332 CHAPTER XLIII. A BRIEF HISTORY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE. Necessity the mother of invention — First veterinary school of the world, Lyons, France, 1761— First in England, 1795 336 QUACK MEDICINES. Generally well advertised — Opinionated grooms — Veterinary quacks, . 340 CONTENTS. 13 CHAPTER XLIV. GIVING MEDICINE. Medicine best in balls — Dimon's Spavin Cure — Dimon's Colic Remedy — Dimon's Black Oil — Liniments — Ointment — Salve — Dimon's Liniments — Dimon's Condition powders — Dimon's Leg-vpash, . . 345 SYMPTOMS OF DISEASES. The Pulse — The Ears — Membrane of the nose — Eyes — Mouth — Breathing — Skin — Flanks — Drooping of the head — Lying down — Pointing with nose and foot, 348 CHAPTER XLV. HORSE AILMENTS AND HOW TO DOCTOR THEM. Bone Spavin — Bronchitis — Brittle Hoof — Blindness — Blistering — Bots — Cataracts — Contraction of Hoof — Colic — Capped Hock — Curbs — Cough — Corns — Distemper — Diarrhoea — Drying the Sweat — Fever — Fistula — Founder — Fits — G-alls — Glanders, . 351 CHAPTER XLVI. HORSE AILMENTS AND HOW TO DOCTOR THEM- Continued. Heaves — Inflammations — Indigestion — Lameness — Lampas — Lung Fever — Lice — Locked Jaw — Mange — Proud Flesh — Pleuro Pneumonia — Poll Evil — Quitor — Roaring — Ringbone — Scratches — Stumbling — Shoe Boil — Slavering — Seatons — Strains — Sprains — Surfeit — Splint — Stocking — String Halt — Sweeney — Thrush — Tumors — Tail Rubbing — Thick Water — Thoroughpin — Thumps — Wind Galls — Worms, 375 CHAPTER XLVII. MISCELLANEOUS. Gentlemen horsemen — To become famous — Castration — Conditioning — To administer chloroform — ^ Significance of the Bay color — Dock- ing — Warranty — Runaway to stop — Trotting standard — Pacing standard — Rules for laying out tracks — Rules of admission, . . 400 CHAPTER XLVIII. The World's Fastest Records — Fastest Records, All ways of going — Breeding of the fastest horses — Tables of fastest records, . . 411 APPENDIX. Giving names, description, characteristics, etc., of upwards of one hun- dred of the author's most noted horses — Author's concluding re- marks, etc., 435 IE"DEX TO ILLUSTEATIOl^S. Age as shown by Teeth, 301-304 Agricola, 137 American Trotter, . , 265 Arabian Horse, 35 Author, Frontispiece. Bayard, 236 Black Hawk, . . . ., 117 Blue Bull, . . 108 Canadian Horse, . 55 Check Reins, 332-334, 406 Clamps for Castration, 403 Cleveland Bay Horse, . . . . 125 Clydesdale Stallion, 139 Contracted Foot, 323 Corn Illustrated, . . 364 Daniel Lambert, 177 Dentition and Age Illustrated, 301-304 DiMON, John, . . . . . . . .• . Frontispiece. Disease {Illustrated Cuts), 352, 344, 368 DocKLNG {Three Cuts), 406 English Shire Horse, 137 Ethan Allen, 209 Flora Temple .199 Foot Contracted, 323 Foot Showing Corn, 364 Foot ready for Shoe, . . . ' 325 French Coach Horse, . . . _ . ' 128 General, 281 Green Mountain Morgan, 145 Green Mountain Maid, 225 Group of Shetland Ponies, 171 Goldsmith Maid, 211 Hambletonian, 81 Horse Illustrated, 336, 368 Hocks Illustrated 363 Imported Messenger, 43 Intact, 128 Ishmael Pacha 35 Justin Morgan, 59 (15) 16 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. La Canadienne 65 La Ferte, 135 Lady Suffolk, 195 Leg, Showing Arteries, etc., 353 Leg, Showing Pastern, etc. 354 Marmion, 125 Messenger, 43 Motion 271 Overdraw Check, 333-334, 406 Pasterns, etc 354 Percheron 256 Percheron Stallion, Imp. La Ferte, 135 Prince Rudolph 139 Profile op head and face, 305 RoBT. McGregor, 141 Romulus, 25 Rysdyk's Hamhletonian, 81 Satellite, 151, 265 Sherman Morgan, 72 Shetland Ponies, 171 Shetland Stallion, 141 SiCELETON of THE HoRSE, 336 Spavin {Illustrated) 351 Sound Foot ready for Shoe, . 325 Stockton King, 93 Teeth showing Age, 301-304 The Author Frontispiece. The Check-rein, 332-334, 406 Typical Morgan Horse, 145 Under Surface of Foot, 323 Victoria, 163 Vermont Black Hawk, 117 PREFACE IN presenting this book to the public, I wish to say that I have no hobby or pet theory to advertise, but have striven to give, in a condensed form, all that I know of this noble and useful animal, the horse, after having made him a study for more than half a century ; embracing what I have learned of him from history, both verbal and written, and from observa- tion and experience, as well. This said experience embraces a period of nearly sixty years ; during which time I have ridden, driven, worked, bred, handled, trained, bought, sold, traded, castrated, and doctored, perhaps no less than five thousand animals. I have owned and handled for stock purposes some quite good stallions, and in all cases of a quality to materially improve the horse stock of the section in which they stood for service. I have been personally acquainted with many of the most noted horsemen of America for the last forty years, and knew most of the old time notable trotters; but after all, as my friend, the late Dr. Levi Herr, once said : " The practical and experienced, as well as the aged horsemen and breeders, are under the tuition of professional lawyers, such as ," naming several of that time, — "who have learned more by studying law on horsemanship, breeding, training, etc., than we who have made a life study of the same. They have sud- denly jumped their professions and are now professors of breed- ing, training, and horsemanship in full." My own experience with horses, in both the United States and Canada, embraces castration, conditioning, and many years of general veterinary practice which has proven very success- ful, and I believe in all cases satisfactory to my patrons. Still, I am not a professional veterinary surgeon, sporting a diploma ; neither am I a professional driver in races. I have bred many 3 (17) 18 PREFACE. good and fast roadsters with breeding good enough for fast records, yet I have never entered a horse in a trotting race for money or bet on the results of a horse race in my life. We measure genius not merely by a man's social status but by the "emjDire of his ideas," the results which they enforce and the benefits which inure through them to the world. I have had a long-cherished wish to be in some way a benefactor to my country, and believe by giving to the breeding public my views founded on so many years of study, observation, and practical experience, I can best accomplish that end. I virtually commenced this book in 1866 (some 28 years ago). I have been greatly assisted in this work, as to inform- ation, etc., and especially as to the true pedigree of Justin Morgan, by such gentlemen as the Messrs. McClellan of Wood- stock, Conn, (father, uncle, and cousins of the late Gen. Geo. B. McClellan), and other gentlemen of Connecticut and Massa- chusetts. Should I attempt to narrate one-half of what has been told me by such venerable horsemen, or to produce one-quarter of my correspondence with such persons, that matter Avould of itself make a book double the size of this ; consequently, I con- fine myself to the facts gathered as being of more importance to my readers than to oblige them to wade through tlie waters that I have passed through in order to gather them. As to the illustrations contained herein, I have endeavored to give the true likeness of a few of the most noted horses mentioned, and that of myself, the author, thinking that these may be both interesting and instructive to my readers ; but have refrained from tilling up the book with illustrations for- eign to the object of the work for the sake of making an unnecessarily large and high-priced book. I have been too much of an investigator and too liberal in my views to get rich in this world, but have endeavored to so live that after my death my children might feel proud of being the sons and daughters of JOHN DIMON. INTRODUOTIOR ONE of the first questions naturally asked by the would- be purchaser and reader of this book will be : " Who is Dimon, and what does he know about horses? Is he a prac- tical horseman, oi^a mere theorist like so many others, who, in their eagerness to teach, have so long attempted to teach that of which they knew so little ? " This country, for years past, has been literally flooded with " horse literature," some of which has been of a character that will require years of careful teaching to unteach what it has taught. "Well, who is Dimon, the author of this book?" It is John Dimon, born on Mount Hope Farm, Bristol, K. I., near the spot where that great Indian warrior, the chief of the Nar- ragansetts, — King Philip, — wks captured. Born in 1828; his ancestors were natural horsemen, one of whom was the founder of a breed of horses in this country, known as the Narragan- sett Pacer. This ancestor was an Englishman, and belonged to one of the oldest horse-breeding and horse-loving families of England at the time of the improvement of the English horse by the introduction of the Arabian and Barb blood in the days of the reign of Queen Anne. '' Well, is John Dimon, the author of this book, capable of teaching the world as regards the horse?" From his earliest recollection the author was an ardent admirer of live stock in general, and the horse m particular. Memory recalls the time when but five years old his favorite child's playthings were feathers of fowls and birds, which he, in his childish imagina- tion, designated as horses and cattle of different classes, accord- ing to their shape, etc. For picture books, those containing (19) 20 INTRODUCTION, the pictures of horses and other animals were the ones most desirable. From that time on he has ever been a keen observer, a deep thinker, a practical caretaker, handler, breeder, dealer, trainer, and doctor, of this, to him, the most favorite animal of the world, the horse ; and in giving to others this life-long experi- ence, it seems clearly evident that he Wiust be capable of teach- ing, and that his teachings, as presented in this book, cannot be otherwise than instructive and profitable. AUTHOE'S EEMAEKS. AS acknowledgments received of my knowledge of horses and my ability to judge, care for, and give instructions relative to, at different periods, I will mention a few, as perhaps not being out of place here. In 1855, when a young man of twenty-seven years, I was unanimously appointed a judge of horses in the stallion class at the United States Agricultural Society's Fair, held in Bos- ton, Mass., and where Ethan Allen and many other noted stal- lions of that day were exhibited. At the outbreak of the civil war in America, in 1861, I was offered a lieutenant's commission to go out with the First Rhode Island Cavalry, as general superintendent of horses of that cavalry. In 1870, on the occasion of acting as mounted escort to the President of the United States, Gen. G-rant, on his memorable Fourth of July visit to Woodstock, Conn., as the guest of Henry C. Bowen, of the New York Independent, at a halt on our line of march from Putnam to "Woodstock, I was intro- duced to President Grant by Mr. Bowen, as being one of the enterprising young men of Windham county. The President remarked that I was mounted on a good animal which he would wager was a Morgan. Mr. Bo wen's reply was: "Mr. Dimon is considered one of the best horsemen in this State, and if he rides a poor horse it is not for want of judgment in selecting," In 1872, during the time of the great wide-spread epidemic among horses called "epizootic," which for a time prostrated nearly all the horses in the country, and which proved fatal to so many, I had under my charge no less than twenty good ones, (21) 22 author's remarks. representing at that time not less than ten thousand dollars, among which was the imported thoroughbred stallion, Hamp- ton Court, and other notables of that period, which were all more or less affected by the disease. I was my own doctor and saved them all ; and, what is more, they all recovered sound, while so many throughout the land that survived at all were more or less worthless ever after. In 1880 I served on committee of stallions at the State Fair of Kentucky, going from Connecticut for the purpose, and at the greatest stallion exhibition Kentucky had ever made up to that time. In 1881 I served the IS'ew England Agricultural Society as chairman of committee on mares and colts, and all geldings and fillies, at their greatest fair ever held in Worcester, Mass. Another great compliment of my life was to be told in writing by the President of a Farmer's Institute, in Canada, on the occasion of being invited by the Institute to read a paper on horses before them at their winter meeting of 1886, in the city of Hamilton, Ontario : " But few men in Canada are com- petent to handle this subject at all, and perhaps no man in Ontario as capable as yourself ; and all the executive commit- tee would esteem it a personal favor if you could kindly grant our request." Again, on the occasion of my reading a well-received paper before the Indiana Horse Breeder's Convention in the cit}" of Indianapolis, in 1893, the "horse papers" spoke of me as a "venerable horseman, well versed in ancient horse history." If not as well versed in modern as ancient horse history, it is not for lack of study, observation, and a desire to keep up with the times. I know that proffered knowledge is often of- fensive, and in horses and horse breeding particularly so ; and the man who dares advocate what he knows to be true, but unknown to others, must have strong moral courage with actual knowledge. author's remarks. 23 THE PLAN OF THE BOOK. The object of the author in planning this book was to have it so arranged that the breeder, farmer, teamster, liveryman, horse student, and, in fact, anyone desirous of obtaining yiform- ation of any kind concerning the horse, whether in relation to his breeding and the different breeds, or to feeding, training, shoeing, doctoring, use, and general management, can readily find the information desired so arranged under its proper head- ings as to be easily come-at-able. In treating of diseases and their remedies, the author has endeavored to use the English language void of technicalities, and made as plain and easily understood as possible. Perhaps not so plain that "he who runs may read; and the wayfaring man, though a fool, may not err therein," but so plain that the average farmer and the average farmer's son may find and readily understand the desired information sought in relation to any subject connected with the horse from long before his advent into the world on to the time of his death. A horse text-book, in fact, relating to all subjects connected with the horse, from his earliest history down through all ages to the present time. The horseman's everyday book, which may be profitably consulted every day in the year. The standard authority on horses, embracing all knowledge necessary for the instruction of the breeder, owner, and student, but not entering into racing and race records, except in individual cases, as connected with breeding, and to give the world's fastest records in all ways of going and the fastest trotting and pacing of animals of all ages from one to five years to January 1, 1895. CHAPTEE I. THE HORSE. Embracing his birthplace — Earliest history — Advent into America — Cli- matic influence and food — Greek mythology claiming immortality — First horse dealer — Wild horses of America — Origin, habits, etc. — Origin of the Indian pony, bronco, and mustang — Breeds — Skill re- quired in breeding — Classification of breeds. TO write a history of the horse is like writing the history of kings, and in many instances the history of kings and rulers, in both ancient and modern times, is closely inter- woven with that of the horse. As to the special country that can, by right, claim the proud honor of being the birthplace of this noble animal, we must accept some indirect — though quite reasonable — testi- mony, fixing Africa as his original l;ome, Africa, alone, being the parent country of the Zebra and Quagga, in many respects his kin; although Egypt is the country in which mention is first made of him some 3,600 years ago. The earliest monumental records of Egypt which give any clue to the use of the horse are about 1900 years B. C, where he is pictured as drawing chariots used in war. From the writings of early Greek historians it is evident that horses have been used in Greece since about that time, so that we have quite a connected history of the horse for about 3,800 years. The Bible, being the most ancient, and perhaps the most authentic, of all existing ancient histories, fails to mention the horse until the reign of Pharaoh as King of Egypt. Although in the history of Abraham we find frequent mention of the ass, the camel, of flocks and herds, of oxen and sheep, yet no allusion to the horse is made until the time of Joseph, the (25) 26 THE HORSE. Syrian, who, as Pharaoh's manager in the time of the great Egyptian famine 1707 years B. C, exchanged bread-stuff for liorses with the Egyptian cultivators and stock breeders, thus placing himself on record as the first horse dealer in history. At the death of Joseph's father, Jacob, we read that his funeral was attended by both chariots and horsemen. Job's description of the equine monarch upwards of 3,400 years ago is familiar to most of us. Although man was given " dominion over all beasts of the field" it was only after long acquaintance and trial that the horse was subdued to his will. At first he was only driven before the war chariot ; later, he was ridden in battle and ap- pears to have been speedily adopted for use in battle, and since which time, during all these 3,385 years, the war horse has been the right arm of a mighty power on hard contested bat- tle fields of nearly all nations and in nearly all climes. The first account we have of horses being used in war was by one of the Pharaohs, King of Egypt, when he pursued the children of Israel in their escape from Egyptian bondage, with "A thousand horse and men to ride, With flowing tail and flying mane ; A thousand horse, the wild, the^^free, All buried in the deep, Red Sea." This chariot cavalry goes on record as the first in history and with very disastrous results, 1,491 years B. C, or 3,385 years ago. The shepherd kings of Egypt, whose origin is unknown, introduced him into Lower Egypt, which afterwards became his principal breeding district, from whence he gradually be- came introduced into Arabia and other Asiatic countries. The first we know of his advent into the Xew World, and the first importation into America for stock purposes was by Columbus in 1493 — some four hundred years ago — thus plac- ing Columbus on record as the first importer of this animal into this country. The first horses ever landed in the United States were im- THE HORSE. 27 ported to Florida in 1527 by Cabeza de Vaca, but of this im- portation — 42 in number — none survived. The next importation was by De Soto from Spain, and to wliicli importation is doubtless attributed the origin of the wild horse of Texas and the prairies,^r a race of horse which are to this day strongly marked with the characteristics of the Spanish blood. In 1608 the French introduced horses into Canada, where the present race of Canadian horses, though degenerated in size owing to climatic influences, still show sufficiently distinct the blood of the Norman and Brittain breeds. In 1609 there was a small importation of six horses and one stallion from England to Jamestown, Va., where in 1657 the importance of increasing the stock of this valuable animal became of such recognized importance that an act was passed prohibiting its exportation. 'New York received its first importation of horses in 1625^ imported from Holland by the Dutch West India Company. They were of the Flanders breed, from which descended the Conestoga horse of Pennsylvania. In 1629 the plantations of Massachusetts Bay received its first importation of horses from England. The wild horses of the plains of South America and of the great prairies of ]N"orth America are undoubtedly descendants of parents turned loose by the Spanish at the abandonment of Buenos Ayres in 1775. Another opportunity for such an origin was furnished in the "bloody wars" of Mexico and Peru, the issues of which, in many cases, were disastrous to the Spaniards. Consequently, the war horses whose riders were slain could have made a break for liberty, and rapidly propagated their species on the vast, luxuriant plains, so well provided by Nature with food^ water, genial climate, and the absence of beasts of prey with power to contend with so formidable an enemy. De Soto also had a large cavalry in his expedition in which he discovered the Mississippi Kiver and found a grave in 28 THE HORSE. its bosom; and when his men returned home in frail boats built by themselves, they undoubtedly left their horses behind them ; thus they too probably became a factor in the produc- tion of these once great and mighty herds of wild horses of the plains. In a state of nature the same uniformity that now charac- terizes the buffalo, the elk, and the deer families belonged to the horse. The ponderous English cart horse, the fleet runner, the fast trotter, and the diminutive pony are all descended from the same original type. Climatic influence and food have worked wonders in making the vast difference at present between the Shetland pony, occupying the bleak, barren, and tempestuous isles — lying in the latitude of 59 and 60 degrees — north of Scotland, scanty herbage, and long, cold winters have dwarfed the horses of that country to the most diminutive of all ponies, while from the same originals reared for centuries on the rich and nutritious herbage and grains of, and in the mild climate ten degrees further south on the European coast, we find the immense draft horses of Flanders and Normandy. While climatic and other influences have done so much to cause the divergence which now exists in races once uniform, selections by man have also been at work, in some cases co-op- erating with the influences of climate, thereby hastening the transformation in some cases and counteracting it in others. "We have an illustration of this in the horses of Canada. It is quite evident that if the causes that have given us the little, tough pony of the Province of Quebec were continued without interruption for a succession of generations, hastened on by selections of breeding stock with that object constantly in view, we would, in due course of time, have created a race as diminutive in size as the pony of the Shetland Isles. As has been said : " We find a very striking illustration of divergences from a type singularly uniform in the case of the domestic pigeon, of which there are nearly three hundred THE HORSE. 29 varieties, all more or less distinct, and all descended from one common ancestry, the common wild pigeon." As my friend Agassiz once remarked at a meeting in 1864 : " There is a tendency in all animal life to adapt itself to the conditions under which it must live, but a change may be so abrupt and complete as to overcome this tendency, and under such condition the race would speedily become extinct, or gradually die out with a few generations of feeble descend- ants ; but under circumstances less sudden and unfavorable a few might survive, being those individuals that from peculi- arity of organism suffered less from the change. These, in their turn, would produce the peculiarities of their race modi- fied by the new surrounding conditions. These, again, would produce animals still better adapted to the new order of things, until, in course of time, we should have a race widely differing from the original type created — or evolved — by a ' survival of the fittest,' and remodeled and refashioned by these changed conditions of life." There is no class of domestic animals in which the effects of climate and food are more apparent than in the horse. Na- ture's law in the history of the world demonstrates that when- ever the horse has existed for centuries on rich and fertile plains and in temperate climates, he becomes distinguished for size and strength ; whenever he has been the inhabitant of cold and mountainous regions he becomes diminutive and hard}'-, if left largely to care for himself. Man may do much by supply- ing warm stables and abundant food, as well as by selection, to counteract the influence of climate ; but in spite of his inter- ference, the tendency will constantly be to adhere to Nature's great law in this respect. Mountainous regions and rigorous climate will produce the toughest and hardiest races of horses, as has been demonstrated in the New England Morgans and Canadian horses of our own country ; while our fertile prairies and luxuriant bottom lands and valleys are by Nature adapted as the home of the heavy draft horse. 30 THE HORSE. The lesson taught by these illustrations is obvious : none of our improved breeds of horses, or other animals, are adapted to all climates or all conditions of life. To be at their best they must each be kept and cared for as nearly as possible under the same conditions, as to food and climate, as when they attained their greatest excellence. According to Greek mytholog}^, the horse was the gift of gods to men when Neptune struck the earth with his tri- dent ; and he was made immortal that he might bear his master company to that land beyond the dividing river. Congressman John E. Eussell of Massachusetts, when Sec- retary of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture in 1886, in a lecture before that body, goes on record as saying that the horse is the only beast that goes to Heaven. No other animal is, or can be so thoroughly adapted to the wants of man as the horse. For work or for pleasure he is the quick, ready, willing, intelligent, and capable servant of the human race. He enters with cheerfulness into the hardest of labor, carries man's heaviest burdens, hauls his huge loads, breaks up his tough lands, cultivates his crops, markets his produce, etc. ; or in administering to our pleasures he is the same unfailing friend. The business man, the sporting man, and the man of leisure alike go to the horse for their recreation. Entering with the keenest zest into the excitement of the speed ring, he furnishes by far the most popular sport of the age. In the shafts, at the pole, or under the saddle, he gladly rests and refreshes the worried brain-worker, the imprisoned merchant, and the wearied farmer. He is alike subservient to the child and the adult, to the gentler or to the sterner sex, refusing no service which his herculean strength will enable him to perform. The horse stock of the United States has continued to increase in numbers and value, until now, according to the government tax returns for 1893, they amount to $769,221,799, which, no doubt, means to represent a purchasing power of not less than a cool $1,000,000,000. WILD HORSES OF AMERICA. 31 WILD HORSES OF AMERICA. The Wild Horses of America have probably no earlier an- cestry in this country than the dates of the Spanish explorers. There seems to have been no horses here before the discovery of Colmnbus in 1492. There is no evidence that the horse existed in America before Columbus's time, although fossil remains of some early animal of the horse species have been found, but concerning which little appears to have been known. According to generally received authority, Columbus, on his second voyage to this country, brought over a number of borses in order that they might be bred here. The Spaniards in their later incursions brought over a num- ber of Avar horses, and De Soto, in his exploits, wherein he discovered the Mississippi River, had a heavy force of cavalry, that, after their leader was drowned and when his followers returned home, were set loose and abandoned to their fate; many of which doubtless survived and were the origin of the Wild Horse of Texas and the Prairies. Horses thus abandoned by the early discoverers and settlers were, in time, used by the Indians, and to such may be traced the Mustang of to-day, whose habits, in the wild state, were well worth studjdng, for in some particulars they possessed almost human intelligence. They chose their own chief, which ruled and governed them in an intelligent manner, giving the signal for change of pasture and of danger from any source. When they find a pasture dried up they take up a line of march for " greener fields and pastures new," the chief taking the lead of the column, and who is the first to throw himself into a ravine, a river, or an unknown wood. If any extraordinary object appears, the chief commands a halt. He then goes to discover what it is, and on his return gives by neigh the signal of confi- dence, of flight, or of combat. If a fierce enemy presents itself, that cannot be escaped by flight, the herd unite themselves into a circular cluster, all heads turned towards the center where the young animals take refuge. It is seldom that such a 33 WILD HORSES OF AMERICA. maneuver does not force the bears, tigers, or mountain lions to make a precipitate retreat. The large herds generally composed of several thousand individuals, divide themselves into many families, each of which is formed of a male and a certain number of mares and foals that follow and obey the male with docility. The chief horse is exclusive sultan, all the mares belong to him by right of force, and woe to the foolhardy one that disputes \vltli him his seraglio and authority ; he defies him, fights him, makes him retire, and sometimes makes him pay for his audacity by the loss of his life. Often the conqueror pardons his foe but might not be so generous could he foresee that his vanquished enemy was only going to wait until age had given him greater force and courage to renew the combat. Males frequently have fierce contest for the supremacy, and males that have contended unsuccessfully are often driven off to "a solitary life. On the appearance of danger, the chief stallion of a small herd seems to direct the movements of all, and even the larger herds — numbering in some instances thou- sands — seem instinctively to move in concert, so that when they are assailed the stronger animals oppose the enemy and protect the younger and weaker. Even hungry wolves when in packs attack with success only weakened stragglers, and even the jaguar is repelled. In fighting, horses either raise themselves on their hind feet and bring down their fore feet with great force on the enemy» or, wheeling about, kick violently with the hind feet. The teeth are also used as powerful weapons of warfare. When the chief becomes old and loses his vigor he then succumbs under the kicks and blows of his rival or dies from misery and shame; and thus, "the survival of the fittest" is. continually perpetuated. Those American Wild Horses known by the name of Mus- tangs, Bronchos, and Indian Ponies, as has been stated, are direct descendants of the Spanish breed of horses and, un- BREEDS. 33 doubtedly, of the best horses of Spain at the time of their importation. They have been perpetuated until recently without the intermixture of foreign or new blood. Being left wholly to themselves in a state of nature without the inter- ference of man, they have, despite of all enemies and hardships, held their own as a breed or race, relying wholly on nature's great law of "the survival of the fittest"; and to this day they still retain the color, style, and general character- istics of the Spanish horse, as found in Spain at the present time ; although, perhaps, in some instances, and especially so with those occupying the more northern and colder portions of our great "West, they are, as a whole, somewhat smaller than the original type of the Spanish horse. These ponies, as we call them, are, when taken in their wild state, and especially when somewhat up in years, rather hard to break or train for the uses of man, but when properly broken, are, as a rule, willing and faithful servants, and are generally as tough as whitleather. These ponies have occasionally been crossed with the im- proved breeds of our American horses with quite satisfactory results. BREEDS. What constitutes a breed ? A family of animals having a general resemblance in form, size, color or colors, a close affinity in quality of products, a similarity of disposition and habits, and the power to transmit all these so as to reduce the varia- tions to a very narrow minimum. In the successive steps required to produce a breed the gra- dations toward perfection are slow and very gradual ; there will be many instances of the peculiar qualities of the element- ary materials cropping out that are objectionable, and only after the most labored and painstaking selection of the fittest material for further production will the ideal be obtained. Consequently, the work of originating a useful breed is one of time, requiring more patience than most men are willing to bestow upon it ; but when they succeed in giving to the world 3 34 BREEDS. a new breed in any line that is useful, they are worthy of im- perishable remembrance, as large numbers of mankind partici- pate in the advantages derived from their painstaking efforts. When a fixity of type is obtained, with the corresponding peculiarities, the breed may be said to be established. There are stages when the promoters of a breed are liable to be assailed owing to the incompleteness of their work, and yet they may be on the highway to completion and success. It requires skill almost amounting to genius to build up any new breed of animals that shall have only the characteristics that are desired. It was said of Bakewell, one of the first great improvers of live stock in Great Britain, that he regarded the animals under his care as wax in his hands, out of which, in due time, he could mould any form he desired to create. Utility is the grand ultimatum by which the general public will judge of the merits of a breed. The science of horse breeding has developed special horses for special work, and no one breed or class can fill the requirement of the market de- mands for draft horses, coachers, saddlers, and racing or sporting horses. Hence, all breeds have theu^ own special adaptation of usefulness. The different breeds of horses recognized and treated of in this book are as follows : Arabian, Thoroughbred, Narragan- sett Pacer, French Canadian, the American Trotter (composed of several families), — Morgans, Hambletonians, Bashaws, Clays, etc., — French, Coach, Cleveland Bay, Shetland Pony. Of draft breeds : Percheron, English Draft, and Clydes- dale. Making eleven distinct breeds in all. CHAPTER II. THE ARABIAN HORSE. Mahomet its founder — Foundation mares for Mahomet's stud — Beautiful points of the Arabian — Tlie Arabiaij the foundation of the Tliorough- bred liorse — Arabian blood in the Percheron, Morgan, and Narragan- sett pacer — Six distinct breeds in Arabia — History of the Lindsey's Arabian — Imported Grand Bashaw — Imported Ishmael Pasha — The Arabian in Kentucky — Difficulty of obtaining good specimens in Arabia. THE greater portion of Arabia is illy adapted to the rais- ing of good horses, and previous to the days of Mahomet horses were scarcely recognized as a part of the possessions of the Arab, their riches consisting chiefly in camels, oxen, sheep, and goats; but Mahomet was an enthusiastic lover of the horse, and it appears a thorough horseman, and while he succeeded in engrafting upon so large a portion of the Eastern world his own peculiar religious tenets, he also imbued his fol- lowers in a great degree with his enthusiastic admiration of the horse. Kindness to and love for this noble animal was made a part of the religious duty of all true followers of this great Oriental prophet. Mahomet, it appears, was not onlj^- a sanguine lover, but a great improver as well, of the horse, thus placing himself on record as the first successful breeder of blood horses in history. From the days of Mahomet down to the present time the Arab has held his stud, and especially his mares, in a sort of superstitious reverence. Mahomet, during his life, had accumulated for himself, by careful selection and breeding, the most magnificent stud in the whole known world ; and to this day his followers seek to trace the genealogy of their choicest stock to the mares that were his favorites. There is a tradition (35) 36 THE ARABIAN HORSE. that the prophet, being desirous of selecting mares as a founda- tion for his stud, had a number of the best of them, which had been used as chargers in battle, kept two days without water. At the end of that time, when mad with thirst, they were set at liberty, and at the moment when they were close to the coveted water his trumpets sounded a war charge, which had such an effect on five of them that they abandoned the water and galloped to the spot where they expected to meet with the still greater excitement of war. These five were therefore selected to form the foundation of his stud, and from them sprang the race called "Kochlani". The Arabian horse of to day is endowed with beautiful points and with an accomplished figure and superlative action, surpassing in graceful movement the finest specimens of the equine race. His broad head and massive brain implies intelli- gence ; the eye is full and mild, yet sparkling with excitement when aroused to action. The great hereditary excellence of this fleet and wiry horse is sound feet and legs and the won- derful claims of ability to withstand rest and hunger which surpass the accredited limit of animal endurance. This enables him to endure long journeys across the sandy deserts, where food and water are scarce, sustained alone by his invincible courage. History points to the Arabian horse as the foundation of the English Thoroughbred race horse, which traces to the Darley Arabian, Godolphin Arabian, etc. To the Arabian horse is also justly accredited the foundation of that most valu- able of all breeds for draft purposes where activit}^ and speed in its work is valued, the Percheron. We also find his blood at the fountain-head of what is destined to become the most popular of all breeds of the world — for light harness purposes — the trotting horse of America, which is descended from three great sources or families, and divided and subdivided into several other different families, all branches of which point to the Arabian as their fountain-head ; and now when we visit the most noted and celebrated stock farms of the THE ARABIAN HORSE. 37 Western States, and in some sections of Canada, as well, and they ha^ve led out for our inspection their beautiful gray Percheron stallions, with their good hard feet and sinewy legs, their broad and intelligent heads, their fine ears and beautiful flowing tails and wavy manes, can we for a moment doubt that they trace their origin directly to this beautiful horse of the desert ? We also find a trace of his blood in the French Canadian horse of to-day, transmitted through his son, the Percheron horse of France. The Arabian horse also stood at the very head of the original pacing family of America, the ISTarra- gansett Pacer. (See Karragansett Pacer, Chapter lY.) It has been proven and established for ages in the old world that the best results have been obtained from Arabian ancestry. The great stronghold of the Arabian stallion is to improve any race or breed of horses with which he comes in contact ; and yet we have a breed of runners descended from him that can surpass him in speed over our courses and in our climate. We also have a breed of trotters whose qualities descend from the Arabian, that, with our American breeding and training, can far surpass him in speed at that gait ; and, also, the Percherons can out-draw him, yet, I claim that the best qualities of all of these came directly from the Arabian horse. The first Arabian stallion that gave the oriental character to the English horse was the Darley Arabian, so called from the fact of his having been purchased at Aleppo by an English merchant by the name of Darley. He was said to be of the desert breed although his precise lineage was never determined. He sired Flying Childers, a celebrated race horse so far superior to anything that had appeared in England that he created a great sensation and his exploits passed into history and gained a world renown and crowned his sire as monarch of the stud, by his wonderful speed and endurance. The pure Arabian is celebrated less for unrivalled swiftness than for extraordinary powers of endurance. Its usual paces, as used in Arabia, are but two — a quick Avalk, often averaging 38 THE ARABIAN HORSE. four or five miles an hour, and a lialf running canter ; for only when pursued does a Bedouin put his horse to full speed. It is the distance they will travel in emergency, the weight they will carry, and the comparative trifle of food they require, which renders the Arabian hoi'se so valuable, especially so to the Arabs, in their land of stony mountains and sandy deserts. The rocky mountains and sunny valleys that temper the dry air of the deserts are supposed to have an influence upon the quality of bone and muscle, giving sound feet and legs to stand great speed and endurance. The Arabian horse, as im- proved and perfected by this first great artist in that line, Ma- homet, at the time of his death, was justly considered the primi- tive blood horse and the type horse of the world. There are in Arabia to-day, according to Ali Bey (an Arabian writer, who has had opportunities beyond the reach of ordinary writers), six distinct breeds of Arabs. "The first," he says, " named the Dgelfe, is found in Arabia Felix ; they are rare in Damascus but pretty common in the neighborhood of Anaze. They are remarkable for speed and fire, yet mild as lambs ; they support hunger and thirst for a long time, and are of lofty stature, etc. A colt of this breed, at two years old, will cost in his own country 2,000 piasters. "The second breed, called 'Seclaoni,' comes from the eastern part of the desert and resembles the Dgelfe of Anaze in appearance, but is not quite so highly valued. "Next comes the ' Mefki,' handsome, but not so swift as the two former-named breeds, and more resembling the Andalusian in figure. They are very common about Damascus. " Then the ' Sabi ' resembles the Mefki ; and the fifth breed, called ' Fridi,' is very common but it is necessar}^ to try them well for they are often vicious and do not possess the excellent qualities of the other breeds. " Sixth, comes 'Nejdi,' from the neighborhood of Bussorah, and if they do not surpass they at least equal the Dgelfe of Anaze and Seclaoni. Horses of this breed are little known at THE AJRABIAN HORSE. 39 Damascus, and connoisseurs assert that they are incomparable ; thus, their value is arbitrary and always exceeds 2,000 piasters." This writer fails to make mention of " Kochlani," descended from the stud of Mahomet, who laid the foundation of Ara- bian pedigrees, but he undoubtedly used Seclaoni instead of Kochlani in his description of the different families of this breed. It is asserted by oriental travelers that pedigrees exist that can be traced 500 years back and in the highest breeds there is no doubt of that ; at present great care is taken and many ceremonies are performed at the covering of the mare. After the birth of the foal a certificate is always made out by the local authority and this must be done within seven days of its being dropped. The Arabian horse-breeder estimates the value of a horse by its breeding, and is very particular in his choice of a stallion, preferring to leave his mares unproductive rather than breed them to a common horse, and often travels many miles to find his ideal of a stallion; the owners of the best stallions, on tjie other hand, being quite as particular regarding the quality of the mare presented for service. It is said that the Bedouins, w^hen a horse is born, never allow it to drop to the ground, but receive and keep it for several hours upon their arms, washing it, stretching and strengthening its limbs, and hugging it like a baby. One of the most important of the earlier importations of the Arabian to America was that of the Lindsey Arabian im- ported to Connecticut about 1768. He has a remarkable history, as follows : In about 1767, for some important service rendered by the commander of a British frigate to a son of the Emperor of Morocco, the emperor presented this horse (the most valuable of his stud), to this captain, who shipped him on board the frigate with the sanguine expectation of obtaining a great price for him if safely landed in England ; but on the return voyage the frigate called at one of the West India Islands, where, being obliged to 40 THE ARABIAN HORSE. remain some time, the captain, in compassion to the horse, landed him for the purpose of exercise. No convenient, securely enclosed place could be found but a large lumber yard, into which the horse was turned loose ; but, being young and as playful as a kitten, he clambered to the top of a huge pile of lumber, from which, and with it, he fell, breaking three of his legs. At this time, in the same port, the English captain met an old aequaintance from New London, Conn., U. S. A, To him he offered the horse as an animal of estimable value could he but be cured. This Connecticut captain gladly accepted the horse and knowing that he must be detained for some time at the Island before he could dispose of his assorted cargo, got the horse on board his vessel, secured him in a sling, very care- fully set and bound up his broken legs, and, when he landed at his Connecticut port, the horse was able to walk from New London to Pomfret, Conn., which place became his home for several years ; and such w^as the character and value of his colts that his service, became in great demand, and during the "VVar of the Revolution the Connecticut cavalry of beautiful, active horses attracted the attention of Generals Washington and Lee to such an exjfcent that they enquired into their breed- ing, and found them to be the sons and daughters of this Ara- bian horse " Ranger," as he was called. After the close of the War of the Revolution, and about the year 1784 or 1785, Generals Washington and Lee sent Captain Linsley to Pomfret, Conn., to see this wonderful sire of cavalry horses, and, if as represented (and if he could be purchased), to bring him back with him to Virginia. Captain Linsley found this horse in Pomfret to be owned by a man named Sabin, who consented to sell him for $1,000 ; consequently he was taken to Yirginia and his name changed from "Ranger" to ''Linsley's Arabian." He was then about twenty years old. He stood for several years in A^irginia, covering mares at high prices and sired some very good ones there, among which were Tulip and many other noted runners of that day. THE ARABIAN HORSE. 41 I have dwelt more on the history of this Arabian horse than I should have done did I not feel assured beyond a doubt that he was the maternal grandsire of that most celebrated of all American horses of his day, Justin Morgan. When news came to General Putnam of Pomfret, Conn., that the British had fired upon Concord and that his immedi- ate presence was needed at Boston, the messenger found the "old hero" plowing with an ox team, but in his barn was stabled a beautiful daughter of this great sire of cavalry horses, which "old Put" saddled and rode to Boston that same after- noon, some 65 miles, and which rendered him such signal ser- vice during that great and memorable battle of Bunker Hill on the 17th day of June, 1775. An important importation to America of an Arabian sire was in 1820, when "Grand Bashaw" was imported from Trip- oli by Joseph C. Morgan, of Philadelphia. Some of our fastest trotters have descended from him, and much in the improve- ment and merit of our American-bred horses of the present time may, perhaps, be justly attributed to him, as he was in stud service here for more than twenty years. He was the founder of the Bashaw family and the fountain head of the Clay branch of the Bashaw family of the American trotter of to-day. One of the most beautiful horses I ever saw was an Ara- bian stallion imported from Egypt by Col. Wm. H. Jenifer, in 1872, "Ishmael Pacha," but more generally known as the " Jenifer Arabian." I saw several of his half-blood colts and fillies, which were all very thrifty and large for their age. In color, this horse was a beautiful gray and stood rather less than fifteen hands high, but his progeny, as I saw them, were mostly chestnuts and some of the two-year-olds were taller than their sire. I had much correspondence with the importer concerning this horse, and traveled from Connecticut to Pennsylvania to see him ; and after the death of Col. Jenifer I came very near 42 THE ARABIAN HORSE. purchasing him of his administrator, for my stock farm, at that time in Pomfret, Conn., for $1,000. All who have raised colts from common mares sired by Arabian stallions, are, I believe, unanimous in opinion that their get is generally even tempered, of a mild, willing, and quiet disposition, easily and cheaply raised, early maturing and fit for service at three years old. The prevailing color of the best-bred families of Arabian horses is gray. I know of but one attempt to breed the Arabian horse in its purity in this country, as Arabians, and that was made by A. Keen Richards of Kentucky, who visited the Arabian deserts himself several times for the purpose of studying the Arabian horse at home, and brought out to Kentucky, at different times, several of as good specimens as was possible for him to secure in Arabia. The Arabs are very loth to part with their best ones, and especially so of their mares. "War and misfortune interfered with Mr. Richards' plans to that ex- tent that he could not or did not accomplish his long-cherished and desired object. In a personal interview with Mr. Richards on this subject at Lexington, Ky., in 1880, I found him still sanguine in the belief that the Arabs could not only be bred in central Ken- tucky without deteriorating in any particular from those bred in Arabia, but that in many points, with generous food and good care, they would improve. And he also believed that the thoroughbred race horse of that time could be improved by judiciously crossing with the Arabs ; and the trotting bred horses of Kentucky as well. His faith in the Arabian horse as the improver of other breeds was stronger than that of any other gentleman with whom I have ever conversed on this subject ; in fact, he knew more about them than any one else I ever met. He had been there. In this interview with Mr. Richards, in speaking of General Grant's then late present of the two stallions — Lepold and Linden Tree — presented by the Sultan of Turkey, Mr. Rich- THE ARABIAN HORSE. 43 ards said he considered thern both inferior specimens, comings far short in style and quality of the best specimens of this breed as he found them at home. It is exceedingly difficult and expensive to obtain good specimens ; it is with great difficulty that the Sultan, even,, obtains pure Arabs of the best families. In 1891, Thomas W. Palmer, a Detroit, Mich., capitalist^ conceived the idea of importing Arabian horses for the purpose of infusing new blood in his Percheron stud ; consequently he sent a trusted agent to Damascus for the purpose of obtaining some of the best specimens of that country for this purpose,, but the difficulty, amounting, it is said, to impossibility of ob- taining what he desired, compelled him to abandon his project. And now, when it is announced through our daily papers that the Axab horses shown at the Midway Plaisance, con- nected with the "World's Fair of 1893, were an exhibit of the Turkish government, and by that government permitted to be sold by the sheriff, it is too ridiculous ; yet it may be believed by the masses, "because in the papers." In after years some of the descendants of this motley collection may lay claim to royalty. CHAPTER III. THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE. The oldest and best established breed in America and Europe — Breed built on an Arabian and Barb foundation — The Darley Arabian — Imported Messenger — Imported Diomed — Imported Trustee — Lexington — In- fluence of the blood in America. THIS is the oldest and best established of all the breeds of America and Europe. The Thoroughbred horse is peculiarly a British production. At a very early period the attention of the rulers of Great Britain was earnestly directed to the work of improving the breeds of horses in that kingdom. It appears from history that their foundation stock was notoriously deficient in size, and that their earliest efforts were directed to remedy this defect by the importation of heavy horses from Normandy, Flanders, and Germany, Then, to give gracefulness of motion and beauty of form, they intro- duced what was known as Oriental blood, that of the Arab, the Turk, and the Barb. For several years preceding the reign of Charles II, horse- racing appears to have been rapidly gaining in favor as an amusement and recreation among the English people, and from that time until the present, contests for supremacy upon the turf have stirred the British heart as no other amusement has ever done. To the constant growth and great popularity of this sport, which for nearly 200 years has been regarded as the national amusement of that country, are we indebted for a persistence in a course of breeding that has given us the thoroughbred race horse of to-day, so prominently distinguished throughout the world for speed and endurance upon the race- course ; and which, on account of the great care in breeding, (44) THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE, 45 and its consequent purity of lineage, were the first race of ani- mals to which the term "thoroughbred" was applied. In the later years of the reign of Queen Anne an Arabian horse was brought to England, purchased at Aleppo by a Yorkshire merchant named Darley, and was supposed to be of the Kochlani breed, although his precise lineage was never established. He was called The Darley Arabian. He sired Flying Ghilders in 1714, who proved to be the fastest horse that had ever been on the English turf, and was of noble form and matchless courage. Another descendant of The Darley Arabian was Eclipse, foaled 1764, during the eclipse of that year, hence his name. He was thick- winded and a blower, but never met his match on the turf, and after racing seventeen months and winning £25,000, was retired to the stud, as no horse in the known world dared race with him. He sired 334 winners that won in races £160,000, besides numerous cups and plates. He died in 1789, aged twenty-five years, and was buried at Whitechurch, between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Ware, in Hertfordshire, and it is added that at his interment ale and cakes were given to those present. Another great factor in the improvement of the English blood-horse was the Godolphin Arabian, foaled about the year 1724. He was presented to Lord Godolphin, from whom he took his name. He sired Laih, who proved to be the fastest horse (Childers excepted) ever on the English turf at that time. The Godolphin was one of the sources of great im- provement to the English race-horse of that ]3eriod. The " Royal " mares of that time were mostly imported Barbs. Of all Oriental sires it is generally admitted that the Godolphin Arabian — imported 110 years ago — is the last importation of foreign blood that has proven of any benefit to the thoroughbred horse of England, and while this blending of the Oriental blood with the old races of England furnished the foundation, there can be no doubt that the care and skill of the 46 THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE. English breeder in selecting and coupling with the best and fastest for generations on generations, have accomplished more in establishing this breed as it now exists, than could possibly have been done by continuing the out-crosses of foreign blood, and that the time is long since past when the intermingling of any other blood would not prove a detriment. The thoroughbred horse, as now bred, is generally consid- ered far superior to any branch of the Oriental horse of to-day in speed, size, and substance. Our American horses are largely composed of the blood of the thoroughbred ; many of the best stallions and mares of England have been imported to this country, and their influence is seen on every hand. It enters largely into the groundwork of all our trotting strains, and it is doubtful if a single great road horse or trotter has been produced in this country that did not |)ossess a share of this royal blood (or its source, the Arabian) as a foundation upon which the trotting superstructure has been built. There exists great ignorance, even among many who are considered intelligent and well-informed horsemen, as to what constitutes a thoroughbred horse. The compiler of the " Thoroughbred Stud Book " in this country admits to registry as thoroughbred all animals that show an unmixed descent of five generations of pure blood. Among the most noted early importations of thoroughbred horses from England to this country, and contributing mostly to the quality and speed of American horses, may be found the names of Janus, foaled in 1746, a grandson of the Godolphin, the good qualities of whose stock are said to be perpetuated to this day. Imported Traveler, foaled in 1T47, and tracing in an un- broken line to the White Turk and to Layton's Barb mare, was also considered second to none in his time. He belongs to the earlier importations, and is still one of the most valuable landmarks in old pedigrees, and especially so as the founder of that once most popular of all breeds in America for all pur- poses, — the Morgan. THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE. 47 "Wild Air, foaled ia 1753, imported to New York by Mr. DeLancy, and on account of the great value of his stock was taken back to England, was undoubtedly a great improver of American horses, and one of the paternal ancestors of Justin Morgan, founder of that greatest of American general purpose horse, the Morgan. (See Morgan Horses, Chapter VI.) Fearnaught, imported in 1764, a great-grandson of the Darley Arabian, stood for service in this country for twelve years and left a numerous progeny of highly distinguished horses of that time. Messenger, foaled in 1785, was imported to Pennsylvania in. 1792, and died in JSTew York State in 1808. He distin- guished himself as being the progenitor of horses from half- bred and cold-blooded mares of good trotting action and stay- ing qualities, and whose influence in the trotting horse of America is still highly recognized, and from whose loins on the paternal side, descended Eysdyk's Hambletonian. "We find an old advertisement of this horse, — the last, — dated April, 1807 (eighty-eight years ago and one year before his death), which reads as follows : "THE CELEBRATED HORSE MESSENGER. " Old Messenger (commonly so called) is allowed by the best judges to be in as good order, feel as well, and to retain bis faculties in as much vigor as at any time since he was imported. " Messenger is a full-blood racer, fifteen hands three inches high, and well proportioned. He was bred by John Pratt, Esq., of Newmarket, and was got by Mambrino, who covered at twenty-six guineas a mare in the year 1784. Mambrino was got by Engineer, who was got by Sampson, who was the sire of Bay Moulton and several other capital racers ; his dam by Turf, his grand- dam by Regulus. " The mare was sister to Figurante and was dam of Leviathan, an excel- lent racer. He is a sure foal-getter and his stock equal, if not superior, to that of any horse in the States, some of whom are selling from $500 to $2,000 each. " The horse will stand at Bishop Underhill's in the County of West Chester, fifteen miles from Harlem on the White Plains Road, to cover the ensuing season at $15 the season and $10 single service ; the season to commence on the first day of April, and to continue not longer than the first day of August following ; the money to be paid at the time of taking away the mare. " Warranted foals by agreement. 48 THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE. " PERFOKMANXES. "Messenger won the following sums in the years 1783, 1784, and 1785, as may be seen by the racing calendars. In September he beat, at Newmarket, Mr. Potter's Colchester, by Shark, for 100 guineas. October 30, 1783, he beat Mr. Napier's horse Specter across the Flat for 800 guineas, and Mr. Fox's horse Pynhus across the New Flat for 150 guineas. "In May, 1784, he beat Lord Barrington's Tiger for twenty-five guineas ; in July, 1784, he beat Mr. Windham's horse Apothecary for 200 guineas ; Lord Foley's Rodney, Mr. Westell's Snowdrop, and Mr. Clark's Flower for sixty guineas, and Lord Foley's Ulysses for 100 guineas. In March, 1785, he beat His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales' Ulysses for 200 guineas, and Mr. Windham's horse Fortitude for 300 guineas. "In April, 1785, he beat Lord Sherburn's horse Taylor for fifty guineas. In addition to the above he has won the King's plate, and is the only horse on the continent said to have done the same. (Signed) "BISHOP UNDERHILL." Florizal, imported into Maryland in 1794, was a good stock horse and some of the best of om' Southern horses of to-day trace to him. Diomed, foaled in 1777 in England, and imported into Vir- ginia in 1799, when twenty -two years old, was a most remark- able stock horse, and his influence as such is felt in America to-day. He was the sire — in America — of the great Sir Archy, a very distinguished horse of his da}^ and justly called the Godolphin Arabian of America. He was a brown horse, sixteeen and one-half hands high, of great substance, and left an exceeding numerous and very valuable progeny at his death when twenty-eight years old. Trustee, foaled in 1829, contributed his full share, probably, in the improvement of the American horses of his time, both as regards speed and quality. Priam was also among the best ; so of many of the later importations, among which may be recounted Glencoe, the great horse of the two continents, brought from England to Alabama in 1836, and considered one of the best the world had then produced, and his descendants are not to be despised to-day. THE VALUE OF THOROUGHBRED STALLIONS. 49 America, herself, has contributed to the breeding ranks of thoroughbred sires some very noted animals, among which may be found a Boston c. h., deriving his name from a popular game of cards at that time, who was a great race horse himself and a sire of the great Lexington, foaled in 1850, bred by Dr. Wariield of Lexington, Ky. He first ran on the turf under the name of Darley and was a winner; was then purchased by Mr. Kichard Ten Broeck, who changed his name to Lexington. He ran many successful races, winning for his owner many thousand dollars; and after breaking down as a racer was purchased by Mr. Robert A. Alexander of Ken- tucky, proprietor of Woodburn, for stock purposes, for $15,000. Mr. Alexander's friends ridiculed his paying such a price for a broken-down stallion, useless for the race course and untried in the stud; the far-seeing Kentuckian replied that the day would come when he would sell one of the produce of the horse they then despised for more money than he had paid for the sire. That day did come, for after his son, ISTorfolk, had won the two three-year-old stakes at St. Louis in 1864, on Mr. Theodore "Winter asking Mr. Alexander to name the price for the colt, he replied " $15,001." That sum was immediately given and Mr. Alexander's prophecy verified. Lexington proved himself America's greatest sire and was the sire of Idlewild, Kentucky, Asteroid, Harry of the "West, Jack Malone, Lightning, Lancaster, Daniel Boone, Bayonet, Yauxhall, Judge Curtis, Stonewall Jackson, Kingfisher, Harry Bassett, Tom Bowling, and others of note both on the race course and in the stud. THE VALUE OF THOROUGHBRED STALLIONS. As regards the estimate in which the race-loving English- man holds his best bred racing stallions may be approximated from the following table of prices for which a number of prominent thoroughbred stallions have been sold : 50 THE VALUE OF THOROUGHBRED STALLIONS. Ormonde, $150,000 Galore, $30,000 St. Blaise, . 100,000 Bonnie Scotland, . 30,000 Don Castor, . 70,000 Don Alonzo, 30,000 Blair Athol, . 62,000 Kingston, 30,000 Kentucky, . 40,000 Dew Drop, . 29,500 Vern, . 39,000 Potomac, 25,000 King Thomas, 88,000 Dobbins, 22,000 Gladiator, 35,000 Cantineer, . 20,500 Iroquois, 34,000 Luke Blackburn, 20,000 Tournament, 33,000 Duke of Magenta, 20,000 Rayon de Orr, 33,000 Mortimer, 20,000 The Earl, . 80,500 Ban Fox, . . 20,000 G. W. Johnson, . 30,000 Louisburg, . .20,000 San Domingo, 30,000 The yearling colt, King Thomas, sold at auction in the city of New York in 1887 for the magnificent sum of $38,000 cash. Mr. Saville refused $75,000 for Cremona, and the Marquis of Westminster refused $17,500 for Touchstone, accompanying his refusal with the remark that he would not exchange him for a German principality. A party of Americans visiting England several years since, after looking over the Eton stud, requested an interview with the owner, Lord Westminster. The spokesman began by say- ing that he and his friends had seen the horses and that they fancied Touchstone very much, very much indeed. Lord Westminster was highly pleased to hear him say so. The American, in continuation, informed his Lordship that they had made up their minds to buy him. " Oh, indeed ! " " Yes, my Lord, that's our determination ; what's his price ? " " The American Domains," was the reply. Priam, imported into Virginia in 1837 at a cost of $17,500, which was the largest price ever paid for a horse to that date in England, after the appearance of his daughter. Crucifix, in 1840, when she won the 1,000 guineas, the 2,000 guineas and the Oaks, $50,000 was offered and refused for him to return to England. The English breeder is always ready to pay more for the THE VALUE OF THOROUGHBRED STALLIONS. 51 use of a bighly bred animal than any other in the world, and, as a consequence, the civilized world is still tributary in a meas- ure to that little Island for improved live stock. This is especially so in horses. The service fee paid for thoroughbred stallions of the first rank would scare an Ameri- can breeder. Hermit, regarded as the most successful thoroughbred sire ■of his day, was held at 250 guineas, nearly $1,300. Isonomy's fee, 200 guineas, Galopin's 100 guineas. Undoubtedly a large number of the foals sired by these horses are never worth the service fees ; but when a winner is struck he makes amends for all former losses. CHAPTER lY. THE NARRAGANSETT PACER. The origin, rise, and progress of the breed — Daniel Pearce and his stallion Rambler — Imp. Rambler — Narragansett blood in the Morgans — Lit- tle Neck Beach, R I. — Mary Langworthy Southcote. THE origin, rise, progress, and we might almost say exter- mination of this once most noted family of the equine race in this country seems to be somewhat shrouded in mys- tery by the horse oracles of the present day; 3^et to me, its history having been verbally handed down from father to son as an heirloom of our family for the past 1Y5 years or so, is very clear. Its origin is as follows : In the reign of Queen Anne, A. D. 1707, a young man of the county of York, East Riding District, England, by the name of Daniel Pearce — the son of a well-to-do tenant farmer — a natural born horseman and the possessor in his own right of a beautiful young chestnut stallion, a grandson of the great imported Arabian horse, the "Darley Arabian," then owned and kept by the Lord of the Manor — Lord Darley — (very foolishly it was thought) fell desperately in love with a charm- ing young lady by the name of Mary Langworthy Southcote, who belonged to an old and wealthy family living in Hull. As a matter of course in that age of aristocracy, such a thing as a tenant farmer's son (however worthy he might be) to think of marrying into an old family like the Southcotes, was preposterous. Consequently this young man, Daniel Pearce, in order to become weaned from his Mary, decided to bid England a long farewell, giving up the comforts of home, the endearing scenes of childhood, the companions of youth, and all — no, he could not give up his beautiful colt, his own "Rambler." He would leave merry England and all else, save (53) THE NARRAGANSETT PACER. 53 Eambler, behind ; with him he would take the first vessel sail- ing from Hull to America. Rambler should bear him company to the IS'ew Eldorado, or they would both share one common grave in the bosom of the Atlantic. The result of this decision was that after a somewhat long, dreary, and perilous voyage in a sail vessel of those times, our hero, with his companion, was landed in Newport, R. I. His final destination being Kingstown, a country bordering on the west shore of l^arragansett bay, he took passage in a sail boat from Newport to the Narragansett country, still accompanied by his horse Rambler. During the voyage, and somewhere about midway, it is said, between Beavertail, on Canonicot Island, and Narragansett Beach (now Narragansett Pier), the boat capsized and the horse swam for the shore, some three miles, and several days afterwards was found in the woods on what is now called Boston Neck. Hence the legend by some that the paternal ancestor of this race of horses was found swimming at sea ; and by others that he was found running wild in the woods in the Narragansett country. Upon arriving in this new and wild country our young Englishman found, to his mortification and annoyance, that, although possessed of one of the finest and best "galloping saddlers" in England, the new country afforded no roads suita- ble to ride upon ; instead of roads were to be found but Indian trails and bridle paths and even these were handicapped with rocks and stones. These circumstances compelled Daniel to change the gait of Rambler from a gallop to a pace or "rack" as it was then called, which he easily acquired. This stallion was kept as a stock horse for many years by his owner and importer, and Avas, for those times, very gener- ally patronized, especially throughout the southern and south- western counties of Rhode Island and the district of Stoning- ton, Conn. He became the paternal progenitor of a race of pacers ; it is said that his colts all paced from the start, and that his sons begat pacers, and when his daughters were bred to pacing sires 54 THE NARRAGANSETT PACER. their progeny invariably paced, but when bred, to trotting or running sires they either trotted or ran, as the case might be. The Narrafjansett Pacer soon became an established breed in Rhode Island, and as the people of those times had neither carriage roads or carriages, or steam cars, what traveling was done was either accomplished on foot or on horseback, and men frequently rode from fifty to sixty miles per day on one of those beautiful, easy-going saddlers, over hills and through dales, following the rough and stony bridle paths of Kew Eng- land at that period of its histor}^ These horses were said to be remarkably sure footed. The pure bloods (as they were called) could not be made to trot at all. They used them in races as long ago as 1720. Little Neck Beach, on the !N"arragansett shore in South Kingston, one mile in length, was used as a race-course. In about the year 1725 they came to be looked upon as an established breed, and from that time until 1760 were in active demand for export to Cuba as saddlers, and were sent for at much trouble and expense by some breeders who were choice in their selections. A chestnut mare of this breed having been, taken to Yer- raont, U. S., in 1807, and bred to that most wonderful horse, Justin Morgan, the result w^as his most celebrated son, Sherman Morgan, foaled in 1809, who took the trotting gait of his sire and the color and beauty of his dam. Such finally became the demand for these horses for export that the breeders "killed the goose that laid the golden egg'^ by disposing of not only their surplus but most of their breed- ing stock, as well. By this time, however, the country having been supplied with better roads and the people with carriages, the saddle horse was less sought for at home, and horses that could trot became more popular and in better demand, than those of the pacing gait, and horses of this breed were then trained to trot in harness and pace under the saddle. I can well remember descendants of this breed of horses, crossed with other breeds. THE NARRAGANSETT PACER. 55 perhaps, that would pace all day under the saddle, and others that would both trot and pace, frequently changing from one gait to the other. This breed of horses goes into history as the only one founded on the results of a single importation and becoming in demand for export within twenty years after the importation of its founder. I still recollect descendants of this breed that were great roadsters and tough as leather. I recall to mind two black mares, both raised and owned in Kingston, Rhode Island, — one by George Allen and the other by ISTathaniel Reynolds — that would go from Quidnessett, near Wickford, R. I., to Brighton, Mass., about sixty miles, in a half day without stopping on the the road for feeding. I once owned a sorrel gelding, a descendant of this breed, that paced and would not trot at all, but would pace, if put to it, I think nearly, or quite, one hundred miles in a day on a good road. In conclusion of this scrap of history, allow me to state that Daniel's Mary "forsook father and mother, brothers and sisters," home, luxuries, society, and all the pleasures that wealth and civilization could bestow, and followed her lover to America, where they were married and became the founder of a family by the name of Pearce in America (one member of which has served the people of the United States one term as its President), besides figuring largely in other prominent American families by intermarriage. Mary was disinherited, however, and when her father made his will she was "not in it." CHAPTER V. THE FRENCH CANADIAN HORSE. Early imported into Canada from France — Climatic influence on Canadian horses — Hardiness and utility — Canadian blood in the American trotter and pacer — Noted Canada horses imported to the United States — Surry, dam of Henry Clay, a Canadian. THE early settlers of Canada came from France, bringing their horses with them. France, like England, contains several breeds of horses, of which the most desirable are from Kormandy ; at least that was the case years ago before the advent of the Percheron, As the first settlers of this country needed horses and the horses must be brought from France, their mother country, and as the distance was too long and freights too high to attempt importing any but the best, it is presumed that of such were their early importations. It may safely be inferred that in those days the Xorman or Percheron horse of France was far inferior in all respects to the Percheron horse of that country to-day, after having been improved with the blood of the Arabian. These French horses were brought over into lower Canada in the early settlement of the colony, and for many years formed the principal horse stock of Canada. The rigor of the climate and the scarcity of fare materially reduced their size from that of their French ancestors ; still, they retain to this day the same strong make-up and general characteristics that render them distinguishable from any and all other breeds. They constitute a race of easy-keeping, sound-constitutioned, and long-lived horses. From their strong, compact form they can command their strength to great advantage, and there is nothing in the shape of horseflesh to-day that can stand the (56) THE FRENCH CANADIAN HORSE. 57 wear and tear of the French Canadian pony, except it be an old-time Morgan of about the same size and much the same style. The French Canadians have but few equals in all the im- proved breeds of horses as a general purpose horse. ISTothing really excels a pair of these Canadians as a team for all pur- poses of general use for Canadian farming, when cost of keep is taken into account. They have also done more to establish the trotting horse of America than they have ever received credit for. The cross- ing of this breed with others in the United States, on account of their hardiness and sound constitution, has in many in- stances been of material advantage. For instance: One of the French Canadians — a pacer — called Pilot was the sire of Alexander's Pilot, Jr., the founder of a family of trotters and the sire of the dam of Maud S., one of the fastest and gamest trotters of the world, and who for so long held the world's record as such. He was also the sire of many noted trotters. This old Canadian horse, Pilot, went from Canada to Kentucky and numbers among his descend- ants Bonesetter, Pilot Temple, Tattler, and Tackey, who owed much of their great speed and staying qualities to him. Alexander's ISTorman was also sired by a half-bred French horse, the Morse horse. He was the sire of Lulu, 2.15. Red Jim, the fastest three-year-old of his time, inherited the blood of ISTorman ; and Blackwood, the fastest three-year-old of his day, was a son of IS^orman. Davy Crockett, another French pacer, Avas the progenitor of Legal Tender, Eed Cloud, Ked Cross, and other good ones of their day. Copper Bottom, also a French pacer, did much to improve the trotting stock of Kentucky. Columbus was a pacer taken from Canada to the United States and converted into a trotter ; he was the sire of Smith's Young Columbus, that crossed so well with the Morgans and other New England horses. A black mare called Kate, bred in Canada and sired by a 58 THE FRENCH CANADIAN HORSE. French Canadian stallion, dropped five colts to Ilambletonian, all of whom trotted better than 2.30, and three of which are on record. Surry, dam of the world-renowned Henry Clay, the foundei- of the Clay family, and the maternal ancestor of thos^ old-time whalebone trotters, George M. Patchen, Lucy, and American Girl, was a Canadian. George M. Patchen was the founder of the Patchen branch of the Clay family of American trotters. Gift, one of the most promising colts of Mambrino Pilot, was out of a French pacing mare. Mambrino Gift had a French cross, as did his grandsire and his dam's grandsire ; he also had the g'ift of trottino: in 2.20. Corbeau, St. Lawrence, Gray Eagle, Canada Chief, "Whirl- wind, Snow Storm, and Coeur de Leon were all French trot- ting or pacing stallions, and all crossed the border to the LTnited States for stock purposes ; but we do not claim as much for the French Canadian horse as a fast trotter as we do in the way of being a most useful animal to all classes of men having use for horses adapted to all purposes for which horses are wanted. Their sound body, wind, and limb is a constitutional inheritance that is propagated from generation to generation, thus giving them advantage for hard service over other breeds of less constitutional vigor. Their feet and legs are almost exceptionally good, and they are usually free from all kinds of disease to which horseflesh is heir. They are short-coupled from the knees and hocks down, which gives great purchase power. Their strong, muscular thighs and forearms complete the limbs and make them strong enough to support the body under heavy loads, over hills and through dales, without tiring out or breaking down. In horse-dealing, years ago, I have handled these animals by the carload with usually satisfactory results to myself and to my customers ; but now I expect it would be as difficult to •purchase a carload of French Canadian horses in Canada as it would be to procure a like number of Morgans in Vermont or New Hampshire, as the breeders of these horses have, perhaps THE FRENCH CANADIAN HORSE. 59 unAvisely, crossed and re-crossed with other breeds or famihes until but few of the original types of eiiher can be found. They are emphatically the farmer's horse for Canada, and good specimens of this breed should weigh from 1,000 to 1,200' pounds, which is usually heavy enough for general farm work^ and more economical for the farmer for all purposes, especially taking into account the cost of keep, than are the heavy draft horses of from 1,400 to 1,800 pounds. CHAPTEK YI. THE MORGAN HORSE. The Morgans an American breed — Beauty and power of endurance — Justin Morgan the founder — Pedigree of Justin Morgan — Description of Justin Morgan — Sherman Morgan and his pedigree — Black Hawk, pedigree and history — Ethan Allen, pedigree and history — Daniel Lambert. THIS is strictly an American breed of horses and a New England production, the distinguishing characteristics of which are neatness and compactness of form, hardiness of constitution, soundness of wind and limb, strong digestive organs, enabling them to live on little food, the best of feet and limbs, good action, and a high degree of intelligence and spirit. For beauty of form and power of endurance, added to gen- tleness and graceful activity, probably no breed of horses in the world surpasses the Morgans. The}^ are unsually kind and show a surprising degree of intelligence ; they are strong, com- pact, and sure footed. As roadsters and stage horses and for the general purpose horse, they have never been excelled by any other breed or class of American horses. "We have from reliable authority the history of a Morgan horse — of the old family of N"ew England Morgans — that was frequently driven from Brattleboro, Yt., to Hartford, Conn., 80 miles, over very hilly roads, in a day, attached to a chaise containing two adults, and that he continued to do this service handsomely after he was twenty-four years old. The founder of this breed was Justin Morgan, foaled in 1793 at Springfield, Mass. Of the origin and breeding of this horse — the founder of a mighty race — there was for many years much doubt ; but as time and perseverance of investiga- (60) THE MORGAN HORSE. 61 tion has unraveled the snarl, we are now,. and have been for many years, ready to accept the following as his breeding: His sire, without doubt, was a bay horse called True Briton or Beautiful Bay — he was known by both names — a son of Imported Traveler, his dam a chestnut mare sired by Kanger of Pomfret, Conn., an imported Arabian horse from Morocco, who was afterwards taken to Virginia and his name changed to Linsley's Arabian. (See Linsley's Arabian, in Arabian Horses, Chaptei II.) His grand dam was a close, compact, medium-sized, light bay mare of the Wild Air breed ; a very smooth, handsome traveler. Her sire was Diamond, who was by Wild Air or Church horse, by imported Wild Air, imported by DeLaney of Long Island and afterwards taken back to England. The third dam of Justin Morgan Avas a Dutch mare brought to this country (either she or her dam), by Dutch emigrant settlers of the Mohawk valley. Of Imported Traveler, the grandsire of Justin Morgan, the Stud Book says : " This horse was second to no other of the early importations," etc. His pedigree traces in a direct and unbroken line to the White Turk and Laton's Barb mare. Wild Air, the g. g. g. sire of Justin Morgan, the Stud Book tells us also traces in an unbroken line to the White Turk and Laton Barb mare, and was so well thought of in England that he was purchased in America and re-shipped to England. Thus we find that history proves this most wonderful horse, Justin Morgan, that some called a scrub and some a Canadian, to be a very high-bred animal ; he was, without doubt, sired by a high-bred horse and out of a well-bred dam. Indeed, he was no come-by-chance horse. As to his true breeding, probably no horse of note that ever lived had as many different versions as to pedigree, or found more people (forty of fifty years after his death), willing to file affidavits as to his breeding ; but, strange to say, no two of them were alike, so far as I can learn. According to Lmdsey in his work " The Morgan Horse," 62 THE MORGAN HORSE. some filed their affidavits swearing that he was a French Cana- dian, while others were ready and did swear to many other versions of his pedigree. This investigation, in which I have been engaged for many years, gives me the above, I thinh cor- rect, conclusions. As to his individual appearance, as described by Lindsey : " He was about fourteen hands high and weighed about 950 pounds ; color, a dark bay with black points ; he had no white hairs on him. His head was good; not extremely small but lean and bony; the face straight, the forehead broad, ears small, very fine and set rather wide apart, eyes medium size, very dark and prominent with a spirited but pleasant expression, and showed no white around the edge of the lid. His nostrils were very large, the muzzle small and the lips close and firm. His back was very short, the shoulder blades and hip bones being very long and oblique and the loin exceedingly broad and muscular. His body was rather long, round, deep, close, ribbed up ; chest deep and wide with the breast bone projecting a good deal in front. " His legs were short, close jointed, thin but very wide and flat, hard and free from meat with muscles that were remarka- bly large for a horse of his size, and this superabundance of muscle exhibited itself at every step. His coat was short, very bright and glossy. He had a little long hair about the fetlocks on the back side of the legs, the rest of limbs being entirely free from it." His feet were rather small but well shaped, tough as iron; and he was, in fact, in every respect perfectly sound and free from all blemishes to the day of his death, which was caused by an accident when twenty-nine years old. He was a very fast walker ; in trotting his step was short and nervous, displaying considerable knee action. He was sure footed and his bold, fearless style of movement, and vigorous, untiring action, have, perhaps, never been surpassed in any horse. He was a natural parade horse, and was perfectly kind and THE MOKGAN HORSE. 63 pleasant in all harness, and one of, the best saddle horses of his day. He could out-draw any horse of his own weight, and at short distances was a fast runner. I have been explicit in my description of this horse, both in appearance and disposition, as he was the most remarkble ani- mal, perhaps, in the entire history of American horses, and the founder of a race inheriting his characteristics to a remarkable degree. Perhaps no horse in America, living or dead, ever stamped upon his descendants even to the eighth and ninth generations, his own striking, valuable characteristics, equal to him ; and now after a lapse of upwards of seventy years after his death, we find some of his descendants possessed of his prevailing char- acteristics enough to convince the horse connoisseurs that they are indeed Morgans. Justin Morgan died in the winter of 1821, the property of Levi Bean, near Chelsea Village, Yt., aged twenty-nine years. It was supposed that a kick received from another horse, and want of proper care, hastened his death, perhaps by several years, as he was as sound as a colt up to the time of the acci- dent causing the same. As to the color, weight, and height of the Morgans as a family, from their foundation as such, the bays, chestnuts, browns, and blacks predominate, with an occasional gray. The bays, as a rule, have black points with but little, if any, white. The chestnuts are mostly dark chestnuts — not sorrels — many having the tail and mane of a lighter hue than the body, and some have a white stripe in the face, with an occa- sional white foot or two. A particular shade of brown seems peculiar to this breed, hence the name " Morgan brown." As to the weight of the old I^ew England stock of Morgans, we find it to range from about 875 pounds up to 1,000 pounds; but when of the larger weight we usually find the outcross on a larger type of mares. As to height, from thirteen and one-half to fifteen hands will about cover the whole ground. 64 THE MORGAN HORSE. I frequently meet, here in the West, old farmers who say : " Yes, I have seen the Morgan horse at such a place, at such a time, and he was a large horse, some sixteen hands, and would weigh, 1 should say, 1,400 pounds; possibly more, maybe 1,60() pounds." Now it is very evident that such men have con- founded the name of Morgan with that of Norman, and that explains the whole thing ; but it would require much argument and some practical proof to disabuse their minds, so long made up. The most noted son of Justin Morgan was Sherman Mor- gan, sired by the old horse when he was fifteen years old, and was foaled in 1809. He .was bred by James Sherman of Lyn- don, Vt. His dam, a chestnut mare — a pacer — belonged to that once popular breed, the Narragansett Pacer. (See Narra- gansett Pacer, Chapter IV.) She was bred by Caleb Allen of North Kingston, R. I. ; was used in Providence, R. I., for several years by John Brown as a saddle mare, and was taken to Vermont expressly to be bred to Justin Morgan — James Sherman being, formerly, a Rhode Island man. Sherman Morgan was a dark chestnut in color, with two white hind feet and ankles, and a white stripe in the face, tak- ing his color from his dam, while in other respects he was the counterpart of his sire. In height he was thirteen and three- quarters hands ; in weight, 975 pounds. This was a most remarkable horse for durability, for, per- haps, no stock horse ever worked so hard as he did (unless it may have been his sire). Linsley said : " Most of the year he was kept constantly at work on the farm, much of which he helped to clear up ; and in the winter worked steadily in a team consisting of this stal- lion and his half brother, by Justin Morgan. This team, run- ning from Lyndon, Vt., to Portland, Me., became famous at every inn from Lyndon to Portland, and, after a time, no teamster dared match his team — however heavy — against it. THE MORGAN HORSE. 65 either in pulling or for speed, and at a dead pull at a log he never in his day found a match." Continuing, the same historian says : " Sherman was a hard master, and it is said used his team very roughly at times, and always worked this horse very hard from four years old until he was ten, when he sold him to Stephen C. Gibbs of Littleton, K. H." But the Yermonters, after having seen his stock devel- oped, could not afford to let New Hampshire retain him, and he was brought back to Vermont ; and when the Kew Hamp- shire people saw his stock somewhat developed, they outbid the Vermonters and got him back there again, and in 1831 he made the season in Charlestown, Mass., and was, perhaps, the most popular stallion in New England, if not the United States, of that time. He finally died in Lancaster, N. H., in 1855, at the age of twenty-six and one-half years, as sound as he was on the day he was foaled, and the cause of his death is to this day un- known, as he was left at ten o'clock in the morning, apparently perfectly well, and at one o'clock in the afternoon was found dead. The most noted son of Sherman Morgan was Black Hawk, later known as Hill's Vermont Black Hawk, and recorded in the " Trotting Register " Black Hawk (5). This horse was sired by Sherman Morgan when he was twenty-four years old, and was foaled the property of Wingate Trombley of Durham (now Greenland), N. H., in 1833. His dam was a half thoroughbred — - perhaps more — black mare from New Brunswick, and not a Narragansett Pacer as erroneously claimed by Wallace. He, evidently, got the dam of this horse mixed up with the dam of his sire. This Vermont Black Hawk was the founder of the Black Hawk branch of the Morgan family. He was said to be the handsomest horse of his da}^, and the most stylish carriage horse. Black Hawk was a coal black in color, about fifteen hands high, and weighed 950 to 1,000 pounds. He was used as a gentleman's roadster and familv carriage horse until eleven 5 66 THE MORGAN HORSE. years of age, before being used as a stock horse ; after which he earned for his owner, David Hill, of Bridgeport, Yt., the sum of $34,000, commencing at $10 per mare and ending at $100, cash before service. He was a great sire and his colts Avere much sought after and sold for high prices, and now, forty years after his death, it is not considered a detriment to our best bred trotters to have their pedigrees trace to him. Black Hawk was very handsome, stylish, and fast. In color, the descendants of this horse were usually black, bay, or chestnut. His stock was generally larger than himself, being mostly from larger mares. This horse also died, at the age of twenty-one years, as sound as a " Spanish Mill dollar." In handling colts from many diiferent sires I have ever found his among the very best for general use. The most noted of all the sons and daughters of Black Hawk was Ethan Allen, sired when he was fifteen years old. Ethan Allen was one of the most noted horses in America or the world in his day. In color he was a bright bay with black legs, mane, and tail, had three white feet, a star, and a white snip. He was bred by J. W. Holcomb of Ticonderoga, li. Y., and foaled in 1849. His dam was a medium-sized gray mare, sired by a Morgan horse called Robbin. When at ma- turity Ethan Allen Avas fifteen hands high, and weighed 900 pounds. He was the fastest trotting stallion living in his day, a very reliable trotter, and the greatest campaigner of his time, and undoubtedly the greatest campaigning stallion of the Avorld to date. He had an excellent temper and gait for either the road or track, and Avas a natural trotter from his colthood. His train- ing commenced at an early age, appearing in public on the turf every year from tAvo to twenty years of age. He Avas a perfect- gaited horse, never needing any of the artificial appliances so much in vogue at the present time. He AA^as beautiful to look upon, and came as near perfection as the American trotter as any horse that ever lived. Ethan Allen was the sire of many good and fast horses, but THE MORGAN HORSE. 67 his crowning effort in the stud was the producing of that most noted of all Morgans — as the sire of speed — Daniel Lambert, who was foaled in 1868, bred by W. C. Clark of Ticonderoga, N. Y., and was one of the most beautiful all-around horses that ever lived. In trotting action he was simply perfect, and in his prime was called the most beautiful horse in America. In color he was a beautiful shade of chestnut, with one white hind foot and a star, with mane and tail of a lighter color — flaxen — of extraordinary fineness and beauty. He had very fine limbs, neck, and head. He sired many fine speed- producing stallions, among which are Motion, Ben Franklin, Abraham, Aristos, and others of note. DANIEL LAMBERT 102, SIRE OF Comee, Lambert B Ella Doe, Jim, Nancy, Wild Lily, George R., Lady Foxie, Jimmy Stewart, John Hall, . George A., . Jubilee Lambert, Dickard, Maggie Lambert, Dan Miller, . Nonesuch, . Blanchard, . Billy D., Addison Lambert Annie Page, Ben Lambert, Baby Lambert, Aristos, Annie Laurie, Boston, Gol. Moulton, Cobden, M. Y. D. Colt, Ben Franklin, 2.19M 3.211^ 2.233^ 2.233^ 2.231^ 2.24 2.24 2.241^ 2.241^ 2.2414 2.241^ 2.25 2.25,^4 2.25i|' 2.251^ 2.251^ 3.25M 2.26 2.27 2.271^ 2.27 2.271^ 2.273^ 2.273^ 2.27X 2.281^ 2.283^ 2.28?^ 2.29 Motion, .... 3.29 Pauline Lambert, . . 2.29 Clara Morris, . . . 2.29i^ Green Mab, .... 2. 293=^ Flora Huff, .... 2.29^ Annie Lou, .... 2.30 Joe S., .... 2.30 May Morning, . . . 2.30 and dams of Pamlico, .... 2.103^ Altar, 2.161^ Dandy Jim, . , . 2.16i| Ruth Wilkes, . . . 3.17i^ Minerva, . . . .2.18 Overholt, . , . .2.19 Virginius, . . . , 2.193^ Wyandot, .... 3.193^ Gilmore, .... 3.213^ Sea King, .... 3.213^ Silver Lace, . . . 3.31 1^ RoseFilkins, . . . 3.33 Miss Foxie, .... 3.223^ Revenue, .... 2.323^ Exarch, .... 2.233^ Madge Wilkes, . . . 3.23i^ Charles Reade, . . . 3.243^ Lotta, 3.241^ Claudius, . . . .3.35 Sister Barefoot, . . .3.35 68 THE MORGAN HORSE. Katie M., Massasoit, . Callisto, Baron Browne, 3, Howell, 3, . Emma B., . Haldane, California Lambert, Anna Knowlton, Duane, Crete, . Duellon, Red Lambert, Jingles, Capt. Bowman, 25^ 26 261^ 26K 3614 261^ 27 27K 273^ 27M 28 .281^ ,283^ ,283^ Juno Wilkes, 3, . Malachi, Busby, Golden, Olivia, Marabrino Lambert, Early Bloom, Five Points, Foxwood, Nyanza, 2, . Prima Donna, p., Nightingale, p., . Louie M., p , Snowbird, p., 2.29 2.29 2.291^ 2.291^ 2.2914 2.293.^ 2.293^ 2.293^ 2.30 2.30 2.091^ 2.131^ 2.193^ 2.22 PRODUCING Air Line. Sired dam of Robert M. Taylor, . Ahraham, 353. Frank, . . . . Bessie H., Kitty Cook, Jeannie, . . . . Belle Shackett, Alice, . . . . Belle of Albany, Bright wood, p., and dams of Ketch, . . . . Hustler, . . . . Addison Lambert, 743. Susie, . . . . Shadow, . . . . Aristos, 771. SONS OF 2.2%14 2,191^ 2.253^ 2.26 2.27K 2.271^ 2.28 2.291^ 2.19M 2.183^ 2.201^ 2.26 2.29ii^ H. B. Winship, . 2.201^ "Warren, . .. 2.203^ R. D. F., . . 2.213^ Gillig, : . 2.233^ Aristotle, . . 2.233^ Col. Kip, . . 2.241^ Carlotta, . . 2.26 Levi Aristos, . . 2.263>^ Jno. I., . . 2.261^ Aristomont, . 2 27?^: Clegg Wright, . 2.29 DANIEL LAMBERT. Essex, .... Tamerlane, 3, . Frank Dana, Lexington Chief (p. 2.2OI4), G. H. K., p , . and dams of Rustic, Toney, Arnutta, . . . Maid of the Wilderness, Arpansa, . Allmyown, p , . Sons have sired Aristos, Jr., 2848. Treadaway, . Don Aristos, Lady Vivian, p., . Gillig, 14258. Rupert Gillig, Sue Gillig, 3, C. W. Mitchell, 2120. Maggie Mitchell, . Jno. Mitchell, Billy Mitchell, and dam of Rapid Transit, H. B. Wmsiiip, 3874. Lady Winship, and dams of Leicester, 2.29 2.29 2 29^ 2.30 2.243^ 2 27 2.27 2.271^ 2.271^ 2.30 2.24}^ 2241^ 2.293^ 2 17^ 2.21M 2.251^ 2.261^ 2.283^ 2.293i 2.233^ 2 17^.^ THE MORGAN HORSE. 69 Sprague Winship, . 2.291^ Sons have sired Sherman Akistos. California Lambert, 10936. Maid of the Wilde rness, 2.26J4 Aaron S., 2, . 2.29 Aurora, 188 4. Maj. Lambert, p , 3 (r), 2.194 Constance, . 2.21M Glen Allen. Maud, . 2.27 B. F. Solon, . 2.24M Daniel Lambert, . 2.28 Rare Ben. Bay Lambert, 11839. Rare John, . 2.294 Miss Fanny Jackson . 2 30 Charlie Wicker, S8U- and dams of Myrtle S., 2.26 Jacksonian, . 2.281^ Josie D 2.30 • Bessie, . 2.2934 Ghamplain, lOJ^l. Bay Star, 11267. Chamois, p., . 2.164 Amy Lee, . . 2.14 Happy Girl, p.. 2.2334: Roxy Lee, . 2.263^ CoMen, IO48. St. Lambert, . . 2.29}^ Helen M., . '. 2.27 Ben Franklin, 753. Cobden, Jr., p.. 2.15 Dynamite, . 2.20?4 Cobdela, p., . 2.21% Hulda B., . 2.213^ Dick Preble. May Be, . . 2.24 Lady M., .... 2.24 Orwell, . 2 24 Escort, U97. Althea, . 2.241^ Hermie, p., . 2.241^ Rare Ben, . 2.26 Peerless Ben, . . 2.261^ Firefly, 8953. Nimbus, . . 2.26^^ Delmonte, 2.2114 Katisha, . . 2 2%% Col. Harry Lambert. California Lambert, . 2.27 Ethel Lambert, 2.293^ Frank H., . 2,273^ Harvester. Dennis H., . 2.28 J. Y, G., . . .• . 2.25 Belle Franklin, . 2.28.14 Lsland Chief, 3899. George C, . 2.284 Phil. Dwyer, . 2.291^ Cambridge Girl, . 2.2%% Jack Lambert, 6190. Belle Girl, . 2.283^ Miss Cawley, . 2.23K Charley Ray, . . 2.29 Jesse Lambert. Little Witch, . . 2.29 Flora 2.25 R. W. S., . 2.291^ Jim Lambert. Surprise Franklin, Bessie, . 2.29K . 2.293^ Eunice 2.261^ Cassie B., . 2.293^ John Lambert, 1809. Helene, . 2293.4^ Goldfinder, 2.2314 McMyatt, . 2.30 Jubilee Lambert, 518. K 0. D., . 2 30 Jubilee Lambert, Jr., 2.21% Buck Franklyn, p., 2, . 2.173^ Jubilee De Jarnette, 2.294 Henry C, p., . . 2.24 Lambert Chief, 3432. and dam f Minnie Moulton, 2.271^ Cap. Thorne, p., 3, . 2.181^ Fanny B., 2.293^ 70 THE MORGAN HORSE. Lambertus, 2263. Sylvester K., , Sir Thomas, Motion, 1544- Whist, Daisy Lambert, Hattie L., Crome, Mountain Boy, 4^50. Daisy C, . Mcintosh, Bessie Braddock, Premier. Blondin, . Boyal Lambert, 7012. Golden, 2.201^ 2.261^ 2.231^ 2.25K 2.26 2 221^ 2.271^ 2.30 2.283^ 2.29M Star Ethan, 18737. Little Dan, . . . 2.19i^ Pearl, .... 2.253^ S wanton Boy, . . . 2.27)^ Split Ears, . . . 2.29^ U. Tell, . . . .2.29^ Allan, .... 2.30 Ben H., . . . -. 2.30 and dam of Bessie W., . . . 2.28 Thought, 16820. Archie B., ... 2.18i^ Mac, .... 2.203^ SIRES WHOSE DAMS ARE BY DANIEL LAMBERT. Altar, 2648. Grover C, Aristos, Jr. Treadway, Don Aristos, Lady Vivian, p. , Revenue, 1976. Rena Rolfe, Mendicant, Reve So, . Renown, . 2.30 2.241^ 2.293^ 2.17M 2.185^ 2.28>^ 2.28.1^ 2.29K Calitorkia Lambert, 10936. Aaron S., . . . 2.29 Maj. Lambert, p. (r), . 2.191/4 FoxwooD, 3406. Fox Hunter, . . . 2.30 Haldane, 4548. Hustler, .... 2.203^ Howell, 3, . . . 2.261^ Halo, .... 2.27 Pamlico, 7156. Little Tobe, 3, . . . 2.293^ PERFORMERS WHOSE SECOND DAMS ARE BY DANIEL LAM- BERT. Butterfly, . 2.19,34 Banquet, . 2.24 Pure Wilkes, 2.19?4 Nimbus, . 2.263^ Bessie Wilkeswood, . 2.20 Castalia, . 2.293^ Eagle Bird, . 2.21 Capt. Thorne, p., . 2.191^ OTHER DES CENDANTS. Monbars, 3, . 2.1134: American Jay, . 2.U% Galileo Rex, 2.12% Knoxie Walker, . . 2.28}4 Purity Wilkes, 2.15M Rapid Transit, . . 2.2934 Leicester, 2.173^ Sprague Winshiii, . 2.293^ Alamito, 2.19 Hustler, p., . 2.1534 Prue 2.211^ Amy L., p.. . 2.21 Robert M. Taylor, 2.231^ Eagle Princess, p., . 2.213^ THE MORGAN HORSE. 71 RECAPITULATION. Standard performers, 36 Sons (29) with 101 Daughters have produced, 49 Grandsons (8) with, 13 Mares by sons have produced, 12 Sires out of daiighters (7) with . 15 Daughters have produced the dams of, 8 Other descendants, 17 Total, . 351 " Nothing succeeds like success," and that opportunity has very much to do with success none can deny; if Daniel Lambert had been taken to Kentucky in his prime and bred to a class of mares belonging to Kentucky alone at that time, there is no doubt that he would now, instead of being credited with thirty-eight trotters in the list, have stood much nearer the head of all trotting sires of the world. "While Daniel Lambert has wonderfully distinguished him- self as a sire of trotters, he has even still greater distinction as a progenitor of handsome, stylish, spirited roadsters, with speed enough for gentlemen's road driving, and in this respect he has never been equaled. There were scores of his sons and daughters used as road- sters, which were never trained for speed nor stepped upon a race-track, that could beat 2.30 on the road with ease, and that had beauty and style enough to win the admiration of any horseman, and that sold for very high prices. CHAPTER YIL MORGAN HORSES.— Continued. Woodbury Morgan — Royal Morgan — Morgan Caesar — Green Mountain Morgan — Morgans for stage purposes — Morgans for cavalry service — Adaptation to rough and hilly roads — As trotters — Ripton — Last message of Ethan Allen. AMONG other individual members who have contributed to establish and perpetuate this great and mighty family may be mentioned "Woodbury Morgan, foaled in 1816, the property of Lyman Wright of Tunbridge, Yt. He was a dark, rich chestnut, with one white hind foot and a stripe in his face. He was fourteen and three-quarters hands high and weighed 990 pounds. He was a very handsome, bold, and stylish horse, with great resolution and nervous temperament. He was a good driver and appeared well in harness, but showed to the best advantage under the saddle and was the best parade horse of his day. He was sired by Justin Morgan, dam untraced. He finally died in Alabama in 1838 from exposure in a long and stormy sea voyage, at twelve and one- half years old, perfectly sound. Mr. Lindsley, in " Morgan Horses," says : " Royal Morgan was foaled in 1821, the property of Mr. Aldrich of St. Johnsbury, Yt., sired by Sherman ; dam known as the Aldrich mare, and sired by Justin Morgan. She was a dark bay of remarkably compact form, with great powers of endurance, having produced and nursed a colt when twenty- nine years old. Royal Morgan was thirteen and three-quarters hands high and weighed 975 pounds ; color, dark bay with full black points and a small star in forehead. This horse was taken to Maine and had much to do with establishing the noted roadsters and gentlemen's driving horses of that State, (72) n fcri o PS p S C 2. Q s ^ o 5^ td ffi THE MORGAN HORSE. 73 and was brought back again to Yermont and was owned by a Mr. Crane, and by some known to this day as the Crane horse. Mr. Crane became so much attached to this horse that a short time previous to his death he directed that a likeness of the horse should be carved on his tombstone, which, I believe, has been done. "When I last heard of this horse he was thirty-five years old and as sound and limber as a colt." From the same source of information I gather the fol- lowing : " Morgan Caesar was foaled in 1828, the property of H. Smith of Hartland, Yt. ; sired by Woodbury, dam by Quick- silver. He was fifteen hands high and weighed 1,100 pounds, was a fast driver — could go a mile in those times in three minutes, and was driven twelve miles with two men in a sleigh in forty-four minutes. " This horse stood several seasons in the State of Maine, and was really the founder of that family, or class, of roadsters for which Maine has become quite famous. But the Yermont- ers were too shrewd to allow him to always remain in the Old Pine Tree State and got him back again to that of the Green Mountains, where he died in 1848, aged twenty years, and he also died sound in limb. His stock was among the best-selling stock in Yermont, and geldings of his get brought from $300 to $500 each." Again: "Green Mountain Morgan — Hale's, — was foaled in 1831 ; sire, Gilford Morgan ; g. s. Woodbury ; g. g. s. Justin Morgan and dam sired by Woodbury, a dark bay mare of beauty and action. " Green Mountain was fourteen and one-half hands high and weighed 1,100 pounds; color, a deep bay. He was a great show horse ; was taken West in 1853 and exhibited at several fairs and took first premium at State fairs at Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan. In 1851 he received first premium at the Yer- mont State Fair. He was a horse of great muscular develop- ment and remarkably nervous and spirited action. " A boldness in his style, a fire in his eye, and an unceasing 74 THE MORGAN HORSE. ' play to every muscle, once seen by any person having a taste for a fine horse could never be forgotten. In boldness and gracefulness of style he was considered incomparable in his day, and when he appeared on the show-grounds at Louisville, Ky., at the State Fair in 1853, he met with a cordial welcome and was greeted on entering the exhibition ring mth such eagerness and applause that told full plainly that his form and style of action were new to the Kentuckians, and was, never- theless, appreciated by the thousands of strangers before whom he was moving. " It may be proper to state here that this horse was taken from Yermont to Dayton, Ohio, in a box car, without any stop for rest. The fair being over he went directly to Detroit, ar- riving there after the commencement of their fair. From Detroit he went directly to Louisville, where he arrived late at night previous to the last day of their fair. When brought into the ring of stallions the next morning, the blue ribbon — the highest prize — had just been tied on a beautiful dapple gray of the Gray Eagle stock, but when Green Mountain, then nineteen years old, pranced by the grand stand, the mul- titude immediately shouted, ' Take it off ! Take it off.' It was, accordingly, transferred to Green Mountain." As before stated, the Morgans are a general purpose breed. This is most emphatically true. In New England we find them doing the work on the farms, doing livery business, used as family horses, and they are much sought after as roadsters and gentlemen's drivers. Before the advent of railroads, when traveling was all done by horse power, we find some of the best and most durable horse teams in the land composed of these same little Morgans. Mr. Lindsley says: "For stage purposes their equal for hilly countries has never been found. As a case in point I will state an old-time incident, occurring some fifty years since. A party of gentlemen made a trip to the White Mountains. After having made the customary examinations they arrived late one night at the Franconia ' Notch House.' Here they THE MORGAN HORSE. 75 learned that a stage would leave for St. Jolinsbury the next morning on its last trip for the season, it being then late in the month of September. This being the route our party preferred taking they engaged passage at once. Consequently the next morning, six good-sized individuals, besides the driver, with about an ordinary horse-load of baggage were stowed away in the rugged looking stage-wagon to which was attached a pair of medium-sized horses, as follows: The near one, a gelding of a dark chestnut color, about fourteen and onet-half hands high,, very closely and compactly built, with a clean, small head and exceedingly small ears set wide apart and very lively and active. The other was a gray mare somewhat heavier and considerably taller. She had a fine, long hip, well-shaped shoulders, and was, on the whole, a very fine animal. " The party all objected to starting out with so small a. team which they deemed quite unable for such a load to bo drawn over such a mountainous and hilly road ; but as re- monstrances prevailed nothing the passengers fell to discussing the chances of getting on with their infant team, as they fa- cetiously called it, and, from this, to discussing the relative merits of their two nags. "One of the party whose fancy had been taken by tho brilliant but pleasant eye that stood 'out large and free, the ever restless ears, and the strong, muscular loins and quarters of the chestnut, proposed to back the. horse, much to the amusement of most of the party. " When, at length, the driver gathered up the ribbons and gave the word, the mare dashed ahead as if determined to drag the driver off the seat. The horse struck a short, nervous trot,. without fretting, and kept steady at it. The mare took the whole thing for the first half mile almost entirely by th» bit^ and the travelers had a hearty laugh at the judgment of my Rhode Island friend who had 'backed' the chestnut horse. " A half hour passed and with it a good five miles of the road; by this time 'bets were not so freely offered on the mare ;' she had commenced to slacken her pace, perspired freely. 76 THE MORGAN HORSE. moved unsteadily, with an occasional toss of the head that plainly told that she was beginning to lose her interest in the trip. "As to the horse, not a muscle moved save those of the ears. Thus they kept on for fourteen miles, which was the end of the first stage ; the mare much fatigued with panting and exhaustion. Here they were to have a fresh team, but owing to a horse being very lame from a recent severe sprain, the driver changed but one and drove the chestnut gelding through to St. Johnsbury, some fourteen miles further. This seemed to the party rather hard, but the horse did not seem to mind it in the least, and up the long hill leading into St. Johnsbury he pressed on at the same short, nervous trot which he had main- tained all the way. On leaving the stage at St. Johnsbury, the party took a good look at the little horse that had achieved such a wonderful task, and were told by an old horseman that knew, that the little chestnut was a son of old Sherman Mor- gan, that he was eighteen years old, and that he had been run- ning constantly on a stage team for eleven years." Endurance is pre-eminently the heirloom of the Morgan family. As regards the adaptability of Morgans as stage horses, Mr. Lindsley says : " I will here give the statement of an old ^ stager ' by the name of Milo June, who, by the way, was con- sidered one of the best judges of his day. When asked to give his views respecting Morgans as stagers, he said : ' I have spent the greater portion of my life in staging, formerly in Vermont, now in Missouri. I take pleasure in bearing testimony to the decided superiority of the Morgan horses for coach service over any others that I have ever used. I have bought many horses in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri, and al- though an occasional good roadster may be found, they are not common. Many of the horses of these States have fine forms and good carriage, yet lack the high, . free spirit, unflinching- courage, and iron constitutions the Vermont Morgans so gener- ally possess. THE MORGAN HORSE. 77 " ' Very many of the Western horses are too large. Large horses may be the best for draft, but I have always found horses of medium size, ranging, say, from 1,000 to 1,050 pounds, the most serviceable and enduring by far when used before a coach.' " D. C. Lindsley, Esq., the author of " Morgan Horses," also says that Mr. O. Walker, one of the most successful stage owners of our country in his time, and who was well known both in the East and the West (and the great fortune which he secured by his own exertions sufficiently attests his practical wisdom and sound judgment), in a letter dated Chicago, April 21, 1856, says: " Being a Vermonter, I have known Morgan horses as long as I have known any. I have resided in Chicago the last seventeen years, during which time I have been largely en- gaged in the business of staging, which business affords con- stant employment for about 1,500 horses, and have thus had opportunities for observing and attesting the capacity and en- durance of horses. I have no hesitation in saying I consider the Morgan horse far superior to any other breed or blood I have ever known for the road or farm ; in fact, I would prefer them over all others for any kind of service on the American continent. They are invariably good feeders and easily kept, and will not only perform and do more service in a year, but will give more years of service than any other breed of horses I have ever known. " Of the horses hitherto raised in the Western States, and particularly west of the Lakes (although much improved within a few years, and many fine horses may now be found among them), it is undeniably true that a Morgan horse from New England will outlast two horses raised in the West. " It is also true that but few Morgan horses have as yet been brought from 'New England, west of the Lakes, and gen- erally true that their services are very much sought by intelli- gent breeders throughout the country. Any number of inferior horses may be found in the West which are claimed to be of 78 THE MORGAN HORSE. Morgan blood. This attempt to palm off counterfeits is the highest evidence of the value of the genuine blood. " The ready and general objection in the West with those who are not familiar with the Morgans, is want of size, forget- ting that their size should be judged by their weight and not by the length of their legs, and that the same bodies upon long legs would look much larger." During the War of the Rebellion in the United States, there was a great demand for medium-sized horses for the cavalry service, and not only the States, but Canada as well, was drained of this class, especially geldings, to supply the demand. Of all the mounted troops passing under the review at Washington of the late lamented Gen. Grant — a great lover of fine horses — none were so pleasing to his practiced eye as the Vermont Cavalry whose mount consisted principally of Morgans. The Morgan producing States, viz., Yermont and New Hampshire, were during this war so completely drained of their stock that in order to supply their customers, who by this time had become quite numerous, they — some of them — bought up light horses from the West and from Maine and Canada and after acclimating them among the mountains, were ready to sell to inexperienced buyers as Morgans. I don't accuse the breeders or farmers of practicing this fraud, but charge it to the dealers and jockeys. There have been so many horses, first and last, sold for Morgans, that were but little, if any, akin to them, and that were so lacking in the general requisites of the true Morgan, that many have been sadly disappointed as to the expectations they had formed of their ability to perform all that was claimed for them. A well-bred horse of the old stock of New England Mor- gans has never yet, to my knowledge, deceived the purchaser, but of course they should not be held responsible for the class of horses sold for New England Morgans, whose veins contain, perhaps, not one drop of the blood of old Justin Morgan. This style of horse-jocke}'' dicker has done more injury to the Mor- THE MORGAN HORSE. 79 gan family of horses than any and all things else that has been done to their detriment. The Morgans seem especially adapted to the rough and hilly country roads of New England from the fact that they are sure-footed ; they are almost iron hoofed ; they are able to descend the steepest hills on a round trot, and their adaptability to ascend or climb those same hills, even with a load, would put to shame many much larger horses. As to the success of the Morgans in the trotting circuit we find by the records that no less than 100 Morgan stallions have sired trotters with well-earned records of 2.30 or less, and that such Morgan trotters number more than 200. Of the nine stallions of all the trotting stallions in the world up to 1887, who had sired individual trotters whose win- nings on the trotting turf had amounted to $10,000 and upwards, we find that three out of the nine were Morgans, viz., Black Hawk, Ethan Allen, and Daniel Lambert — father, son, and grandson. The Morgans were among the earlier trotters of the United States and figured on the trotting turf long before it had any such race-tracks as we now find all through our land. (The race tracks of those days were usually half-mile tracks and at the present day would be considered but mere apologies for the development of speed.) And long before America's best hick- ory wood and the best manufactured steel had done so much towards producing light and suitable vehicles such as we now have, saying nothing about the bike which has — it is claimed — reduced the records from the best and lightest high-wheel sulky, very materially. Among the recorded trotting performances in races of from forty to sixty years ago, may be found the following : RiPTON, the fastest trotting son of Sherman Morgan, made his debut on the trotting tracks of New York and Philadelphia in 1835. He successfully •competed with the best trotters of his day and scored a record of 2.38 (one mile in harness) and 5.15 — two miles in harness. (See Eipton in " Old Time Trotters," Chap. XXII.) 80 THE MORGAN HORSE. About 52 years ago Black Hawk won a race by trotting- five miles in fifteen minutes, and in 1843 he won a race of two miles with ease in 5.43 and single mile heats in about 2.40. " In 1853, his daughter, Black Hawk Maid, won a race of two mile heats in 5.23, in 1861 his son, Lancet, made a record of 2.27i. Lady Sutton, by Morgan Eagle, w^on a mile race in 5.17. Beppo, by Gifford Morgan, won a race in 2.31^, and Pizarro, by Morgan Caesar, also won a race in 2.35." I mention these few instances of old-time fast trotting of Moro-an horses, not to call the attention of my readers to their records as being fast as compared to the best records of the present day, but merely to show that the Morgans of "ye olden tyme " were possessed of some speed at the trot ; and now,, when we compare those records with the best of the present day, considering all the contingencies of the case, those old- time Morgan trotters,. with but little development and minus track advantages and speed-producing vehicles and appliances of our time, were not so far behind the modern trotter as would seem at the first glance at the records. The Morgans are our oldest trotting family, and if they have not produced our very fastest trotters, their produce de- serves to stand at the very head of all, as good tempered, hardy, and pleasant roadsters. Of all the Morgan horses ever bred perhaps no individual among them has attracted the attention of the American peo- ple equal to Ethan Allen eighteen years before the public as a show horse and a trotter. His great race with Dexter in 1867, June 21st, and which crowned him as King of the Morgans, is. still remembered by msiny. This horse was finally purchased by the Messrs. Sprague and Aikers for stock purposes, and died on their Kansas stock farm in 1876, aged twenty-seven years. The following soliloquy from the "American Horse Breeder" may not be out of place here, as the THE MORGAN HORSE. 81 LAST MESSAGE OF ETHAN ALLEN. " I stand and gaze to the eastward, O'er prairies rolling and low ; Seeking in vain for the mountains And the friends of long ago. And I long for the evergreen forests, For the sound of the brooklet's rill: And a draught of the sparkling water From the spring at the foot of the hill. Time is fleeting, years are passing, Tears are dropping; I'm alone; Quite forgotten, thinking, longing, For my loved Green Mountain home, When my form was lithe and youthful, Like the Indian's supple bow; When my flight was like the eagle's. Or tlie lightning's vivid glow. Days of triumph, days of victory. Dexter beaten, 'spite the taunt: ' He is nothing but a Morgan Who is fighting for Vermont.' I can hear the joyous shouting, I can see the flowers they bring To deck their own, loved Ethan Allen, Crowned that day ' The Morgan King.' Tell me, have they quite forgotten All the deeds that I have done ? Do they think of Ethan Allen At the setting of the sun ? " CHAPTER yill. RYSDYKE'S HAMBLETONIAN. History and pedigree — The Charles Kent mare — Imported Belf ounder — Abdallah, sire of Hambletonian — Stud career — Great value of the get of Hambletonian — Hambletonian's sons of renown. THE history of this world-renowned sire of speed and that of his ancestors is an interesting topic to all, and espe- cially to those who are just entering the breeding ranks ; but it is already so familiar to the practical breeder and to many lovers of the American trotting horse that they know it by heart. In the summer of 1848 Mr. Joseph Seeley of Sugar Loaf, Orange County, I^. Y., bred an animal known as the Charles Kent mare to Abdallah, by Mambrino, a son of Imported Messenger. The result of this service was a bay colt with two white feet and ankles and a small star, which was afterwards known as Rysdyke's Hambletonian ; which, when a weanling in 1849, was sold with its dam to a Dutch farmer of the same county named William Rysdyke — the price of both being $125. This Charles Kent mare was bred by J. S. Jackson of Oxford, N. Y., and foaled in 1834; hence was fifteen years old when she produced this noted son. This ma,re was a daughter of Imported Belfounder, a beau- tiful and powerful although not large horse, bred in Norfolk County, England, foaled in 1816, and imported to Boston, Mass., in the ship JRasselas, arriving there July 11, 1822. He was imported by James Boot, who paid £700 sterling, or about $3,500, for him in England ; he was a natural trotter and fast. Extracts from his service card for 1823 read as follows : (83) rysdyke's hambletonian. 83 " Belfounder was got by that well-known, fast, and high- formed trotter. Old Belfounder, out of Velocity, by Haphazard, by Sir Peter, out of Miss Hewey, by Eclipse ; grand-dam was of good IS'orth Country blood, but not thoroughbred. Velocity trotted on the Norwich road in 1806 ten miles in one hour, and though she broke fifteen times into a gallop and as often turned around, she won the match. In 1803 she trotted twenty-eight m^iles in one hour and forty-seven minutes, and has also done many other great performances against time. " Belfounder, at five years old, trotted two miles in six minutes and in the following year was matched to trot nine miles in thirty minutes, which he won easily by twenty-two seconds. His owner afterwards challenged to perform with him seventeen and one half miles in one hour, but it was not accepted ; he has since never been saddled nor matched. " Old Belfounder was a true descendant from the original blood of the Fireaways, which breed of horses stand unrivaled for the saddle, either in this or any other nation." As to the Fireaways mentioned in the above advertisement, we have an account of a great many performers of this family in England ; among others of a mare called l^onpareil trotting in a vehicle called a match cart 100 miles in nine hours and fifty-seven seconds ; her sire was Fireaway, owned in the county of I^orfolk. A son of this same Fireaway, called E"orfolk Phenomenon, out of a Shields mare, is spoken of by the London Sunday Times of May, 1839, as " the fastest trotter that ever stepped. He is known to have joerformed two miles in five minutes and four seconds and is said to have trotted twenty-four miles in an hour." From the above it would seem that the Fireaways were a remarkable trotting family, and from this it would seem that the trotting instincts received by Bysdyke's Hambletonian from Abdallah and Bishop's Hambletonian, through Imported Messenger, were very materially strengthened by the Bel- founder cross in his dam. 84 rysdyke's hambletonian. Belfounder stood at Charlestown, Mass., about six years, and was then leased to parties in New York State for $500 per year. He finally died on Long Island in 1843. His blood mixed admirably with that of Abdallah and Clay. The dam of Sayer's Harry Clay, 2.29, was by Imported Belfounder. Sayer's Harry Clay got the dams of twelve 2.30 trotters, and also the dam of the great Electioneer with 150 performers in the list with records ranging from 2.08i to 2.30. The Charles Kent mare was naturally a very superior ani- mal. "When three years old she was purchased from her breeder by a Mr. Seeley for $300. He sold her for $400 to a Mr. Pray, who sold her to a New York butcher named Chivers for $500, who, in turn, sold her to a banker for $600. While owned by the New York banker she became so lame as to be unfit for road work, and was sold to Charles Kent, who bred her to Webber's Tom Thumb, the produce being a filly which bred to Vernol's Black Hawk, son of Long Island Black Hawk, brought the noted trotting sire. Green's Bashaw, whose list of 2.30 performers outnumbers that of any other stallion tracing in the male line to the noted stallion Andrew Jackson. One Eye, dam of the Charles Kent mare, was by Bishop's Hambletonian, out of Silver Tail by Imported Messenger. Bishop's Hambletonian was by Imported Messenger, out of Pheasant by Shark ; he by Marske, sire of the great English race horse "• English Eclipse." Abdallah, the sire of Hambletonian, was a bay horse, fifteen and three-quarters hands high, bred on Long Island, N. Y., got by Mambrino and foaled in 1823, hence was twenty -six years of age when Hambletonian was foaled. Abdallah was a coarse, homely horse, and was never well patronized in the stud. J. W. Hunt of Lexington, Ky., pur- chased him in the fall of 1839, and rode him from New York city to Lexington, Ky., and made the season of 1840 with him at Lexington. But he failed to be appreciated by the breeders of the Blue Grass country, and his stud duties were said to be very light. rysdyke's hambletonian. 85 He afterwards stood in New Jersey, and in 1849 stood at the "Bull's Head" at New York with fee reduced to $15, yet still without much patronage. His coarse, ungainly looks, together with his rather unpleas- ant disposition, which, it is said, he transmitted, was greatly against him. In appearance. Old Abdallah, as he was called, was a brown bay, standing fifteen hands three inches, with a coarse, bony" head, a gamey, resolute eye Avith considerable white around the edge of the lid (such as is often seen on pie- bald horses), prominent ears, short neck, high, sharp withers, being higher forward than behind, strong but rather narrow loin, straight croup, tail light and set very high, being on a line with the backbone and having but little hair on it — being what is called a rat-tail. He was an all around homely horse, but with a good set of legs and feet. He was never broken to the harness, but under the saddle could show about a three-minute clip, and had a clean, open gait, and good knee action, and his get were mostly all trotters. He was finally given to a farmer, who sold him to a Long Island fisherman for $35, who, thinking he might utilize him in delivering the products ot the ocean to his customers, hitched him to his cart. Abdallah, still having notions of his own, considered the cart of more account for kindling wood, and consequently kicked it into numerous fine pieces ; after which the disgusted fisherman turned the horse loose upon the sands, where he finally died of starvation, in November, 1854, at the age of thirty-one years, as sound as a colt. '- Rysdyke's Hambletonian stands to-day at the very head of all horses ever foaled in America, or the world, as the great progenitor of trotters, lie was very successful in the stud, and sired 1,333 living foals. He made his owner, the late William Rysdyke, both rich and famous, and after his death, in March, 1876, strangers contributed to build him a lasting granite mon- ument to perpetuate his memory. 86 hambletonian's stud career. Hamhletonian' s Stud Career. When Hambletonian was two years old he served four mares and three foals resulted therefrom, Alexander's Abdallah being one of them. When he was three years old he served seventeen mares, getting thirteen foals — Lady Woodhull, the dam of Hambletonian (1221) which horse made a record of 2.26i in 1885, being one of them. The same year Hambletonian was shown at the New York State Fair, and defeated Roe's Abdallah Chief in two heats, time 3.03 and 2.48. Some ignore this performance entirely, but that something did give Hambletonian a boom the year afterwards cannot be denied, for 101 mares were served by him, which was something unheard-of for a four-year-old colt. That year he sired seventy-eight living foals, and among them Volunteer and Logan. In 1854, when but five years old, his fee was raised from $25 to $35, and that year he sired the famous George Wilkes, Edward Everett, and Billy Denton. In 1855 he sired Sackett's Hambletonian. In 1856 he sired Lady Augusta, 2.30i, and Belle Brandon, dam of Amy, 2.20J, and Gov. Sprague, 2.20|. The next year, when eight years old, he sired Dexter, 2.17i, and so on to the end. To show his recognized merit at that time, in 1863 his service fee was raised from $35 to $75, at which he received 150 mares, and that year he sired Jay Gould, 2.20^, Harold, Peacemaker, Regulus, Hotspur, Lysander, Macedonian, Idol, and Belle, the dam of Elmer, 2.22i. In 1864, when fifteen years old, his pat- ronage was 217 mares, from which came 148 foals, a feat never performed by any other noted horse, excepting, perhaps, Blue Bull. From this season's service came Hagaperion, 2.19^, Gazelle, 2.21, Effie Deans, 2.25^, Messenger Durock, Walkill Chief, Knickerbocker, Rysdyke, Mihvaukee, Chosroes, Jack Shep- herd, Virgo-Hambletonian, Reporter, Mape's Horse, Bucking- ham, Bay Billy, Sampson, Ouida, dam of Trinket, 2.14, Miss Brunette, dam of Black Prince, 2.25i, etc. hambletonian's stud career. 87 So rapidly grew his reputation that in 1864 his fee was put to $100 ; in 1865, to $300, and the next year at $500, and con- tinued at that. The blood of Seeley's American Star mingled kindly with that of Hambletonian ; the union gave us great performances on the track, such as Dexter, 2.17;^, Nettie, 2.18, and Orange Girl, 2.20. Prominent among the Hambletonian-Star family stallions are Dictator, sire of Jay Eye See, 2.10i, Phallas, 2.15^, and Director, 2.17 ; Aberdeen, sire of Hattie Woodward, 2. 15 J, and Modoc, 2.19 J ; Jay Gould, sire of Adele Gould, 2.19; Startle, sire of Majolica, 2.17; Walkill Chief, sire of Great Eastern, 2.18, and Dick Swiveller, 2.18. Eobert McGregor, 2.171-, is by a grandson of Hamble- tonian out of Nancy Whitman by Seeley's American Star ; and Driver, 2.19^, is by Yolunteer, out of Silver Tail by Seeley's American Star. Hambletonian was the sire of thirty-seven in the 2.30 list, which thirty-seven animals (it is said) either sold for, or in their palmy days would have sold for the magnificent sum of $339,000, and has been figured out as follows : Administrator, . 2.291^ $5,000 Jay Gould, 2.21 J^ 130,000 Alma, . 2.283^ 2,500 Jerome, . 2.27 3,000 Astoria, . . 2.291^ 2,500 Kisber, . 2.273^ 7,000 Belle, . . 2.22 15,000 Lydia Augusta, 2.30 2,500 Breeze, . . 2.24 6,000 Lady Banker, . 2.23 8,000 Bruno, . 2.29K 15,000 Lottery, . 2.27 4,000 Chester, . . 2.27 3,500 Lottie, . 2.28 4,000 Deucalion, . 2.22 10,000 Madeline, 2.2314 6,000 Dexter, . . 2.1714 35,000 Margarite, 2.29 2,50o Drift, . 2.293^ 5,000 Mattie, . 2.221^ 15,000 Effle Deems, . 2.251^ 4,000 Maud, 2.293^ 3,000 Ella Madden, . 2.253^ 4,000 Nettie, . 2.18 25,000 Enfield, . . 2.29 10,000 Nutwood (to wagon) , 2.23 4,000 Factory Girl, . 2.293^ 3,000 Orange Girl, . 2.20 10,000 Gazelle, . . 2.21 20,000 Scotland Maid, 2.281^ 4,000 George Wilkes . 2.22 25,000 Sentinel, . 2.293^ 10,000 Hamperion, . 2.29K 3,500 Small Hopes, . 2.2Q}4 8,000 Harvest QueeE L, . 2.291^ 8,000 Young Bruno, 2.223J 8,000 James, Jr., . 2.24 8,000 88 HAMBLETONIAN S STUD CAREER. The average price of the thirty-seven 2.30 performers being a fraction over $9,162. Dictator was sold for §25,000 when twenty years old. The stallions in this list which have won renown in the stud are Administrator, George Wilkes, Jay Gould, and Sen- tinel, Their united progeny would have sold for a fabulous amount of money. The fastest of the get of the above performing sires are as follows : Administrator, Catchfi}^, 2.18i ; George Wilkes, Wilson, 2.16i; Jay Gould, Pixley, 2.16; and Sentinel, Von Arnim, 2.19|. Of the trotting stallions of the world having a total of fifty or more in the list, arranged according to their respective standing as measured by the total number of standard per- formers, are Electioneer, with 150 ; ]^utwood, with 106 ; Red Wilkes, with 102 ; Happy Medium, with 88 ; George Wilkes, with 78 ; Onward, with 77 ; Blue Bull, with 60 ; Egbert, with 60 ; and Alcantara, with 51. Of these nine greatest sires in the world, four are the sons of Hambletonian, three are his grandsons, and one is his great- grandson. As to the source from which Hambletonian derived his marvelous speed-producing qualities with the power to per- petuate the same to his descendants, I claim, and always have claimed, that there should be as much credit given his dam as to his sire, and that this great Norfolk born-trotter, Imported Belfounder, a direct descendant of the great Fireaway family of England, should receive as much credit as Imported Mes- senger. I know that Wallace laid great stress on the fact that Hambletonian was " inbred to Messenger " ; 3'es, he was, but all the Messenger strains in Hambletonian combined made him but one-fourth Messenger. He was also one-fourth Bel- founder ; just as much Belfounder as Messenger. We find the potency of the Belfounder blood in the Clay family, as more trotters trace to Sayer's Harry Clay than aU. hambletonian's stud career. 89 other Clays put together (excepting, of course, his ancestors), and his dam was by Imported Belfounder. Then there is in Hambletonian's greatest son, Electioneer, with 155 sons and daughters in the list, an additional strain of Belfounder blood through his dam, whose sire was Sayer's Harry Clay. Then the greatest sire of all the Bashaw family was Green's Bashaw, whose grand-dam was the Charles Kent mare, dam of Hambletonian, by Imported Belfounder. CHAPTEE IX. ALEXANDER'S ABDALLAH. Pedigree and early history — His speed potency — Sprague's Hambletonian one of his best, ones — Sprague's Hambletonian sire of Governor Sprague — Abdallah in motion. IT has for years been a disputed question among horsemen as to which of the sons of Rsy dyke's Hambletonian was the most potent factor and deserving of the most credit in es- tablishing the American trotter. Of course if we go by the records, Electioneer leads all others ; but if we go by age and opportunity, giving him full credit, I am disposed to favor Ab- dallah (15) foaled in 1852, got by Hambletonian (10) — at the age of two years — bred by L. J. Sutton of Warwick, N". Y., and sold to Major Edsall, a hotel-keeper of Goshen, Orange County, N. Y., and by him sold to Messrs. Love and Miller of Cynthiana, Ky., in February, 1859, for $2,500. He was taken to Kentucky and his name changed from Edsall's Hambletonian to Love's Abdallah. When the war came on, Mr. Love was afraid of losing his horse and proposed selling him to Lord Eobert A. Alexander, proprietor of Woodburn Farm, believing him safe in the hands of a British subject. Mr. Alexander at first declined to purchase, but finally made Love an offer for him provided he could be made to trot in 2.35 with a month's handling — 2.42 being his record. James Monroe, who was then working for Mr. Alexander, took the horse and in two weeks' handling he trotted a full mile in 2.30i, and the deal was completed, Mr. Alexander paying $2,500 in cash and another good horse. His name was then changed to Alexander's Abdallah. The histo- ry of his being stolen by the guerrillas, re-captured by Union troops, and ridden to death at the age of thirteen years is familiar to all. (90) ALEXANDER'S ABDALLAH. '91 The blood of Alexander's Abdallali is potent and speed giv- ing generation after generation. Had he the opportunities of George Wilkes, Electioneer, and many others of the sons of Hambletonian, I have no hesitancy in going on record as say- ing he was one of the very best of all the great sons of that great progenitor of trotting speed. As it is, if we give him credit for all that justly belongs to him, and thus placing him as the grand-sire of Gov. Sprague, who was undoubtedly sired by Sprague's Hambletonian, who, in turn, was unquestionably one of Alexander's Abdallah's best sons; then, and not till then, can we count on his true merits as one of our greatest progenitors of trotting speed. Sprague's Hambletonian was kept for stock purposes only one season and not advertised at that, but was used as a road- horse both in ISTew York and Rhode Island, and with his mate, Belle Brandon, was considered at one time the best road team in ]^ew York city. He was then known by the name of ISTew York. He, with his mate, Belle Brandon, was purchased by Col. Amasa Sprague of Rhode Island, and his name changed to Sprague's Hambletonian. Col. Sprague used them as a road team, and a good team it was — I remember them well — and in 1870 they were mated together, the result of which union was a black colt afterwards known as Governor Sprague, but recorded as the son of a horse called Rhode Island. He also sired Boston-Boy-Hambletonian, 2.25, Gov. Dimon, Col. Sprague, Lady Sprague, and a few other good ones in Connecticut and Rhode Island. The three last-named foals of Sprague's Hambletonian were all bred by myself in- 1875 — foaled in 1876 — and could all trot ; the two former were great roadsters and very fast although never trained for speed. Sprague's Hambletonian died in Pomfret, Conn., in the fall of 1876 of epizootic and the want of proper care. He was a great horse, and I claim that with equal opportunities, the peer of any of the sons of Abdallah, Abdallah died at thirteen years of age, just as he was be- ginning and had an opportunity to make for himself a noted 1)2 ALEXANDER'S ABDALLAH. name at the head of the Woodburn trotting stud. He sired that greatest campaigner of her time, Goldsmith Maid, 2.14, Eosalind, 2.21|, Thorndale, 2.21^, Major Edsall, 2.29, and St. Ehno, 2.30. He also sired thirteen sons, who, altogether, sired twenty-four trotters and four pacers better than 2.30. He also sired nineteen mares who have produced twenty trotters and two pacers better than 2.30, besides being the legitimate grand- sire of Gov. Sprague, the founder of the Sprague family. Alexander's Abdallah in motion was one of the grandest horses ever seen. His dam, Katy Darling, like the dams of most great horses, was much more than an ordinary mare. She was a noted road mare of her day and was undoubtedly well-bred, although, unfortunately for the breeding student, her breeding cannot be satisfactorily traced. CHAPTER X. • THE ELECTIONEERS. Electioneer the greatest trotting sire of the world — Superior to his sire — A natural trotter — Marvin's description of him — Ability to get early and extreme speed — List of performers and dams of performers. ELECTIONEER, the greatest trotting sire of the world, was foaled in 1868. He was bred by Charles Backman of Stony-Ford Stock Farm in Orange County, ]^. Y., at which place his dam now lies under a monument raised to the memory of this great mother of trotters, and not very far from where the monument marking the resting place of his honored sire, the Hero of Chester, points its finger of memory upwards and onward, and where horsemen, in years to come, traveling in that region, will remember the great hero of trotting speedy now lying under the " live oaks " at Palo Alto, Cal. Electioneer, before going to California in 1876, at the age of eight years, had no opportunity in the stud, so his achievements and those of his family really date from 18Y8. And in esti- mating his rank as a sire this fact should be considered, and the records may be searched in vain to find another family line that in the short space of twelve years (as he died in 1890) rose to such an enviable position. In color and general conformation Electioneer resembles his sire, Hambletonian ; and being out of the greatest mare ever embraced by Hambletonian, he may safely be called his best- bred son ; and his breeding was backed up by extraordinary good individuality. He was, however, in many respects superior to his sire in beauty of form and style of movement. He was good and stout at all points, denoting marvelous strength and symmetry of structure, and he was a useful, common-sense appearing horse from his brainy head to the very tip of his tail. (93) 94 THE ELECTIONEERS. In height he measured fifteen and one-half hands at the withers and an inch higher behind, giving what I call the Hambletonian pitch, a singular order of conformation which is noticeable in a pronounced degree in many of his get, and nota- bly so in Campaign and Sunol, His broad forehead and general expression of intelligence furnish the explanation of his power to control the mental organizations of the thoroughbred, thereby making his crosses on the thoroughbred the most successful and the most marvel- ous of any stallion that ever lived. Probably the most striking feature in the general make-up of Electioneer was the enor- mous power and strength of his quarters ; in this respect the stamp of his sire was most noticeable. Although Electioneer was never trained for a record or ever in a race, he was a fully developed and natural trotter, and in his exercise on the Palo Alto track he could carry the speedy Occident 2.16|-, right up to his speed; and there is no question in the minds of those who knew him best that in his prime he could easily have beaten 2.20 if required. Electioneer goes on record as the sire of more 2.30 trotters, more 2.20 trotters, and more young record breakers, than any other horse in the world. The late Gov. Stanford often expressed the belief that Electioneer never sired a colt but that with proper training was capable of trotting in 2.30 or less, and a common expression with him was: " The Electioneers all trot." It is claimed that much of Electioneer's blood was frittered a,way in experimental courses, and his power was used to de- monstrate to the world that strictly thoroughbred mares may be able to produce fast trotters. While he did demonstrate beyond a doubt and to the most skeptical his ability to do this, there can be no donbt that he would to-day have had many more performers, to his credit had his harem consisted of se- lected trotting mares exclusively. It is claimed that the ability to get fast trotters out of thoroughbred mares is the severest test to which a stallion can THE ELECTIONEERS. 95 be subjected in the transmittance of his blood lines ; and the simple fact that the dead Electioneer was so successful on this class of mares, alone should stamp him as a horse of marvelous prepotency. Green Mountain Maid, the dam of Electioneer, was a most wonderful mare, and perhaps, all things considered, has proved herself to be the greatest trotting brood mare ever on earth. She was sired by Harry Clay, 2.29, the great brood mare sire, who sired in addition to Green Moimtain Maid, the dams of St. Julian, 2.11i; Bodine, 2.19i; Elaine, 2.20, and sixteen others in the trotting list. The dam of this most wonderful mare was Shanghai Mary, a great natural trotter and a stayer. Among Green Mountain Maid's famous children, besides the great Electioneer, are Prospero, 2.20 ; Elaine, 2.20; Dame Trot, 2.22; Elista, 2.22| ; Mansfield, 2.26; Storm, 2.261; Antonio, 2.281 ; and Marinda, 2.31. Green Mountain Maid stands out in bold relief at the very head of all brood mares of the world as being the dam of more fast trotters than any mare that ever lived, — aside from being the dam of Electioneer. In 1881 Senator Leland Stanford offered Mr. Backman $10,000 for the celebrated equine matron, then in her twentieth year, and when Mr, Backman had already realized $46,330 from the sale of her foals and had seven of her sons and daughters left. The memory of this great mare will be kept green for generations yet to come through the turf performances of her progeny. In most cases the get of Electioneer inherited his conforma- tion, and in most cases measured rather higher behind than at the withers. The brainy head of Electioneer accounts for the heads and brains of his offspring ; " Beautiful in shape and level in balance." Marvin, in describing Electioneer, s&ys : " He has a good shoulder, splendid barrel, faultless back, and simply the best quarters that I ever saw on a stallion." 96 THE ELECTIONEERS. As a three-year-old he was broken to harness and driven some in a wagon. In this way of going Mr. Charles Backraan timed him quarters in 38 seconds, with but little work. . Charles Marvin, in his excellent book, " Training the Trot- ting Horse," says: "Electioneer is the most natural trotter I have ever seen. He has free, abundant action ; it is a perfect willing action both in front and behind, and he has not the usual fault of the Hambletonians of going too wide behind." He further says : "I have driven Electioneer a quarter better than 35 seconds and although this may not be fast enough to suit the critics of Electioneer, I call any horse that can speed faster than a 2.20 gait a trotter." Continuing, Marvin says : " He did this, too, hitched to a 125-pound wagon with a 220-pound man — and not a profes- sional, either — in the seat. Without preparation 3'ou could take out Electioneer in stud condition any day and drive him an eighth of a mile at a 2.20 gait. " He always had his speed with him, and this is a character- istic of his sons, and, to my mind, one of great importance to breeders. That Electioneer could have beaten 2.20 if given a regular preparation is, with me, a conviction about which no doubt exists." His roll of honor consists of the following records as gath- ered from the trotting statistics ; and this not only fully demon- strates his ability to get extreme early speed, but the ability of his get to train on : Tearlings. Hinda Rose, dam by The Moor, 2.363^ Two- Year Olds. Suuol, dam by General Benton, 2.18 Wild Flower, dam by The Moor, 2.21 Bonita, dam by St. Clair, 2 24)^ Fred Crocker, dam by St. Clair, . 2.25>'^ Bell Boy, dam by The Moor, . . 2.26 Carrie C, dam by Henry Clay 2.27i^ Pedlar, dam by Mohawk Chief, 2.273^ Palo Alto Belle, dam by The Moor, 2.28i^ Sphinx, dam by Belmont, 2.293^ Del Mar, dam by Toronto Sonlag 2.30 THE ELECTIONEERS. 97 I Three- Year Olds. Sunol, dam by General Benton, S.IOJ^ Bell Boy, dam by The Moor, 2.19i^ Hinda Rose, dam by The Moor, 2.1^% Palo Alto Belle, dam by The Moor, 2.22}4, Campbell's Electioneer, dam by Clark Chief, . . . ' . .2 223,^ Maiden, dam by Alexander's Norman, . 2.23 Manzanita, dam by St. Clair, 2.28J4 Rexford, dam by General Benton, 2.24 Sphinx, dam by Belmont, " . . . 2.24i^ Hattie D., dam by Nutwood 2.2634 Grace Lee, dam by Culver's Black Hawk, . . . . . . 2.293^^ Four-Year Olds. Manzanita, dam by St. Clair, 2.16 Benita, dam by St. Clair, 2.18,3^ Antevola, dam by A. W. Richmond, 2.19i^ Palo Ako, dam by Planet (thoroughbred), 2.20i^ Albert W., dam by Son of Imported Trustee (thoroughbred), . . 2.22]^ Sphinx, dam by Belmont, 2.23 Albert W. (two miles) 4.51 Lot Slocum, dam by Mohawk Chief . .2 23^^ Gov. Standford, dam by Hambletonian, 2.233^ Carrie C, dam by Henry Clay, . 2.24 Clifton Bell, dam by Abdallah Star, 2.24i^ St. Bel, dam by The Moor, 2 24i^ Mortimer, dam by Hambletonian, 2.27 Egotist, dam by Belmont, 2.29 Ella, dam by Mambrino 2 29 Azmoor, dam by Imported Hercules, 2.30 Five- Year Olds. Lot Slocum, dam by Mohawk Chief, 2 17 Gertrude Russell, dam by Planet, 2.233^ Clay, dam by Henry Clay, 2.25 Emeline, dam by Woodburn, 2.273^ Cubic, dam by Imported Australian, 2.283^ Six- Year Olds. Anteo, dam by A. W. Richmond, 2.163^ Lot Slocum, dam by Mohawk Chief, . . . . . . . 2.11^4 Adair, dam by Culver's Black Hawk, 2.173^^ Old Nick, dam by Chieftain 2.23 Carrie C, dam by Henry Clay 2.243^ Azmoor, dam by Imported Hercules, 2.24^ Morca, dam by Mambrino Pilot, 2.25 Express, dam by Express, 2.29i^ ArbutulJ dam by Messenger Duroc, 2.30 7 98 THE ELECTIONEERS. In the preceding table of early records of the sons and daughters of the great Electioneer, especially when we take into consideration the breeding of their dams, may be found an object lesson worthy of study by the coming breeder of the American Trotter, as in it we find the unmistakable ability of this great sire to transmit his speed quality to his sons and daughters through mares of different breeding and of different breeds, and thoroughbreds as well as trotters and pacers. As to the trotting action of the Electioneers, Charles Mar- vin says : " They are mostly prompt, round-gaited horses, and straight-lined trotters. They do not have to square away or strike a position to get up speed. " As a rule they are close gaited. The majority of them do not throw the hind foot outside of the fore foot in trotting, but go under the line trotting principle. They do not have to go a mile or so to get untangled ; they trot low, have no waste ac- tion, and gather speed quickly and smoothly." Electioneer sired the following list of performers, and sires and dams of performers, as per the latest official reports : ELECTIONEER, 125, SIRE OF Arion, 4, Sunol, . Palo Alto, . Truman, 4, . Expressive, 3, Belleflower, 4, Norval, Advertiser, Expedition, Starlight, Manzanita, 4, Anteeo, Ladywell, Amigo, Del Mar, Bernal, Adair, . Lot Slocum, Electioneer (Campbell' Electricity, s), 2.07^ 2.08}^ 2.08M 2.12 2.12K 2.12?^ 2.143^ 2.151^ 2.153^ 2.15?^ 2.16 2.161^ 2.161^ 2.163^ 2.163^ 2.17 2.171^ 2.17J4 2.1734: 2.1734^ Mont Rose, 3, Ah There, . Electric Coin, Conductor, Altivo, 4, Bonita, Coral, . Suisun, Rustique, Regina, Bell Boy, 3, Bow Bells, Antevolo, Hinda Rose, ]\Ionaco, Albert W., Ansel, . May King, Azmoor, Sphinx, 3, 18 mi 181^ 181^ 18i| 181^ 181^ 181^ 181^ mi mi mX 20 20 20 2014 20K THE ELECTIONEERS. 99 Utility, . 2,203^ Monterey, . 2.25% Express, . 2.21- Paola, . 2.25% Gov. Stanford, . . 2.21 Quality, 2.25% Helena, 3, . . 2.21 Sweet Rose, 1, 2.253^ Wildflower, 2, . . 2.21 Eowler Boy, . 2.26 Elector, . . 2.21K Ivo, . 2.26 Laura R., . . 2.2114 Dan, . . 2.26M Elleneer, . 2.213^ Veda, . . 2.26M Bell Bird, 2, . 2.22 Arbutus, 2.26% Cecilian, 2, . . 2.22 Candidate, . . .2.26% Junio, . . 2.22 Lent, . 3.26% Belle Monte, . 2.221-1 Loraneer, 3, . 2.26% Egotist, . 2.22% Hattie D,, . 2.2%% Palo Alto Belle, 3, . 2.223^ Electant, 2.27 Advance, 3, . 2.221^ Electuary, . 2.27 Brilliant, . 2.23 Lucyneer, 3, 2.27 Fallis, . . 2.23 Mortimer, , 2.27 Maiden, 3, . '. 2.23 Don Felix, . 2.2714 Old Nick, . . 2.23 Elwina, 2, . 2.27M Grover Clay, . 2.231^ Jim, . . . 2.271^ Susette, . 2.23K Re-Election, 2.2714 Gertrude Russell, . 2.231^ Emaline, 2.27% Addie Lee, 2d, . . 2.233^ Hugo, . 2.27% Kerneer, . 2.23?4: Idle May, . 2.27% Marvin, . 2.233^ Minet, . 2.27% Pedlar, . 2.233^ Whips, 2.27% Arol, . . . . 2.24 Election, 2.28 Carrie C, . . 2.24 Outcross, 2.28 Electric King, . 2.24 Sonoma, 2.28 Rexford, 3, . . 2.24 Liska, 3, 2.2814 Peko, 3, . 2.24 Pomona, 2.2814 Electrician, . . 2.2414 Tiny, 2, 2.281^ Morea, . 2.241^ Alma, . 2.28% Clifton Bell, . 2.24% Antinous, . 2.28% St. Bel, . 2.24% Cubic, . 2.28% Electro Benton, 3, . 2.24% Electrix, 2.28% Aleck B . 3.243^ Slight, . 2.28% Electryon, . . 2.243^ El Benton, . 2.283^ Aldeana, . 2.25 Emma R., . 2.283^ Clay, . . . . 2.25 Alaska, 2.29 Fay, . . 2.25 Electro, 2.29 Elector, . 2.25 Ella, . 2.29 Young Wildidle, . 2.25 Elma Sontag, 2, 2.29 Colma, . 2.251^ Grace Lee, 3, 2.2914 Ered Crocker, 2, . . 2.251^ Herman, 2.291^ Memento, . 2.251^ Laura C, . 2.2914 Athena, 2, , . 2.25% Belle Electric, . 2.29% Caution, . 2.25% Cara Mia, . 2.29% 100 THE ELECTIONEERS. Coquette, Eros, . Ivy E., Linnet, 3, Miss Naude, Rockefeller, Don Monteith, Legal Test, , Commotion, Electress, Electwood, . Gen Wellington, Golden Slippers, Idelia, . Rusenole, Stella, . Pacifica, Wild May, Peruvian Bitters, p. , and dams Daly, . Limonera, 3, The Seer, Lee Russell, Robert Lee, Eskimo, Elden, 3, Marston C, 8, Charles Derby, Greenlander Girl, Greenlander Boy, Langton, Navarro, Wanda, of 2.291^ 2.293^ 2.293^ 2.293^ 2.291^ 2.293^ 2.293^ 2.293^ 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.233^ 2.15 2.153^ 2,1534: 2.16M 2.18>^ 2.18?|: 2.193^ 2.193^ 2.20 2.21 2.213^ 2.213^ 2.22 2.223^ Millard, Noya, Newflower, . Maralia, Nita Pancoast, Del Paso, Newport, Bion, . Comrade, Covey, Greenwaj, . Miss Albert, Waldstein, . Daghestan, 2, Svpeetwater, 2, Election, 3, Daylight, Rosita, Wildmont, Wavelet, Raola, . Bentoneer, Lord Stanley, Wild Bee, . Elect Cossack, Esparto Rex, 3, Hilarita, Steineer, Minnie B., . King Piedmont, Lady Juno, . Crafty, p., . Alcinta, p., . PRODUCING SONS OF ELECTIONEER, 125 Advertiser, 2 153^. Adbell, 1, Alaska, U429. Lena H., . Albert W. , 113S3. Little Albert, . Dudley Olcott, Albert T., William Albert, Arthur Dodge, Miss Albert, 3, 2 23 2.29K 2.10 2.183^ 2.19JC 2.20J^ 2.2034' 2.251^^ Neernut, 3, Pansy Blossom, 3, Flowing Tide, p., Hightide, p., . Amelia, p., 3, . Ansel, 7093. Answer, . Nettie B., Norris, Marie Ansel, 2. Clarion, . 2.1434 2.2034 2.223^ 2 25 2.25^ THE ELECTIONEERS. 101 Ariana, . 2.26 Antella, 2, . 2.26K Anselma, . . 2.29K and dam o f Seylax, . 2.24M Anteeo, 7868. Eoline, 3, . . 2.143^ Abanteeo, . 2.17K James Madison, . 2.1734 Anthelia, 4, . 2.18 Tietam, . . 2.19 Myrtle, 3, . 2.193^ Alfred G., . 2.193^ Maud M., . 2.20K Redwood, . 2.21% Maud Fowler, . . 2.213^ Mountain Maid, . 2.22J^ Rex, ' . 2.221^ Anteeoyne, 3, . ' . 2.23 Anteeo Richmond, . 2.24K Dan Brown, . 2.243^ Ethel Mac, . 2.25 Anteeo, Jr., . 2.251^ Fanny D., . 2.26 Grey Belle, . 2.27 Reyanetta, 3, . . 2.27 Antarees, . . 2.27% Maudee, . . 2.281^ Electee, . . 2.29% G. and M., . 2.29% Sunset, . 2.29% and dam c f W. Wood, p., . . 2.07 Sons have si red Alfred G., 12452. Queen Alfred, 3, . 2.18% Nelly Alfred, . 2.27% Anteeo, Jr. Hailstorm, 3, . 2.30 James Madison, 179 09. Bet Madison, 2, . 2.30 Leila C, p., . . 2.20% Redwood, II8I4. Red Oak, . 2.21 T. 0. M. Lady 0., . 2.24 Anteros, 6020. Maj. Ross, . 2.24% Anterose, . Nellie F., . Don Anteros, Nelly F., p., Dudley, p.. Doc Christie, p. Cairn, p., . and dam of Luella Shawhan, p., 2, Antevolo, 764S. Maud Merrill, . Antioch, 3, Gray Belle, Berceto, . Consolation, p., Leta May, p,, . Antinuous, 4778. Hillsdale, . John Bury — , . Azinoor, 13467. Rowena, 2, Bonnibel, . Azmon, . A. A. A., 3., . Bell Bop, 5350. Bridal Bells, 3, Corner Bell, 3, . Liberty Bell, 3, Princess Belle, . Beauty Bells, . Anderson Bell, p Bernal, 13468. Aria, 3, Boio Bells, 2.19%. Boreal, 2, . Alarm Bells, 3, Candidate, 13113. Elfrida, 4, Catherine, Chimes, 5348. Fantasy, 4, Sixty Six, Midnight Chimes, 3, Chimes Boy, Charming Chimes, 3 Princess Royal, 2, 3, 2.25 2.25 2.30 2.13% 2.1434 2.21 2.23% 2.23 2.18 2.21% 2.27 2.29 2.20 2.23% 2.11% 2.22 2.17 2.173^ 2.23% 2.27% 2.22% 2.23 2.24% 2.24% 2.29% 2.20% 2.16% 2.17% 2.29% 2.13% 2.24 2.06 2.15% 2.16% 2.17% 2.18% 2.20 102 THE ELECTIONEERS. Beautiful Chimes, . . 2.223^ Blue Bell, . . . 2.2234' Electmont, . . . 2 223^: Curfew 2.241^ Chimes Girl, 2, . .2.26 Chide, 3, . . . . 2.26I4' Carilloa, .... 2,27,14 Bessie Chimes, . . 2 21^ Chimesbrino, ... 2 283^ Josie Chimes, . . . 2.29i^ June Bug, . . . 2.291:^ Boy Blue. . . . 2.29i^ Merry Chimes, p., . . 2 08i^ EdEaston, p.,4, . . 2.09i^ Palo Alto Chimes, p , . 2.173^ Tanny Bug, p., 2, . . 2.173^ Erie Chimes, p., . . 2.193^ Clap, 4779. Parkside, .... 2.223^ Nemo, .... 2.26M Clayone, 3, . . . 2.273^ Hazel, . . . .2 28 ■Lilac, 3, . . . . 2.291^ Stanford, . . . . 2.2914 Spinaway, 3, . . . 2.293^ Miss Clay, . . . 2.293^ Claytina, p., . . . 2.143^ J. R, p., . . . . 2.20 Olgetta, p., 3, . . . 2.2434 and dam of Otalgic, .... 2.243^ Conductor, 12256. Lilly Dale, . . . 2.273^ D071 Felix, 2.2734. Nelly R., 3, . . . 2.2634 Egotist, 5018. The Conqueror, 4, . . 2.153^ Lovelace, 3, . . .2.20 Betsy Britton, . . . 2.2034 Elton, .... 221 Bishop Dudley, 3, . .2.27 Stonewall, 3, . . . 2.273^ Birdie, . . . . 2.2734 Zenith, 3 2 2834 Dramatist, . . .2.293^ Genevieve, . . . 2.2^% Mildred, .... 2.29^ Gilford Dudley, 2, . . 2.30 Elect. Elect Moore, . . .2.27 Re-Elect, . . . .2.28 Electioneer ( Campbell' a) 2.1734. Bowman's Electioneer, . 2.263?^ Symboleer, p., 2, . 2.11 Elector, 2170. Flora M., . . 2.16 Lizzie F., . 2.I614 Electra, . . 2. 183^ Cora S , . . 2.191^ Electrina, . 2.20 J. R.. . 2.20 Acclamation, . . 2.243| Morning Glory, . 2.27 Electress, 3, . 2.2714 Alley Sloper, 3, . 2 28 Nettie C, . 2.28 Ella M., . . 2.283^ Leek, . 2.29 Desperado, . . 2.293^ Pleasanton, . 2.293^ Elector, Jr., . 2.293^ Eric, p., . . 2.17 L. A. Dick, p., . 2.25 and dams ( )f Parthenia, 3, . . 2.271^ Cleopatra, . 2.291^ Elector, 10830. Edwin C, p., . . 2.15 Molly McCauley, p. . 2.161^ Electricity, 53U. Welbeck, 3, . . 2.24^ Fly, . . . 2.2914 Electro, 5382. Belle Electro, 3, . 2.30 Electrotype, 9006. Pauline, . . 2.26 Electro Bell, . . 2.273^ Eugeneer. Genevieve, 2, . . 2.30 Eros, 5326. Wanda, . . . 2.1434 Rinconado, . 2.17 Oro Fino, . 2.18 THE ELECTIONEERS. 103 Mount Hood, . 2.223^ Marvin, 2.233^. My My, . . 2.253^ Bramblette, 3, . . . 3.241^ Willetna, 3, . 2.26 Norval, 5335. Heros, . 2.261^ Lakeside Norval, . 2.15 Solita, . 2.27 Norhawk, . 2.151^ Daylight. . . 2.273^ Orphina, . . 2.17ii Donzella, 3, . 2.293^ John G. Carlisle, . 3.30 Electroid, . 2.30 Norvin G., 3, . . 3.201^ Maraquita, . 2.30 Norvardine, 3, . . 2.353^ Sons have sired Interval, . . 3.363i Ikis. Novelist, 2, . 3.37 Visalia, 3, . 2.20 Villiers, 3, . 3.373^ Cecilia, p., 2, . 2.283^ Novalson, . 3.383^ Ward B. Novelette, 3, . . 3.2914 Letter B., 3, . 2.271^ Palo Alto, 5353. Fallis, 4781. Rio Alto, 3, . . 2.161^ Fallacy, . . . 2.173^ Palatine, 3, . 2.18 Don Marvin, . 2.321^ Avena, 2, . . 2.193.^ Lustre, . 2.223^ Fillmore, 3, . 2.213^ Bradtmore, . 2 261^ Parkville, 6050. Falman, . . 2.27 Sub Rosa, p., 3, . 2.233^ Menlo Fallis, . . 2.27X Re-Election, 2.2734. Fal Rose, p., . . 2.19 La Haute, 3, . 2.243^ and c am of Nelly Clark, 2, . 2.80 Donchka, 3, . 2.25 Sons ha ve sired Rockefeller, 6121. DoK Marvin, 2 .221^. Granieta, . . 2.25>^ Don Lowell, . . 2.141^ Nana, 3, . . 2.29>^ Boneset, 2, . . 2.273^ Leola, Bt. Bel, 5336. . 3.30 Fordstan, 22129. Allibel, 3, . 2.493^ Melvar, 2.22 Honeywood, . . 2.193^ Gaviota, 7567. Silver Ore, . . 2.19>^ Maud Alameda, 2, . . 2.24 Beltown, , . 2.201^ Dynamite, . . 2.29K Election Bell, . . 2.223^ Bel Onward, 2, . 2.23 Gov. Stanford, 2.2 1. Santa Bel, 3, . . 2.23 Clito, p., . . 2.243^ Favora, . . 2.23I4' Hummer, 6111. Tempter, . . 2.243^ Bouncer, 3, . . 2.18K Free, . 2.25 Hustler, 3, . 2.203^ St. Felix, 3, . . 3.251^ Stately, p., 2, . . 2.18 Amorel, . . 2.26 Junio, 14957. Katrina Bel, 2, . 2.261^ Bruno, . 2.19 Miss Zura Belle, 3, . 2.261^ Athanio, 2, . 2.193^ St. Minx, 3, . . 2.261^ St. Joe, . . 2.26 La Bel, . . 2.27 Gilpatrick, . . 2.29K Lynne Bel, 8, . . 3.371^ Salinas Maid, . . 3.30 Comet, . 3.381.^ 104 THE ELECTIONEERS. First Bell, St. Aubin, St. Croix, Bellman, . Flora Bel, Honey Dew, La Petite Bel, 3 Bessie Bell, 2, Gold Point, Belzoni, 2, Legacy. . Robert Bel, 2, Baron Bel, p.. Notion, p, Fail Not, p., Almabel, p., Monabel, p., St. Just, 4780. Lanier, Mary, St. Justin, Adjutant, Sphinx, 5343. Uncle Tom, Baker, Water Lily, Gift o' Neer, Borneo, Cervus, 2, Baltullo, . Altoneer, 2, Islam, 3, . 3. 2.28I4 2.281^ 2.28% 2.283^ 2.291^ 2.293^ 2.291^ 2293^ 2 293^ 2.30 2.30 2.30 2.11.1^ 2.I614 2.161^ 2.18 2.20 2241.1 2.293^ 2.30 2 1S}i 2.1914: 2.193.x 2.20 2.23 2,231^ 2241^ 2.25 2 26 Valley Queen, 3, Gen. Sphinx, 3, Magna Sphinx, 3, Peru, 3, . Sibyl, Sylvia C, 2, . Sphinxeta, p., 3, Syrena, p., Cantab, p., Como, p., Sunolo, 9900. Bunolto, . Baptism, . Whips, 13407. Azote, Cob Webs, Navidad, . Warlock, . Manille, . 2.281.^ 2.283.^ 2.29 2.291.^ 2.293^ 2.293^ 2.1414 2.I414' 2.14=^^ 2.17M 2.261^ 2.30 2.081^ 2.12 2.22K 2.24 2.29^ Will Crocker, 5333. Irene Crocker, 3, . . 2.20 Little Crocker, . . 2.30 and dam of St. Croix, 3, . . . 2.28J^ Woolseij, 5337. Nelly W., 3, . . . 2.171^ Princess, .... 2.193^ Wehina 2.26i^ Sir Gird, 3, . . . 2.26i^ Loyaleer, . . . .2.30 Abeto, p.,. . . . 2.213^ SIRES WHOSE DAMS ARE BY ELECTIONEER. Charles Derby, 4907 Derby Princess, 2, Diablo, p., 4, . Cibolo, p., 4, . Daly, 5341. Bonner N. B., . Julia G., . Clatawa, . Princeer, 9114. Warren Guy, 2, Ida A., . Freda C, 3, . 2.25 2.091^ 2.13M 2.17 2.23K 2.27K 2.25 2.25 2 30 The Seer, 5367. Seersucker, Waldstein, 12597. Humboldt Maid, Native Son, Wild Boy, 5394. Donchka, . WiLDNUT, 13472. Bedworth, 2, . Ariel, El Rami, 3, 2.30 2.27 2.291^ 2.25 2.27 2.273^ 2.29 THE ELECTIONEERS. 105 OTHER DESCENDANTS. Sable Nut, 2 2.22}i RECAPITULATION. Standard performers, 155 Sons (46) with, 281, Daughters have produced, 47 Grandsons (8) with, . . . . 13 Mares by sons have produced, 8 Sires out of daughters (7) with, 16 Other descendants, • . . , 1 Total, . 520 CHAPTER XI. THE BASHAWS AND CLAYS. Grand Bashaw, Imported Arabian, the founder — Young Bashaw — Andrew Jackson — Green's Bashaw — The Patchens. THE BLUE BULLS. Wilson's Blue Bull — His great success in the stud — Great progenitor of speed — List of trotters and dams of trotters by Blue Bull. THE progenitor of the Bashaw family was Grand Bashaw, an Arabian horse foaled in 1816 and imjDorted from Tripoli in 1825 by Joseph C. Morgan. He stood near Phila- delphia, Pa., for stock purposes for twenty years, and many of our fast trotters are descended from him. His most distinguished son was Young Bashaw, a gray horse foaled in 1822, whose dam was Pearl by the thorough- bred horse First Consul ; dam by Imported Messenger. He was the founder of what is known as the Bashaw family of American trotters, and whose most noted son was Andrew Jackson, a black horse foaled in 1828, and whose dam was a good mare, pedigree unknown. This Andrew Jackson was the founder of the Clay family. His most noted son was Henry Clay, foaled in 1837, and whose dam was a Canadian mare called Surry, pedigree un- traced, but a good one and a fast trotter. Henry Clay's best son, by the records, was Cassius M. Clay, foaled in 1843, and whose dam's pedigree was unknown. Cassius M. Clay was the sire of three Cassius M. Clay, Jr.'s, with eight in the list, and George M. Patchen, the founder of the Patchen branch, with four in the 2.30 list. The greatest sire of all the Bashaw family, b}^ the records, was Green's Bashaw, five removes from the old imported (106) THE BASHAWS AND CLAYS. 107 Arabian, and whose grancl-clam was the Charles Kent mare, the dam of Rysdyk's Hambletonian and daughter of Imported Belfounder, So here we find another strong argument of the speed-transmitting power of the great JSTorfolk trotter, Im- ported Belfounder. The Bashaw family embraces the Clays, Patchens, and Bashaws of the present day and includes many good and fast horses ; also the blood of the Bashaw family is commingled, more or less, in the pedigrees of the following animals, form- ing the nucleus of that destined to be the greatest of all families, or breeds, of horses in the world, — the American trotter. These animals are as follows, taken alphabetically : American Clay, sire of twenty-four brood mares, with twenty- five trotters with records from 2.16 to 2.30, among which was Maggie Briggs, who sold for $10,000. Andy Johnson, sire of three 2.30 trotters, two sires, and three producing dams. Bashaw (Green's) 'No. 50, sire of seventeen trotters with records from 2.21^ to 2.30 ; fifteen sires of thirty-four trotters and two pacers, and twenty-two dams of twenty-four trotters and two pacers. Black Bashaw, sire of Cozette, 2.19, and John H., 2.20. Cassius M. Clay, sire of eight producing sires with sixteen trotters in the list. Cassius M. Clay, Jr. (Neave, 20), sire of four trotters in the list, and of the sires Clay Pilot, Harry Clay, and "Wilgus Clay. Cassius M. Clay, Jr. (Straders, 22), sire of three trotters, three sires and twenty-two dams of twenty-three trotters and one pacer. Electioneer, the greatest son of Hambletonian, with 155 in the trotting list ; through his dam, Green Mountain Maid — dam of nine in the list — by Harry Clay, whose dam was by Imported Belfounder. George M. Patchen, sire of four trotters, twelve sires of forty- 108 THE BASHAWS AND CLAYS. eight trotters and one pacer, and the sire of five dams with six trotters. George M. Patchen, Jr., sire of ten trotters, ten sires of nine- teen trotters and one pacer, and eleven dams of twelve trotters and two pacers. Godfrey's Patchen, sire of nine trotters, two sires and three producing dams. Harry Clay (Sayer's, 45), by C. M. Clay, Jr., dam by Imported Belfounder, sire of four trotters, eight, sires of nine trotters, and fifteen dams of twenty- six trotters; dams including the great brood mare of the world. Green Mountain Maid, dam of Electioneer, with 155 trotters in the list with records from 2.08J to 2.30. Henry B. Patchen, sire of seven trotters, four dams of ten' trotters, including the great brood mare Emeline. dam of Adele Gould, 2.19, and six others in the trotting list. Idol, by Hambletonian (Packman's), sire of six trotters, etc. Knickerbocker, sire of seven trotters, etc., by Hambletonian. Louis Napoleon, sire of fourteen trotters and one pacer, seven sires with thirteen trotters and five pacers, and eight dams of nine trotters and two pacers. St. Gothard, 2.27, by George Wilkes, sire of nine trotters and one pacer. Stamboul, by Sultan, record 2.07^, sire of five trotters. Yictor Bismarck, by Hambletonian, sire of nineteen trotters and two pacers. Waspie, sire of eight trotters, one pacer, etc. "Windsor, sire of six trotters, two pacers, etc. Thus it will be seen that the speed-producing influence of that grand old Arabian, Grand Bashaw, who has been dead upwards of fifty years, is stiU felt in our land. THE BLUE BULLS, 109 THE BLUE BULLS. Blue Bull, like Hambletonian, is a subject, or rather an ob- ject, that loses none of its charm by the lapse of years. Wilson's Blue Bull, whose breeding is acknowledged by the best horsemen of the present day to be somewhat shrouded in mystery, was a horse of great individual excellence. In color he was a chestnut with an elongated star and nigh hind foot white ; he stood about fifteen hands high and was of the Mor- gan type (see illustration); in fact, in general conformation and appearance he would pass for a Morgan the world over. As his breeding is surrounded in mystery the question natu- rally arises : " Was he a Morgan?" He had a clean cut head and bright, intelligent eyes, to- gether with the clean, cordy legs and flinty feet for which succeeding generations of Blue Bulls are noted. His appear- ance was that of durability, strength, and speed. No stallion ever began life under more unfavorable circum- stances and finished his career under such a brilliant crown of well-earned glory. We will not go over the disputed ground of his pedigree,, for while we do not believe in that promulgated pedigree given him by that great recorder of many false ones, we will not assault that which we cannot disprove, nor advance that which we might not be able to prove to the satisfaction of all ; yet, in my own mind, and to my long-practiced eye in the compar- ison of families, if Wilson's Blue Bull was not a direct descendant of the Narragansett Pacer, infused with the blood of Ranger, — afterwards the Darley Arabian — the maternal founder of the Morgan, then I am mistaken. Blue Bull's days in the stud were very nearly contempora- neous with those of Hambletonian, there being, according to accepted data, only about five years' difference in the dates of their foaling. Hambletonian was foaled in 1849, in a community contain- ing the very best trotting blood of that day, and from his own 110 THE BLUE BULLS. good breeding became popular as a stock horse as soon as old enough for service. Commencing at two years of age and during his twenty-two years of service m the stud, he sired more colts than any other trotting sire ever has up to date, and has, all told, forty-one trotters in the 2.30 list. Blue Bull was foaled in 1854, in a community where trotting bred mares were unknown and with the accredited parentage that always disgraced him. His road to a decent patronage was steep, rugged, and slowly ascended ; yet, with all these drawbacks he forged himself to the front, solely on his merits. In the year that Hambletonian died, 1876, Blue Bull had seven in the 2.30 list and Hambletonian had thirty-two ; but at the close of 1890 Blue Bull had fifty-five trotters and eight pacers in the 2.30 list, while Hambletonian had only forty-one trotters and no pacers. Opportunities considered, there is no room for conjecture as to which had the greatest power to pro- duce 2.30 performers. As before stated, the accepted pedigree of Blue Bull is not well established, and to many — a very great many — the re- corded pedigree is absurd. As for myself, I lay claim to a better knowledge of horse history than to believe for a single moment that this great horse (one of the greatest sires of speed that ever lived), de- scended from the plebeian ancestry accorded to him by Wallace. Blue Bull was the first horse to sire fifty with harness records of 2.30 or better. Blue Bull was the only sire of thir- teen race winners with twenty heats in 2.30 or better, at the close of 1891. He IS the only horse that ever lived that had over one hun- dred descendants in the first generation, who carries no blood of Hambletonian or Mambrino Chief. He has put more mares, not trotting bred, in the great brood mare list, than any horse that ever lived. Blue Bull, by the records, is the most potent progenitor of harness speed that has ever lived. As other great sires have THE BLUE BULLS. Ill depended upon the nicks with American Star, Hambletonian, Morgan, Clay, and Mambrino Patchen mares ; but Blue Bull from the farm mares of Indiana was the first sire of his day to put fifty or more into the list. Blue Bull has been neglected, slandered, and lied about as but few, if any, sires ever were ; but he will yet live on, be better known and appreciated in his later descendants, as one of the great speed elements of the American trotter. All things considered, this doubtfully bred and wonderful horse must be set down as one of the greatest of trotting pro- genitors. He was foaled in 1866 and lived almost his entire life in Eush County, Indiana, at James "Wilson's " Flat Rock Stock Farm," from which he derived the title of " The Hero of Flat Rock." He died on the 11th day of July, 1880. Many versions of his breeding have been given, but, in the opinion of the author, none are correct. Despite his plebeian blood lines, as recorded, a knee broken from the kick of a mule, an eye knocked out by a drunken groom, and one or more seasons spent as a teaser for a Jack, he has founded a family of trotters of quality and numbers more than equal to any stallion with the same opportunities. Another peculiar fact is that while he was a fast pacer himself and was bred to pacing bred mares, he almost invariably got square trotters, and has now fifty-four trotters in the 2.30 list with records from 2.1Yi up. He has twenty-six producing sons that have begotten stand- ard performers and thirty-six daughters that are the dams of 2.30 performers. Succeeding generations also show material gains, giving ample proof of the breeding-on capacity of the blood of the plebeian pacer. Blue Bull sired the dam of Roy "Wilkes, 2.08i ; Fred Ar- thur, 2.14i; Puritan, 2.16 ; Yitello, 2.161; Lowland Girl, 2.19J; Luella, 2.19f ; Elgin Girl, 2.20|, and the Rhodenkiel mare, dam of Blanche Wayne, etc. Below will be found a complete official 112 THE BLUE BULLS. statement of the descendants of this great sire in the speed ranks of the American trotter. BLUE BULL, 75, SIRE OF ZoeB., 2.I714 Daisy Blackwood Bessie, 2.173^ Dr. Sheppard, Lena Swallow, 2.19 Gen. Russ, . Royal Bounce, 2 19 James Halfpenny Will Cody, . 2.191^ Joseph, Dick Stauffer, 2.29,1^ Kate Bennett, Silverton, 2 20V^ Texas Jack, Chance, 2.20i£ Dayton Belle, Lucy Fry, . 2.203^ Ella Wilson, Richard, 2.21 Ira M , Mamie, 2.21^4 Little Wonder, Florence M., , 2.221^ Purity, Gladiator, . 2.22K Georgetown, p., Elsie Good, . 2.22i£ Tony Boy, p., Bulwer, 2.23 Jenny K., p., Ethel, . 2.23 Dandy Boy, p.. Kate McCall, 2.23 Hattie Shawhan, p., May Bird, . 2.23 and dams ( Df Bertha, 2.281^ Mark Sirius, St Denis, . 2.231^ Leta C, Belle Wilson, 2.231^ Lowland Girl, Lena Guffin, 2.231^ Redmont, Otto K., 2.241^ Champion Wilkes, s. t b . . Ina G., 2'.24i/^ Charles H. Hoyt, Kate Hall, . 2.241^ Ora, . True Blue, . 2.25 lima Cossack, Hoosier Girl, 2.253^ Maj. Ross, . Russell, 2.26 Lady Elgin, Blanche H., 2.261'^ Flossy, Blue Bell, . 2.26>i Big Mack, . Blue Bull (Grove' s), 2.261^ Violin, s. t. b., Commander, 2 261^ Highland Mary, Edward B., 2.2Q}i OK,. Mila C, 2.261^^ Pilot W., . Dom Pedro, . 2.27 Charley Burch, Alice Peyton, . 2.271^ Turk, s. t. b.. MattieH., . . 2.21}4 Billy Worthingto Q, ■ Molly Kistler, . 2.27K Harry W., . Beauty, . 2.28 Merlin, Bullion, . 2.28 Joe Jefferson, MyrtellaG., . 2.28 Hero, . Rocket, . 2.28 Delia McGee, Stewart Mac, . 2.28 Polka Dot, . THE BLUE BULLS. 113 Agitator, Bandoline, . Brunswicli, Alcavala, Highland Maid, Black Wilkes, David R., '. Flode Holden, Harry Laird, Anna Mace, Little Nell, . Fannette, Addie C, . Belle Untrue, Roscoe Conklin, Atlantic King, p Vitello, p., . Mary Centlivre, p Strathso, p., Alliambra, p.. 2.281^ 2.283^ 2.281^ 2.29 2.2914 . 2.2914 2.2914 2.2914 2.2914 2.391.^ 2.29K 2.2934 2.80 2 30 2.30 2.09% 2.1114 2.12 2.13 2.141^ Bee Jax, p., Fred Arthur, p., Ada, p., Leverone, p., Maj. Wilkes, p., Lucy Pan, p., 3, Bas Bleu Wilkes Princess, p., Elgin Girl, p., Nelly B., p., Arctic, p., . . Pharos, p., . Dick Wright, p Joe Rowell, p., Lex, p.. Euphony, p., Strathwayne, p., Big Wonder, p., Trevor, p., s. t. b.. 2.1414 2.1414 2.1514 2.16 2.I614 2.17 2. 1334 2.1934 2.201^ 2.21 2.2114 2.2114 2.2314 2.231^ 2 23>^ 2.2334 2.2414 2.25 2.25 PRODUCING SONS OF BLUE BULL. Billy Davis. Sunset, p., Billy Hinsley. M. AY Billy Wilson. Sir Gay, . . ' . Blue Bull, 15660. Jennie B., Blue Bull, Jr., 2878. Nettie, Lottie P., p., . Lottie K., p., . and dam of Belle Acton, p., 1, . Blue Bull (Hunt's). DickH., . Nellie Turner, p.. Blue Bull (Phillips'). Alti, p., . Blue Bull (Scott's). Sire of dam of Ida, .... Blueskin, 39S1. Bullmont, p., . 2.I614 2.2014 2.261^ 2.293^ 2.19 21714 2.25 22034 3.2914 2.2334 2.1914 2.291^ 2.16 Blue Vein, 5466. Country Girl, p., Osceola, p., and dams of Jesse Hanson, . Pearl Winship, Bonnie Boon, 5322. Cuba, Brussels, IIO43. Allen B., . Frazer, Spurrior Boy, . Bullion, 6030. Barbarine, NedB.,p, and dam of Lady Bullion, . Capt. Bogardus, 4246. Surprise, . Paddy Collins, . Sunrise, p., Gol. Howe, 14130. Mascot Bob, 2.1534 2.18 2.I634 2.2314 2.251^ 2.2014 2.291^ 3.30 3.271^ 3.3334 3.I634 2.241^ 22914 2.201^ 3.3914 114 THE BLUE BULLS. Commander, 20Ji-l. Nelly S., . . . 3.33 Sorrel Dan, p., . . 3.18i^ Henry F., p., . . . 3.2014 Annie C, p., . . . 3.231^ George Hall, 2S91. Dr. Frank, . . . 2.37i^ and dam of EmmaNoland, p., . . 2.243^ Gloster. Dick C, p., . . . 2.183^ Addie C, p., . . . 3.20 Greenback, 3884. JohnM Fred Ager, p., . Harry B., 4309. Morning Glory, HeadligM, 2908. Billy Golden, p , Jim Wilson, 12088. Belle Wilson, . Boone Wilson (p 2.13), Pawnee, . Irma C. (p. 2.18), . Ironwood, Johnny Bull, . Daisy S., p., Emerick Wilson, p , Jim Blaine, p., . . 2.25 John Black. Sire of dam of Eura 2.191^ 3.371^ 2.241^^ 2.30 3.31 3.20 2.20}4 2.2\% 2.23>4 3.33I4" 3.37 2.1734 3.231^ Jot 0. Montephister, . . .2.29 HyDy, p., . . . 2 2334 Judge Craven, 16887. Carrie L., . . . 2.29 Little Henry, 3883. Susie G.,p 3.151^ Little Wonder, 1304. Lady Wonder, . . . 2.35 Everett M., p., . . 2.193^ Lockerbie, 9255. MaudMuller, . . . 3.20)^ AllieL., p 2.153^ Prompter, 2305. Apex 2.26 Transit, 3, . . . 2.26i^ Lucky B., . . .2.30 Creole, p., . . .2.15 Walker, p., . . . 3.23i^ Redwood, 2.34)4. Sire of dam of Capt. Wilkes, . . . 2.3614 Redwood Wilkes, . . 2.30 Rocket, 12033. True, p., . . . . 2.2334 Rushmlle, 3303. Gipsey Queen, . . . 2.19^4 Dusty Heels, . . . 3.3714 Bluclier, .... 3.29)4 St. Nicholas, 4070. St. Lewis, . . . 2.21i| St. Omar, 4557. Johnnie B 3.273^4 Chapman, p., . . • 2.19}^ and dams of Lula, .... 2.273^ Atlantic Gift, . . . 2.283^ Sankey, p., . . 2.25 Tobe. Jr., 16674- Franklin, .... 2.19)^ and dam of Nelly McCrory, 3, . . 2.1834 Wo7ider, 2697. Susie Wonder, p., . . 2.193^ and dam of LuluMcCurdy, p., . . 2.14>4 Zach Chandler, 2028. Ellis, . . . .3.3634 THE BLUE BULLS. 115 SIRES WHOSE DAMS ARE BY BLUE BULL. Belden Boy, 3020. Belton, Decorate, 16831. Delegate, . Elgin Boy, 4620. Nelly Lloyd, . Harry Jones, p., Edwin O., p., . Pearl L., p., Lucille, p., Jim Monroe, Jr., 4583. Bessie Polk, p., Kentucky Volunteer Harvey, . Vera, S. S., Benteer, . Vollula, p., Maritana, p., . Legal Note. Jersey Girl, p., Blue Note, p., . Lex, 8255. Six Forty, p., . . 2.251^ . 2.29I4 . 2.223^ . 3. 1814- . 2.20 . 2.23 . 2.241^ . 2.25 3784. . 2.21 . 2.35 . 3.391^ . 3.30 . 3.153^ . 3.30i<£ . 3.301^ . 3.221^ Pharos, 3877. Pharon, Pocahontas Sam, 9106. Billy E., . Touch-Me-Not, p., . Zeigler, p., Pixley Boy, p., Poca Eagle, p., QuiLNA Chief, 3875. David Copperfield, p., Dick Wright, p.. Bay Leaf, p., . BenF., p.. Red Mont. Lottie Rocket, p., . Roscoe Conkling, 8035. Senator Conkling, . Judd's Baby, . May Conkling, Turk, 15313. Crepe McNett, s. t b., 3.18 . 2.393^ . 3.13 . 3.133^ . 3.15 . 3.211^ . 2.16 . 3.331^ . 2.341^ . 3.34K . 2.18M . 3.123^ . 3.19M' . 3.38 . 2.281^ 3.25 PERFORMERS WHOSE SECOND DAMS ARE BY BLUE BULL. Czar, 3, Eura, . Dancourt, . VanBuren Wilkes, s. Lambert B., s. t. b., Rosemont, s. t. b., Gen. Alger, Harold Chief, Phallamont Boy, Nelly F., . Michigan Prince, Sunlight, 3.133^ 3.191^ 2.21}4 3.211^ 2.221^ 2.231^ 2.24 2.241^ 2.241^ 3 25 2 263^ 2.37 Amberlow, . Golita, Phallamont Girl, Old Judge, s. t. b Prince Brino, Witch Hazel, Henry F., p.. Baron Bel, p., Lebbas, 1, p., Sadie H., p., Bacon, p., . 3.371^ 3.371^ 3.273^ 2.291^ 2.291^ 2.291^ 2.131^ 2.173^ 2.18 2.20^ 2.33 Lambert B., Long John, OTHER DESCENDANTS. 2.231^ 3.381^ Clairmont, Ida, . 2233^ 3.29>^ 116 THE BLUE BULLS. RECAPITULATION Standard performers, .... Sons (34) with, Daughters have produced, . Mares by sons have produced. Sires out of daughters (13) vrith, . Daughters have produced the dams of. Other descendants, .... 60 66 64 14 32 23 4 Total, 263 CHAPTER XII. THE AMERICAN TROTTING HORSE. As a breed — Component parts constituting the breed — Establish, the American thoroughbred Trotter — As he should be bred — Breed for beauty, brains, and business — Breeding the trotter a progressive science — An American product — Chance trotters — Racing in early days — The two-minute horse. THE American Trotting Horse as a breed, according to the author's ideas of what constitutes a breed (see Breed, Chapter I), may be said to be scarcely fairly established, and is composed mainly of the following families, viz. : The Hamble- tonian family, which is subdivided into many branches, em- bracing the Electioneers, Abdallahs — descendants of Alex- ander's Abdallah — Volunteers, Wilkes, Harolds, Dictators, Egberts, Strathmores, etc. ; some of which are again subdivided, as the Almonts, Belmonts, ]^utwoods, Spragues, etc., yet all grouped and classed as Hambletonians. And the Morgan fam- ily, descendants of old Justin Morgan, and which are also divided into other branches, embracing the Black Hawks, Ethan Aliens, Lamberts, Morrells, Fearnaughts, Magna- Chartas, Gold-Dusts, and Herods — all claimed as Morgans. Also the Bashaw family, which are descendants of the im- ported Arabian horse. Grand Bashaw, and are subdivided into and embrace the Clays, Patchens, and Bashaws of the present day ; and the Blue Bulls, embracing all descendants of that one of the most remarkable of all American-bred stallions, as the sire of speed from common mares — Wilson's Blue Bull ; together with the Mambrinos, also descended from Messenger through Mambrino, who sired Mambrino Paymaster — the sire of Mambrino Chief — (whose dam was a large, coarse. Western mare, pedigree unknown) and who sired six trotters and (117) 118 THE AMEKICAN TROTTING HORSE. twenty-three sires ol eighty-seven trotters and seventeen dams of twenty-three trotters, and to whom some of our best trotters of the present day trace mainly through their dams. With occasional selections from the best thoroughbreds and from the French Canadian horse, whose blood has commingled through the above families, we have to-day a breed of Ameri- can horses of a strictly American production, of which every true American may justly feel proud. And now the time is upon us when we, as breeders of the American Trotter, can prosecute and advance our business successfully, I think, by judicious selections in breeding from our own acquired material without any further out-crosses. In fact, to step outside in crossing for the production of the American Trotter, is taking a backward step. I think we have now reached — quite recently, perhaps — the period in Ameri- can trotting horse breeding when foreign blood is no longer needed in the trotter, any more than by the thoroughbred runner. What we should now aim to establish is a national thor- oughbred trotting horse. As American breeders, we should, by wise selections and careful breeding, establish a breed of American horses the most desirable and most valuable of any breed of horses in the whole world. We certainly have the foundation elements for such a breed, and the results rest alone with the skill of the American breeder. Admitting that the American Trotter owes everything of value — excepting the trotting gait — to the thoroughbred and his ancestors, the Arabian and the Barb (for from these sources are derived courage, speed, and endurance), the great question of the day among horse breeders is whether we already have enough of this in our American Trotter, or whether it is policy to add more. My own opinion, based upon observation and experience, is that we should now stop experimenting with outside issues and attend strictly to the business of prosecuting this great work of thoroughly establishing this national horse, the American THE AMERICAN TROTTING HORSE. 119 Trotter, and that we can no longer afford to experiment with outside issues or outside breeds or families. The trotting-bred horse is not an animal simpl}^ for racing or for wealthy gentlemen to drive fast on the road, but he raises the general standard of the horse for all work. I used trotting-bred horses for heavy farm work on clay land in Indiana with greater success than with heavier, cold-blooded mongrels. Their quick stride and great endurance is apparent to any observer. They are capable of a greater amount of work, and will do it quicker and much more intelligently than the horse without breeding ; and, as a horse's capacities for work are in- creased, his value is accordingly increased. There are but two nations of the earth that possess a race of animals known as the trotting horse. One of these nations is Hussia, the other is America. In the first-named country we find an animal proceeding from the Arabian, crossed, it is said, upon the Flanders stock, and called the Orlof trotter. It is certain that this animal is a Russian production, while the American Trotter is surely an American production. The American Trotter, as he should be bred, and what our market demands, is a horse of good size, style, and action ; a- handsome horse, and, above all, of good disposition and sound constitution. Then, if he can be trained to trot in 2.20 or less, he may be used for pleasure or for gambling purposes. Failing to be fast enough for track purposes, he is still a useful and profitable animal for the use of man, and his breedmg is not a failure. But if we breed for speed alone, without the other consid- erations, and get a little animal that is not a fast trotter, what then ? Why, we have an animal that is of but little use to the breeder and that no one wants to purchase at any price. The breeders of such animals soon become overstocked, and the cry goes forth that the bottom has fallen out of the breeding business, whereas it is only the false bottom that has dropped out. 120 THE AMERICAN TROTTING HORSE. Breed horses for beauty, brains, and- business. Beauty always attracts customers who pay the highest prices. Brains, exhibited in good " horse sense," is an important factor in a horse for any purpose. A good pedigree is very valuable pro- vided you have an animal to match it. Standard bred horses, eligible to registration as such, without an animal to correspond to the pedigree (as often witnessed in combination sales when highly bred animals sell for less than half enough to pay for their siring), is a deplorable state of things and very discour- aging to the breeder. There are scores of horses in this country, which, from their individual merits and breeding, are evidently equal to the best, but which are reckoned " no good " simply because they were never trained for speed. Great horses, like great men, live on for j^ears after their death ; and, like great men, often spring up from obscurity, as was the case of Columbus, the founder of the Columbus fam- ily, of Pilot, the founder of the Pilot family, and Blue Bull, the great Indiana progenitor of speed. The ignorance of the American public — and of the world — in not knowing the full breeding of these great horses, as "was the case with Justin Morgan, don't go to show that they were not well bred, but that, like the Narragansett Pacer, their breeding has not been handed down to us through history, but lies locked up in the brains of those of their day, most of whom are no longer with us. The breeder who breeds for speed alone is as much a specu- lator as he who plays the Board of Trade. Because Williams raised an AUerton and an Axtell, hundreds of small breeders imagine they are capable of obtaining the same results. Speed is a valuable adjunct in the sale of an}^ horse, and, when added to beauty, size, and good disposition, makes the ani- mal most desirable in the eyes of the purchasing public. Breeding the American Trotter is a progressive science, the limits of which are, as 3''et, by no means achieved. Among the lovers, breeders, and patrons of the American THE AMERICAN TROTTING HORSE. 121 Trotters that have during the past twenty-five years ridden away from us by the side of the pale horseman, down into the valley and through the shadow into the light beyond, memory records so many that I will not attempt to individualize them here. Nearly 100 years of breeding for speed at the trot, guided by close observation of actual performances, coupled with an intelligent course of breeding from animals possessing speed at that gait, has resulted in evolving an animal high in intelli- gence, quick in action, and beautiful to look upon. We still have much to do before we can justly claim to have established a breed of universal trotting horses, and the closer we confine ourselves to the judicious selections from such fam- ilies as trot and produce trotters, the sooner we shall accom- plish our object. The American Trotter is an American production made up of several breeds, but receiving his best blood from the Arab and the thoroughbred, and through them we have the founda- tion, by careful selection and breeding to the " fittest," of per- fecting a breed that will soon become famous over the whole civilized world, and that will give us a national reputation as well. But the time is upon us when the breeder who introduces a single out-cross from an inherent trotting gait, not only adds his possibilities of failure, but postpones the day when we shall be ablq to breed fast trotters with a degree of certainty. The American trotting horse has grown out of the selections made by breeders of the animal^ that could trot fast, and that had intelligence, when taught, to stick to that gait. Such as were, to use a horse expression, " level headed." Chance trotters may occasionally be produced in the future as in the past, but the careful breeder of trotters will select for his harem mares not only of those possessing good trotting ac- tion themselves, but of families where the trotting gait has been successfully cultivated by selection and use until inherit- 122 THE AMERICAN TROTTING HORSE. ance has commenced to lend its powerful aid in transmitting what was originally a spontaneous effusion. The rapid stride that trotting horse breeding has taken may be imagined from the fact that thirty-five years ago Vermont Black Hawk with three trotters in the 2.30 list AA-as the cham- pion trotting sire of the world. When nineteen years old, Ethan Allen, with four in the list, was the champion trotting sire, while now we have iive-year-old stallions with more in the list. There can be no great national success in the breeding of horses, beyond profitable home consumption, until such breed- ing shall be demanded by other civilized people for stock and breeding purposes ; consequently, we should aim to create and establish a truly " American Trotting Horse " of value from its blood qualities for export. So universal is the fancy for fast driving horses that at almost all our fairs and horse shows the roadster class will be found to be more largely represented than any other, and usually more so than all other classes combined. The time is fast approaching when the American Trotting Horse will be classed as a distinct breed, the creation of an American fanc}?", just as the thoroughbred running horse was a creation of the English. To the student of breeding, who revels in tracing the in- fluence of the fusion of blood elements, there is not a more curious, amusing, and instructive study than the history, of the American Trotting Horse of the period. Being created out of vastly divergent blood elements, bringing with them widely different characteristics and talents, and also suffering under conflicting theories of breeding, the American Trotter emerges to-da}^, an almost dis- tinct breed, differing from all others, no matter what their nationality, chiefly in the perpetuating of the qualities and the height of his development. The result is, indeed, wonderful, considering the various sources that have been utilized, the foundation stock of which was undoubtedly well advanced THE AMERICAN TROTTING HORSF.. 123 in progress before the advent of Messenger, although at present the idea is ahnost universally held that the history of the standard bred American Trotter begins with the advent of Messenger in America. But while I do not desire to belittle the influence of this horse, Messenger, I believe we had already, in America, pre- vious to his importation, a good foundation trotting stock, especially in the New England States, derived from the former importations of the Arabian and thoroughbred stock, and also from the ISTarragansett Pacer, which, as a breed, contributed much to the early fusions that resulted in the trotter, Avhich completely supplanted them before the beginning of the present century. (See Narragansett Pacer, Chapter TV.) Pacing of all kinds was common in those early days. Writ- ing about Phode Island in 1735, Pev. James McSparron observes that he has seen some of these pacers " pace a mile in a little more than two minutes and a little less than three." It appears from this that the timers of those days were not so particular as to split seconds or really to count them in a horse race. The first demand for trotters seems to have sprung up in Connecticut, where horses advertised for sale in the newspapers of seventy-five years ago sometimes had reference to their trotting qualities ; and history points to a time when Connecti- cut found a market for her fast trotters araiong the wealthy planters of the West Indies, who, it seems, were at that time acquiring a taste for this kind of sport. But the fast trotters of that period would hardly be reckoned as such at the present time. When the trotting horse "Yankee" made a record of 2.59, he astonished the world, as well as the unlucky man that had bet heavily that no horse cobld beat three minutes. It was many years later when Topgallant brought the record down to 2.40, and in 1843 Lady Suffolk lowered it to 2.28. Thirteen years later, in 1856, Flora Temple dropped it to 2.24J and in 1859 to 2.19f . It then took seven years more 124 THE AMERICAN TROTTING HORSE. to bring out a Dexter capable of reducing this fastest time record only If seconds, placing it at 2.18, and one year more to reach 2.17^. It took four years more to get off that quar- ter of a second, which was done by Goldsmith Maid, who finally reduced it to 2.14. Eight years more of breeding and training brought out Rarus, who reduced the record in 1878 to 2.13i. St. Julian, a year later, got off another half second and Maud S. took off a few more, reducing the time to 2.08f , w^hich record she held as Queen of the trotting turf from 1885 to 1891, when, with greatly improved tracks, sulkies, and trot- ting appliances, she was compelled to lay down the crown ; Avhile to-day Alix holds the trotting record of 2.03|. Seventy-live or eighty years ago no one could have been made to believe for a moment that a horse could ever trot a full mile inside of three minutes ; but now it is confidently ex- pected that an American trotter will make a mile in two minutes. In 1843 there were but two horses in America that could trot a mile in 2.30, while in 1881 there were over twelve hundred that could do it. In this country, we, as American horse breeders, have not been satisfied to raise horses that would beat our neighbors' horses, but have been tr3ing to beat " Old Father Time " himself. The time has passed when horses can command long prices on breeding and performances alone ; they must combine with speed and good breeding, good looks and sj^mmetrical confor- mation, coupled with size sufficient to enable them to become useful servants to man, in case their owners, like myself, are not sporting men ; and the market calls for fast road, carriage, and business horses, instead of fast trotters for sport or gambling purposes alone. CHAPTEE XIII. CLEVELAND BAY. Origin and especial merits — As now bred — Demand in this country — French coach horses — The government stud of France — Wonderful knee action — Color. I'N conformation and general appearance these horses show a wonderful similarity, and this fact, added to their larg© size, great style, and fine dispositions, made them at an early day the carriage or park horse of the English aristocracy. The larger and heavier ones were selected to pull the old- fashioned English coaches across the country at the time when railways were unknown. The fertile district of Cleveland, from whence this breed takes its name, became famous for their production, and for years they were bred with the greatest care and discretion. Later on, when coaching became a thing of the past, this breed was neglected. The mares were bred to thoroughbred horses to produce saddle horses, hunters, and cavalry mounts. They gave greater size and more bone than the thoroughbred pos- sessed, while their fine proportions and style made them easily matched for carriage horses. Originally, it is said, the Cleve- land Bay was a large and rather coarse horse compared to that breed of the present day, as remodeled and reconstructed by the mingling of thoroughbred blood. The original Cleveland Bays were frequently seventeen hands high and usually weighed from 1,500 to 1,700 pounds. These large horses were fined down by judicious crossings, the thoroughbred being used largely for the purpose, until in form and general appearance they were models of elegant propor- tion and symmetry. The demand which has sprung up in this country within (125) 126 CLEVELAND BAY. the last fifteen or twenty years for well-matched and stylish carriage teams, again directed attention to the Cleveland Bay as most likely to supply such horses as were demanded. The purchase of a number of them in the last few years by Ameri- cans has led the English breeders to take steps to revive their breeding in that country, and an association has been formed issuing a stud book in which all horses of the breed deemed worthy are to be registered. The Cleveland Bay, as now bred, is a horse of sixteen to sixteen and three-quarters hands high and w^eighs from 1,300 to 1,500 pounds. In color they are generally bay with black points, but sometimes dappled bay with occasional browns and dappled browns, always with black points. Originally they were nearly universally bay in color, and were said to be as near alike in color as Devon cattle ; but the use of the thor- oughbred stallions has introduced somewhat of a change in this respect. They should, however, be free from white mark- ings, always with black points and of one of the colors men- tioned above. The head should be fine, the eyes large and prominent, the time and power to stamp it with her vices or her virtues, impart to it her weakness or her strength — in consideration of these facts some of the most careful of our breeders are of the opinion that the dam is justly entitled to fully sixty per cent, of her influence on the foal. In selecting the brood mare great attention should be paid to the shape and quality of her feet and legs, always bearing in mind the old but true adage: "Ko foot, no horse." The race-horse that is always troubled with "a leg" is a nuisance. Avoid curby hocks, spavins, or hock joints predisposed by nature to spavins, either bog or bone. Her leg should be rather flat, firm, hard, and smooth, showing an entire absence •of adipose tissue ; rather large but well-defined joints entirely SELECTING BREEDING STOCK. 157 smooth, and free from all bunch or blemish ; firm but elastic cords ; short in the pastern ; short from knee and hock to pas- tern joint. The legs should stand squarely and firmly under the animal, the toe turning neither in nor out. She should be of full nor- mal size for the breed represented, neither over nor under size ; should be possessed of a good head with broad forehead, wide between the eyes and ears ; ears should be fine pointed and well set. She should have a full, bright, clear but pleasant eye, with not an over-abundance of Avhite about the lid, — but better white than red ; — should have a good, well-set neck, car- rying her head in good style ; should be short on the back, long on the belly, with a deep, full chest ; well and closely ribbed up, a long hip and possessed of a superabundance of muscle of the flanks. She should be possessed of a good, clean, trappy gait, — whether intended as a producer of speed or draft; — should have a fine, glossy coat and of a fashionable color for the breed to which she belongs. Disposition is also one of the most important items to be considered in the selection of the brood mare ; for w^hile we desire plenty of spirit and high-life, w^e despise a low, base- spirited and treacherous mare to breed from. N^ever select a vicious mare from which to breed any class of horses. There has been much said and written against using un- sound mares as brood stock, and while I fully agree with such champions for sound stock for breeding purposes, I cannot con- scientiously advise the discarding of good mares on account of accidental unsoundness; the proofs to the contrary being too strong when taking into consideration the following facts : The dam of Sherman Morgan, the ISTarragansett pacing mare for- merly ridden by John Brown of Providence, R. I., and after- wards taken to Vermont by James Sherman and bred to Justin Morgan, had a spavin. The fleet, high-spirited gray mare,, dam of old Ethan Allen, also had a spavin. The Charles Kent mare, dam of Rysdyk's Hambletonian, was driven in the city 158 SELECTING BREEDING STOCK. of ^ew York until unfit for use by lameness. Katy Darling, the great road mare of ITew York city and the dam of Alex- ander's Abdallah, was dead lame at the time of being bred to Hambletonian, and a cripple for life by getting one of her hind feet caught in the frog of a railroad track. Clara, the dam of Dexter, 2.1Ti, had a hip knocked down and was otherwise blemished. I could enumerate many other instances where good, well- bred and gamy mares, meeting with accidents that crippled them for life, were put to breeding with good results ; but I have already given you enough examples, I think, to convince you of the feasibility of utilizing the best mares for breedmg purposes, though they may have been so unfortunate as to get crippled. CHAPTEE XYIII. CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION. Box Stall — Paddock — Kind treatment — Undue familiarity — Feed — Exer- cise — Pampering — Grassing — Winter care — Carrots as food — Worms — Controlling. TWO things are absolutely necessary on the start, viz., a box stall and a paddock. The box stall should not be less than 12 x 14 feet for any stallion, and may be 14 x 14, or 15 x 15, or 16 x 16 feet, with one door, four feet wide and eight feet high, made double and strong, thoroughly riveted, and hung on three good hinges. Have one window that will give plenty of light without draught. Wainscot the entire inside of the stall, except at the door, with one and one-half or two-inch plank ; the wainscoting to be four or five feet high from the floor. The feed box should be broad, so that the food may be spread out thinly over the bottom to prevent the stallion from eating his grain too hastily. Always close the door on entering or leaving the stall, and always see that the door is properly fastened. The paddock should not be too large — 50x100 or 40x60 feet may be a good size. The fence should be seven feet high, at least, and may be higher. It should be made of boards reaching to the ground to prevent his feet slipping under it, and should be nailed from within against stringers and posts that are without, for a horse will sometimes climb upon the stringers to look over the fence and remain there long enough to injure his tendons. Never relax your watchfulness when about a stallion ; treat him with the utmost kindness and consideration — teach him to (159) 160 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION. have the utmost confidence in you. Never play witli a stallion and allow him to become too familiar, as familiarity may breed contempt and you may lose part of your influence over him. One great mistake by inexperienced persons, and by others who should know better, is the endeavor to have the stallion in fine show condition," which, of course, means fat, and are con- stantly dosing them with mixtures. As a rule of nature, a healthy horse or man needs no medicine. Let your stallion be well and regularly fed with healthy and nutritious food, with plenty of daily exercise to keep his muscles firm and hardy, and let him be well groomed so that his coat may present a fine appearance. The skin should be kept thoroughly clean by an occasional washing and frequent rubbing and brushing-. The mane and tail should also be kept clean. If very dirty soap may be freely used in the cleaning process ; and when this is faithfully attended to there will be but little danger of hav- ing a fine tail or mane ruined by rubbing. His food should be clean and free from dust or mold, and the stall should be kept clean, well lighted, and perfectly ventilated. Let the stallion have the greatest amount of outdoor life and exercise consistent with good judgment. A stallion kept in a band-box may be beautiful to look upon, his soft, silky coat may shine like velvet, but it should be borne in mind that his value as a sire does not depend upon looks alone, but power of transmission. There are far too many pampered stallions, and, as a result, they are inferior stock horses and very uncertam foal getters. Give the horse attention and good care, and, with that, plenty of steady work, that he may be full of energy and prove his worth in the stud. To the owner of a brood mare it means much whether a stallion is in good condition or not. The promise of free return next year does not make good the loss. There is no animal that does not enjoy its freedom, so, CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION. IGl when it can be allowed, liberty should be granted to the stallion. For summer food, feed good, clean oats, clean hay, plenty of green grass, and no drugs, eggs, or condiments, as a rule. Grassing out with halter, attended by the groom, early in the morning while the dew is on the grass, is of great benefit to any stallion, and especially toward their feet. Unless he has a good paddock to run in he should be driven every day the weather is good during the mare season. I rather prefer the paddock for high-spirited horses, and the driv- ing for more sluggish ones. A state of nature, as neaV as it can be attained, is attended with the best results of the procreative powers. After the season closes the condition of the stallion for the next season's business will greatly depend upon the manner in which he is kept from the close of the present to the commencement of the next. In most cases in this climate from October 1st to the first of March the stallion is not called upon for stud duties, and usually but little is done between July and April. He consequently has a long period of rest and recuperation from the drain upon the functions of the sexual organs which service in the stud has required, but it should not be a season of pampered and over-fed indolence, as is often the case. When convenient to do so the very best treatment is to use him at light work of some kind, and work him regularly but moderately up to February or March. Feed enough grain to keep him strong and healthy, but not fat. WINTER CARE. It is always best to give the stallion light work during the fall and winter, but in many cases this is not convenient. The next best thing is to let him have daily exercise in an open paddock every day that the weather will permit, if even but for a short time each day. 11 162 CARE ANDMANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION. Yery little grain should be fed during the winter, and that little should consist of bran, oats, and other light food. Carrots are excellent to be fed during the winter months, with or without grain. Good, clean, oat straw is good fed with carrots and a few oats. He is better off in a warm stable with- out a blanket, except, perhaps, in the very coldest weather. The custom of keeping a stallion tied in a stall with a feed box full of grain is not only unprofitable, but inhuman. Cornstalks, grass, potatoes, carrots, turnips, and apples are all admissible as a change, fed in small quantities for the pur- pose of pleasing the appetite and loosening the bowels. Keep mineral salt constantly by him ; dry wood ashes are also almost indispensable. Keep clear of worms by all means. Watch the condition of the bowels ; attend to the teeth, and give especial attention to the feet. Average per cent, of mares got in foal by stallions is 67 ; average per cent, of living foals dropped is 62. THE NUMBER OF MARES A STALLION MAY SERVE. It is generally considered as a two-year-old the service should be light, if any. A three-year-old may be limited to fifteen or twenty services, and a four-year-old should not go beyond thirty. There can be no question that the use of the procreative powers of the unmatured horse tends to retard his physical development. CONTROLLING THE STALLION WHEN IN USE. While the temper and disposition of stallions are largely matters of inheritance, yet much depends on the breaking and management. It is much easier to spoil a horse than to cure him of bad habits after they have once been allowed to form. Headstrong stallions should never be led out except by a bridle that will enable the groom to have perfect control over him. CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION. 163 GROOMING. Use an old, dull currycomb, a root or broom brush, and a bristle brush, followed by flannel cloth ; these are all the tools necessary in cleaning and polishing his coat, and they should be used in the order named, and used every day. While the stallion should not be pampered and over-fed, he should be kept as clean as possible, as cleanliness in animals is of importance, even as it is in man, and we all are taught in the latter case, " cleanliness is next to godliness." CHAPTER XIX. CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. Getting doubtful mares in foal — Eternal vigilance — The productive period — Period of gestation — Marking the foal — Use the brood mares — Stabling pregnant mares — Wheat middlings — Enlargement of abdo- men — Attention at foaling time — Jealous mothers. THE first thing to be done in tlie management of ttie brood mare is to get her in foal, otherwise she cannot properly be called a brood mare. More money is probably lost on stock farms through carelessness and the improper handling of mares in the breeding season than in any other part of the horse breeding business. GETTING DOUBTFUL MAKES IN FOAL. Mares that are not regular breeders should have a run at grass for a few weeks without grain and then taken up and given grain and put to light w^ork until coming in season, and then bred. Mares bred and then turned to grass, or mares running to grass, are not near as likely to get in foal as are those managed in this way. A point upon which there is a great diversity of opinion is when and how often a mare should be tried after being served by the horse. A mare will almost invariably be "in heat" on the seventh day after foaling if she is healthy and has received no injury from foaling, and in most cases it is desirable to have her served at that time if it is thought best to breed her that season. After service she may be tried again in two weeks. There is no regular tinie for a mare to come in heat — after the ninth day from foaling — nor any regular time for her to stay in heat. In this business, as in most others, " eternal vigilance is the price of success." Mares sometimes, after being bred, refuse (164) CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. 165 the horse for two months or more when tried regularly and then come in season. My plan is to begin early in the season, say in March, and then try them to the horse regularly every two weeks during the season. As to the productive period of mares the best age is said to be from five to fifteen years. Breeding fillies at two years of age often seriously interferes with their symmetrical develop- ment. Three years is perhaps young enough to breed a mare and from then on in some cases to thirty years, or as long as she continues to produce and raise good foals. The period of gestation in mares is variable. In my own experience of upwards of thirty years, as a breeder, the average time that mares have carried their foals has been eleven months and nine days, and has ranged from ten months and twenty days to twelve months and twenty-three days. Difference in breed makes no difference in time. It has been reported that mares have carried their foals upwards of thirteen months. A case of this kind w^as once reported of a mare in Jessa- mine county, Ky., who carried a foal thirteen months and twenty-eight days. MAKES MARKING THEIR FOALS. Mares worked with other horses frequently color or mark their foals after their mates ; also colts are often marked from fright, sympathy, and curiosity, and breeding for color with a view of forming a fixed type or in breeding matched horses, the breeder cannot be too careful on this point. I once had a pair of Vermont Black Hawk mares, both as black as jet. I bred them to a brown Morgan stallion, without any white, in 1862, and at the time I bred one of these mares a sorrel mare w^ith a white stripe in her face was brought to my stallion, and I noticed at the time that my mare took quite a good deal of interest in this outside mare, but thought nothing of it until foaling time for my mares, w^hen, instead of having a matched pair as I had reason to expect, one of my mares 166 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. dropped a black colt and the other a • sorrel filly with white markings, exactly like this neighbor's mare. Another case of my own was in 1867, when I bred a bay mare to a bay Morgan stallion without any white markings, and this mare got away from a boy and ran to one of my neighbors, and when I found her there a short time afterwards she was with and seemed interested in a black mare with a white face; and the next year when she foaled her colt was black and marked precisely like my neighbor's mare. One of the most wonderful instances of this kind ever known was of a colt foaled in the neighborhood of Spokane Falls, Washington, bearing m his left eye a perfect picture of the waterfall of Spokane Falls. Moderate work is not only harmless but beneficial to mares in foal, provided they are nor over-loaded or over-driven. It is much better than keeping them tied up in a stall or turned loose to run at large in yards or fields with other horses. In the former case they suffer for want of exercise and in the latter case they are exposed to numerous accidents. There is force in the suggestion that a good farmer can raise a colt cheaper than can the professional breeder, as he can use the mares in his farm work. Undoubtedly there is some danger of injury to mares in foal, or to the foals from working the mares, but with careful management this danger is slight. I once heard a successful farmer say that a pair of draft mares owned by him annually paid the wages of the man .who worked them, and that they lost only about ten days at foaling time. My practice has ever been to make reasonable use of mares while in foal and while they are suckling their foals and have seen no injury to either from the practice. For work on the farm or road I decidedly prefer to have the foals kept separately from the mares while the latter are at work. Great care should be taken that the colt should not be allowed to suck while the mare is too hot. Another advantage possessed by the farmer over the large CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. 167 breeder is that he can have full use of such mares as fail to get in foal, and there are few breeders so fortunate as to have none of this class. Pregnant mares should be stabled with due regard to security against annoyance, compression, or injury by other horses, and especially guarded against the accident of getting cast in their stalls. Don't keep breeding animals fat, but simply in good order ; a good healthy condition at all times is necessary for the greatest success in breeding. It is a good plan to feed the brood mares a few quarts daily of wheat middlings — the whole grain coarse ground or cracked -would do as well — for three months before foaling. There is something about the gluten in wheat that gives the foal bone and strength, and it is less liable to come weak or crooked. Under the old process of grinding wheat, bran and middlings had plenty of the glutten but now it goes mostly into the flour, and the bran and middlings are of less account. The mare does not require to be fat or grained highly be^ fore foaling or immediately after. It is always best to allow the mare to run to grass if it is large enough for a bite, before foaling, as it will help to make milk and will put the system in a healthy condition to meet the demands of nature. Every breeder should recognize the importance of exercise for the brood mare, either in the paddock, on the road, or in the field ; thus keeping them strong and healthy and insuring a much more hardy foal than when they are allowed to stand quietly in the stall without needful exercise. It often happens that there is considerable enlargement of the lower surface of the abdomen and chest during the latter part of the period of pregnancy. The swelling will sometimes extend from the udder to the fore-legs and become an inch or more in thickness. This need not, however, alarm the young breeder, as an hour's walk every day will generally cause most of the swelling to disappear. When the time of foaling approaches, the mare should be 168 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. turned loose in a large box-stall or, in mild weather, in a pad- dock or lot. Everything should be removed from the stable that w^ould in any wsiy be likely to hinder the colt from get- ting on his feet. A few hours before foaling milk will generally be discov- ered oozing from the teats or the plugs in the orifice of the teats will be pressed down so as to be plainly seen. When this is observed the foal will make its appearance within twenty-four hours, and someone should be at hand and keep close watch of the mare until it is dropped. Some mares may raise colts for years, running at will with no one near at foaling time, but this is not good management, for it sometimes happens that the mare needs assistance in the delivery of the foal, and sometimes the foal has not sufficient strength to break the blanket in which it is enveloped, in which case, unless someone is ready to render assistance the young animal will speedily smother to death. Again it happens some- times that mares, especially with their first foals, will not own their offspring, but will rush upon them violently and either stamp or kick them to death if someone is not near to divert their attention. After removing the blanket the newly-dropped foal should be rubbed dry gently with soft, woolen cloths, or clean, fresh straw. If strong and healthy the new-comer will soon make an attempt to get on his feet. A little assistance from an at- tendant will save the foal many a bump and possibly its life. When the colt begins to manifest symptoms of hunger the man in charge, who, by the way, should be one with whom the mare is acquainted, should assist the youngster in taking his first meal. It is often a difficult task and wiU require great patience on the part of the groom to get the teat into the mouth of the foal, but when that is accomplished and the youngster gets his first swallow of milk the worst of the job is over. If the dam is of a nervous temperament she will sometimes object to being touched by the foal ; if she is inclined to be CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. 169 cross it will be best to pick up bar near fore foot, bending it backwards until it rests against the forearm, and fasten it there by means of a broad, soft strap ; a common pole-strap will an- answer the purpose admirably, but if this kind of a strap is not handy, then a hold-back from a single harness may be made to answer. With her head well elevated and fastened there, and one fore-foot strapped up as above described there is but little danger from injury by kicking. Close watch should be kept to see that there is an evacua- tion of the bowels. A great many foals are lost every year owing to a lack of attention to this very important matter. Give an injection of half a pint of warm soap suds and give a physic of castor oil, if necessary ; but usually the injection will be sufficient. It is always well to have on hand at such times, and to give the mare a wheat bran mash mixed with warm water or a few quarts of warm oat-meal gruel. Give no cold water to drink for two days after foaling if in cool or cold weather, but take the chill off by adding a little hot water or by the insertion of a hot iron into a pail of water. Care should also be used in feeding grain to the dam direct- ly after foaling, but in a few days she may be fed liberally — commencing lightly and increasing gradually — with a mix- ture of ground oats, cracked wheat, and corn-meal lightened up with bran. A good mixture may consist of five bushels of oats to one of wheat, one of corn-meal, and two of bran. The foals will soon learn to eat with their mothers. If the weather is suitable the sooner the foal is turned into a warm, dry, any sunny yard the better. The dam should not be allowed to stand m a draught of air or remain out in damp or chilly weather. It is certainly a trouble to look after the foals as they ar- rive, but it just as certainly pays to do so ; if they are weak they sometimes require a little stimulant of whisky or other spirituous liquor. 170 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF BROOD MARES. JEALOUS MOTHEES-. Some mares, especially - those of very sensitive organiza- tion, are excessively jealous of their offspring and are ojDposed to anyone coming near them, and in their zeal to protect are liable to injure them. Others are proud of their foals and take great delight in exhibiting them to their friends. The great race mare, Goldsmith Maid, was one of these sensitive mothers, and it is related of her that when her first foal was brought forth she w^ould allow no one to come near it; but one day Charley (her old attendant — swipe — ^when she was in Budd Doble's stable), visited Fashion Farm. Charley and the Maid were once firm friends, and to test the endurance of that friendship Charley concealed himself near the cranky old mare and allowed her to hear his voice. The Maid was in the paddock with her colt by her side. On hearing Charley's voice she instantly raised her head and gave a whinny of de- light, and with that bold, free, sweeping stride that in by-gone years had electrified thousands, dashed about the paddock in search of her old friend. When Charley appeared she wxnt to the fence over which he leaned, showing her joy in every action. Not only did she welcome him but invited him to fondle her baby. Round about the two she circled, uttering a low whinny which expressed an unspeakable joy, and she acted the show^woman to a marked degree in the exhibition of her young colt. CHAPTER XX. MANAGEMENT OF THE FOAL. Care of young foals — Getting to nurse — Evacuation of bowels — Injec- tions — Feeding the foal — Heated milk — Raising by hand — Wean ing — Feeding — Care of weanlings — Handling — Halter breaking — Breaking foals — Naming the colt. NO part of a breeder's time can be more profitably spent than when looking after young foals, and if more diligence were used in looking after the mare and foal immediately pre- ceding, during, and following the foaling period, much less loss would be sustained at this particular time. At foaling time the mare should always be attended by a, competent person able, if necessary, to assist her in her labors,, and to cut and securely tie the navel cord. He should then, it necessary, help the mother to dry the foal by rubbing with rub cloth or dry straw, and when the foal makes his first effort to stand on his feet he should be assisted to do so and not be al- lowed — as is often the case — to struggle to accomplish this ob- ject until so much exhausted as to be unable to stand up and suck after he has succeeded in gaining a standing position ; besides, in his struggle to get up, he is liable to receive perma- nent injuries. I have known of the loss of an eye and the knocking down of a hip and other injuries by this means. When the foal is once firmlv on his feet the first thing to do is to get him to suck, as he requires nourishment at once, and there is nothing equal to the first milk of the mother m this, as in the case of all animals, from man down to the lowest order of the mammalia class. It is frequently the case, and especially so with nervous; mares Avith their first foal, that they are unwilling at first to allow the colt to suck ; hence the great importance of having a. (171) 172 MANAGEMENT OF THE FOAL. competent man at hand to assist the foal in securing his first meal. This man should be one with whom the mare is ac- quainted, and especially so if she be of a nervous temperament. It sometimes happens that the foal has not sufficient strength to break the blanket in which he is enveloped; then, unless someone is at hand to do so, the young thing will soon smother to death. "When it is difficult to get the youngster to help itself, try to stream some milk from the teat of the dam into its mouth, and rub some of the milk on its nose. Continue this until it gets a taste of the milk, after which it will be more eager to help itself. Close watch should be kept to see that there is an evac- uation of the bowels. A great many foals are lost each year by a lack of attention to this very important matter. If the foal exhibits symptoms of distress or much uneasiness, and especially if the hind legs are drawn forward and the head drooped and the little thing stumbles about the stall or pad- dock as if trying to stand on its head, or turn a somersault, give it at once an injection of half a pint of blood-warm water with just enough soap in it to make it feel slippery to the touch. Glycerine may be added to the water in proportion to one part glycerine to two parts water. This may be administered by a common rubber bulb sj^ringe suitable for family use, or by any other stjde of syringe not too large. It may be necessary to follow up the injection for a day or two. A dose of castor oil may be given if required; care should be taken not to give more than is necessary lest purging may be induced. If the weather is suitable the sooner a foal is turned into a dry, sunny yard with its dam the better. There is nothing bet- ter than sunshine for all very young animals, especially if it is not too hot. It is some trouble to look after the youngsters when they are very young, but it pays to do so. MANAGEMENT OF THE FOAL. 173 FEEDING THE FOAL. More can be done for the foal in the first six months of its life than in any year thereafter, consequently the mare should be extra well fed during the time of nursing the colt, and then^ if she proves to be a poor milker, as is many times the case, the foal should be fed in addition to what it can get from its dam. It should be taught to drink sweet skim-milk, which is very good for young foals. Do not feed whole, or new milk, as cream is unnatural to the foal ; there is none in mare's milk. The foals will learn to eat grain with their mothers at an early age. A brood mare suckling a foal, especially if said foal is ex- pected to become valuable, should be fed liberally for milk,, both as regards quantity and quality. When the colt gets to be three months old he will eat con- siderable food in addition to what he can get from the mare,, and he should be liberally supplied with oats in a separate feed trough where he can help himself and where the mare cannot get to them to drive him away. SUCKLING COLTS. When the mare is used on the farm or road in hot weather so as to heat her blood, the foal should not be allowed to suck until she has cooled off. Let him fill himself before the mare is put in the harness. Colts injured by heated milk seldom re- cover from it for a year or two, and sometimes never. EAISING BY HAND. It sometimes becomes necessary to raise a foal wholly by hand, as it is called when required to be raised without the aid of its dam. Such was the case of Andrew Jackson, the founder of the Clay family ; of George Wilkes, 2.22, the founder of the Wilkes family ; of Lilian Wilkes, 2.1Tf (at three years old) ;, of Belle Hamlin, 2.12f ; and maii}^ other good ones have been raised on cow's milk. This is a plan worthy of more extended experiment, and is 174 MANAGEMENT OF THE FOAL. a great help in bringing a foal througK his first winter until grass comes ; but grain should also be fed in connection with the milk. The milk should be fed slightly warm — about the same temperature as it comes from the cow, and termed " milk warm " ; this is nature's temperament for all young animals. As soon as grass gives out the fall after weaning it is quite important that the foal should have a laxative green food. Almost all cultivated roots are good, but by far the best are carrots. When sweet apples are plentiful and cheap, there is nothing better as long as they will last. When the foal is weaned he will want a variety in his grain ration, but it should consist chiefly of crushed oats or ground oats ; some wheat is always good. I like a little corn-meal mixed with ground oats and other feed for colts wintered in northern climates. Some think that corn-meal is too heating for young colts ; so it is, fed liberally and alone as a grain ration, but mixed as above, and fed in win- ter in our Northern States, it makes a pretty good overcoat to help keep the youngster warm, and will keep them free from worms better than any other food except linseed oil meal, which, by the way, is a most excellent food for any and all stock, and especially so for all young animals ; but it should be fed sparingly and mixed with other grains. In the care of colts scant feeding is to be deplored, and, worse yet, the exposure to severe cold and storms ; while over- feeding the colt makes him clumsy by having the nerves over- loaded with fat. Digestion has too often been impaired by an over-loaded stomach ; if this is done in the colt there is little hope of having a healthy and long-lived horse. In caring for weanlings the first winter, give them plenty to eat of clean, good, bright hay, and sweet rowen, if accessible, with grain rations suitable to its size and needs. Do not over- feed with grain, and give an occasional feed of roots, etc., and give plenty to drink. Skim-milk is best, but water will do, and give plenty of open air exercise and sunshine, but carefully avoid exposure to bleak winds and cold storms. MANAGEMENT OF THE FOAL. 175 All colts should be well halter-broken the first winter of their lives if not sooner. Keep a good supply of clean wood- ashes and salt near them ; they will eat all they require and no more. This keeps them free from Avorms, and otherwise healthy. WEANING. When the colt is taken from the mare it may be tied in an adjoining stall with the partition open enough so that they may see each other. The mare should be fed lightly on dry feed. When the bag becomes so full as to cause uneasiness it may be partially milked out — not dry — by the colt for the first time, but afterward by hand, as the milk will become some- what feverish and not good for the foal. After weaning the colt may be fed skim-milk, especially if not in good condition at weaning time. Good, sound, clean oats is the best food for colts. A little oil-meal is also good, as well as carrots, clean hay, and clover, if clean and sweet. HANDLING. Commence to handle the foal from the first and let him distinctly understand that while you are his superior in strength you are his friend and will not hurt him ; then he will have full confidence in you and will ever be easily managed. Halter-break foals when only a few days, or at the most, a few weeks old. When taken at from two to six weeks old they can generally be halter-broken in half an hour, eSpeciallj^ if they have been handled from birth. BREAKING FOALS. It is wonderful how easy it is to accustom a weanling to harness, compared with the work if delayed until older. NAMING THE COLT. IS'ext to naming the baby this is perplexing and difficult. Large breeders are many times at a loss to know what to call their foals. I prefer giving each animal at the start a good 176 MANAGEMENT OF THE FOAL. and appropriate name. For this purpose I have for many years kept a book of well-selected names, both male and female, alphabetically arranged and applicable to any animal, and as I use a name I so designate it on the book that I may not use the same name a second time ; thus I am better able to keep a run of my animals than I would otherwise be. "When I can do so without repetition I prefer to give a foal a name that will identify the family to which he belongs. For instance, a filly desirable for a brood mare may have the name of some flower, and to all of her descendants may be given the names of flowers. Or, the family lines may be sufficiently marked by giving one mare and her descendants the names of cities, villages, or towns ; to others, the names of poets, novelists, or other writers, and such names as they have chosen for their works. _g m S4-( < h-i ;-H ai ^ T-l w d 03 ^ in <1 a c W CHAPTEE XXI. BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. Speed attractive feature — Only few trot fast — Breed for beauty, size, style, and action — Demand for first-class roadsters in advance of supply — Easier to breed beauty than speed — The standard craze — French ahead of Americans in systematic breeding — Selecting breeding stock — The most modern breed — Color — Hambletonians — Mambrino Chief — Blue Bull — Early foals — Good care important — High prices for. THE general principles of horse-breeding as laid down in another chapter are, of course, as applicable to breeding the American trotter as to that of other breeds ; nevertheless, I feel that the importance of this breed in America requires a more special notice than I have given in my general principles of horse-breeding. In breeding the American trotter, speed is one of the most attractive features of the whole business, but it should ever be borne in mind that to breed for speed alone would be the height of folly. Every breeder who has carefullj^ studied the matter knows full well that only a small portion of well-bred trotters go fast ; consequently, when we select our trotting-bred sires and dams for the purpose of producing fast trotters we must bear in mind that not more than one out of every twenty will make a fast trotter, while the other nineteen will be left on the breeder's hands, and for what purpose? "Well, if proper attention and good judgment is given in the selection of the parents, out of these nineteen colts that cannot trot sensationally fast, at least fifteen of them will sell at re- munerative prices as roadsters and business horses, or for breed- ing purposes, as they will have good size, style, action, and be possessed of enough beauty to make them an article of ready 12 (177) 1?8 BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. sale in any horse market of America ; but, if we breed for speed, alone without the other considerations, and. get a little animal that is not a fast trotter, — then what? Why, we had better have raised a steer or mule with the same food and less trouble and expense. The breeding of fine, stylish roadsters should prove a valu- able auxiliary to the trotting-horse breeder whose main object may be speed; consequently animals with not enough speed for the trainer for fast records, may yet, if backed with en- durance and a handsome form, with good disposition, be a source of profit to the breeder and add to the wealth of the community in which he is bred. Then, again, the demand for stylish, well-formed, spirited, but withal, level-headed and kind horses for the road has always been in advance of the supply. To breed trotters, the culls of which (as to phenomenal speed) will be of this class, the breeder should not only select as the sire a stallion from the great families of sires so known to fame, but secure the best individual specimens of strains that have excelled in pro- ducing trotters, and breed them to mares that have stamina, size, style, form, and endurance. Speed and the ability to produce speed are desirable charac- teristics in a trotting sire and make a strong combination. It is much easier to breed beauty than speed, and, on the whole, perhaps quite as profitable in the long run. Beauty of form and carriage does not detract from speed, and what is more worthless than a homely trotter that has not speed enough to be of any account as a race-horse, nor yet has the qualities necessary to a good road-horse, and is not even fitted by nature to be a good work-horse? So, I reiterate: "Breed horses for beauty, brains, and business." The first quality will always attract customers who can and will pay the highest prices ; and brains — good horse sense — is an important factor in a horse for an}^ purpose. The standard craze, based simply on the merits of speed alone for a single mile, has injured the trotting-horse interests BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. 179 of America more than anything else could have done ; it has filled the country with worthless brutes, unsuitable for any use whatever, except, perhaps, a single season's gambling imple- ment ; and on the simple achievement of this single season they have — both stallions and mares — been placed at the head of our best American stock farms. This is not business-like, and will never permanently suc- ceed. Although a firm believer in pedigree itself, I think it not to be considered unless merit as well as speed is behind the in- dividual. The standard craze amounts to nothing unless backed by individual merit. Pedigree is all right, but stand- ard-bred horses eligible to registry as such, without an animal to correspond Avith the pedigree — as often witnessed in com- bination sales when highly-bred stock will not sell for half enough to pay for their service fees — ^is a highly deplorable state of things, plainly showing that there is a screw loose some- where. This standard business may be carried a little too far when it admits everything bred in a certain line, without paying any regard whatever to the animal so bred as being worthy of use for breeding purposes, and rejecting many much better and also well-bred animals because they do not come up to the stand- ard in breeding according to set rules. How many gentlemen breeders among my readers have sold good, well-bred mares for a nominal price because they were non-standard according to the rules, and replaced them with others much inferior at long prices, simply because they were standard? How many good colts have been gelded because of being non-standard, and their places usurped by inferior ani- mals both as to meritorious breeding and individual merit, that were standard ? That the standard and the standard number has discarded many a good animal, filling their places with in- ferior ones, none of much observation and experience can deny. I like good breeding and fashionable pedigree as well as any man, but what I consider of more importance, and what has given me better results and greater satisfaction, is individual 180 BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. excellence and positive qualities. Pedigree often sells trasn at fancy prices. I do not wish to be misunderstood in this matter of horse registration and the standard. It is all right and proper that we have a registry, a standard, and a standard number for each registered animal. But my idea in this matter is, I presume, an original one, and many breeders may not agree with me, but I believe no stallion colt should be eligible to record as stand- ard to be kept for breeding purposes until attaining suitable age and development, and subjected to an examination of a compe- tent, disinterested committee, duly and intelligently appointed for the purpose of ascertaining his individual qualifications — breeding included — to entitle him to a place on the registry as standard-bred and worthy of public patronage. If this rule should be adopted and strictly adhered to, then we should soon be rid of standard-bred weeds and no-account animals as public sires. The French, as a nation, are far ahead of us Americans as to selecting and controlling the use of public stallions. (See The French Coach Horse, Chapter XIII.) As to the standard as it now stands, neither Electioneer, Kutwood, George Wilkes, Red Wilkes, nor Alcantara would be admitted as standard hrefL, while the book stands wide open for the registration of countless numbers of worthless weeds or culls. Lucas Broadhead, agent of the famous Woodburn Farm of Kentucky, says that he " would rather have a horse that is well bred according to the general idea of what a well-bred horse is, than to have a horse that trotted in 2.30, and a man that breeds to a horse without a pedigree, with speed, will be excelled by the man who breeds to a pedigree without speed." He can point to Woodburn as almost uncontrovertible proof of his position. No pedigree can be a good one that does not generally pro- duce good animals ; no pedigree should be prized above other pedigrees unless it usually produces better animals. If tried by BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. 181 this test any pedigree that fails, no matter how much it has been idolized, its value is fictitious, and its effects are injurious to the breeding public. High strains of blood from a powerful race, coupled with individual merit, constitute the standard of value with me. I want no weeds as breeders, whether standard-bred or not. The breeding of the trotting horse has been likened to catching a good wife in Paris, which, in turn, has been described as grabbing for one eel in a basket of snakes, and should not be entered into with the expectation of making it a success by the careless and indifferent. To successfully breed the American Trotter, great skill, care, patience, and perseverance are required, more so than for the breeding of any other animal. The reasons are obvious. Firstly, it is a new breed scarcely fairly established, and to firmly place it as a recognized breed the world over there can be no more fooling or carelessness on the part of the breeders. SELECTING BREEDING STOCK FOK THE AMERICAN TROTTER. In selecting breeding stock as the foundation of a stud for the purpose of breeding the American Trotter the judicious breeder will discriminate between the speedy, flashy weed, and the horse of both speed and stamina; between the little homely, ungainly animal (even though holding the world's record at the time) and the good-sized, symmetrical, beautiful, level-headed, well-bred animal, that would attract attention anywhere, even though the latter has not attained as fast a record as the little plug-ugly before mentioned. The American Trotter is the most modern of all the breeds mentioned herein, and, whatsoever others may say, there is still great need of an established type in this American horse, a more uniformity in likeness, size, speed, disposition, and general characteristics; and the breeder who does most to secure all of these will also secure the thanks of the horsemen of the 20th century. Size, color, disposition, and soundness should not be sacri- 182 BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. ficed to speed alone ; and the breeder • making these sacrifices will as surely " get left " as the sun is sure to rise in the east or the moon to get full once every month. Color is merely an individual fancy ; but in fixing the type of the American trotting horse perhaps this matter should re- ceive due attention. In selecting foundation stock for breed- ing choose the best individual animals obtainable from the best trotting-bred families and of good trotting action. As to the brood mares being registered as standard I care little ; I prefer good individual trotting-bred mares that can trot, to standard- bred and registered weeds that cannot. For the sire or dam of a colt to make a trotter of I prefer a 2.30 animal that is a natural, level-headed trotter, and that can trot fairly and squarely off-handed without weights or boots, and can continue to do this, to any animal requiring such an amount of extra harness and trapping that its best acquaint- ances will fail to recognize it when fitted for the race, even if by these artificial appliances they can be made to trot in 2.04. I may be called an old fogy for advocating such notions, in this, the 19th century, but such opinions will, I am confident, bear the strictest investigations, and in the long run will prove themselves true every time when applied to the breeding of our fastest and best trotters. Give me natural, not artificial, trot- ters from which to breed trotters, is the whole thing in a nut- shell. The trotting horse should not be bred simpl}^ for racing alone or for wealthy gentlemen to drive on the road, smgly or in pairs ; but he raises the general standard of the horse for all work and because of his quick stride and great endurance is both profitable and serviceable for general use. The breeder of the trotting horse of to-day should ever bear in mind that of all the trotting-bred animals bred and raised but a small proportion will ever become sensational trotters, and the great majority must find employment elsewhere than on the trotting- course; consequently the importance of breeding only such BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. 183 individual animals as may be both useful and serviceable out- side of the speed-ring. To further illustrate my idea in breeding speed from trotting- bred animals other than those of the fastest records, we will take as a case in point, Arion, 2.07f , v^^ho had no trotting an- cestor, either male or female, with a record of 2.30 even, except Nutwood, 2.181 ; and right here, in the breeding of Arion, we find a strong argument for the late Leland Stanford's theory for selecting, as brood mares to breed to trotting stallions, the best thoroughbred race mares — those that could race and win ; not culls or weeds, to be obtained as dams of fast trotters. He proved to the world beyond a doubt that his theory was, in the main, correct ; but shall we continue on in the course 'i I say no. For just as long as we contmue to do so we put off what we desire to accomplish, and postpone the day of establishmg the American Trotter as a clistmct and world-recognized breed. With establishing this breed as with establishing the English Thoroughbred there is a time to stop experimenting with all outside issues. There is not a shadow of doubt but the thoroughbred has done his full share in establishing the Ameri- can Trotter as we find him up to date ; neither is there any doubt but the Arabian horse has done his full share in produc- ing the thoroughbred ; yet it appears that the English breeder knew when he had got enough of the Arab, and stopped. I claim that the American breeder has enough of the thorouo-h- bred, now, as a cross on the trotter, and should, therefore, stop and confine himself strictly to breeding the American Trotter from trotting-bred ancestry of stamina and race-qualities at the trotting gait. Were I to commence the business to-day of breeding the American trotting horse I should select for my breeding stock on both sides from the oldest and best families of trotters that have trotted and have done most to achieve the great popularity of this breed in America or the world ; and not from any whirl- wind, phenomenal, come-by-chance trotter or pacer, although he or she miorht hold the world's record at the time. 184 BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. I like to have trotting stock for breeding purposes trace to such animals as Rysdyk's Hambletonian through his best bred sons, among which I consider embraced (alphabetically), Ad- ministrator, Alexander's Abdallah, Ajax, Dictator, Dauntless, Electioneer, Egbert, George Wilkes, Happy Medium, Harold, Jay Gould, Messenger Duroc, Strathmore, Sweepstakes, Yolun- teer, and Yictor Bismarck. I don't claim that this list embraces all the sons of Hamble- tonian worthy of patronage, but I know that all of those con- tributed largely to the establishment of the Hambletonian family of the American Trotter of the period. However, in the above list I have my own preferences, and especially so as regards selecting the stallion ; as some of them were much better brood mare sires than that of stallions. Mambrino Chief was another great progenitor of trotters — mainly through his daughters — and pedigrees tracing to him are well worthy of consideration by the breeder of the Ameri- can Trotter, Animals tracing to Imported Belfounder other than through Hambletonian are also well Avorthy of consideration ; especially those tracing to him through Green's Bashaw. Those tracing to Vermont Black Hawk, especially through Daniel Lambert, are usually desirable for the stud ; as are also all ani- mals tracing to old Imported Diomed. As to Blue Bull, that great progenitor of trotters from cold-blooded Indiana mares, although his breeding cannot and perhaps will not ever be cor- rectly ascertained, I have no doubt but he was a well-bred horse and I should have no hesitancy in breeding to him through his best-bred sons and daughters. Breeders of all classes of race-horses should bear in mind that early foals are preferable in every way to late ones. The reasons are obvious ; the earl}^ foal gets a good start and is bet- ter able to withstand that great torment to all horse flesh, the fly, which is so annoying to all horses, old and young, in the field and in the stable. Foals dropped late in the spring or early in the summer months, are not infrequently killed out- BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. 185 right — ia some localities — by these merciless and annoying insects ; others have their growth more or less retarded from the same cause. More than this — an early colt may be weaned in time to become accustomed to solid foods and can more easily be kept in good condition during the first winter, coming out in the spring strong and vigorous. Another important item of consideration to the trotting- horse breeder is, that all registered animals and all eligible racers' ages are reckoned as commencing with the year ; so a colt foaled on January 1st stands equal with one foaled on the 31st of December, of the same year. Consequently the earlier in the year the foal is dropped the more advantage it has as regards age ; and this item alone is of vast importance in rais- ing horses for the turf or track. Aside from this advantage it is generally conceded that the early foal will always make a larger and stronger animal than the later one. What I mean by the later one, in this connection, is the one dropped in the late spring or during the summer or early fall months. In most of the middle and western states, however, I should prefer — other things set aside — to have the foals come in Oc- tober and then carefully house and feed them with the dam during the winter. They will then be able to go out to grass early in the season and be better able to withstand the murder- ous puncturings of the flies. Good care is the grand secret in horse-raising, second only in importance to that of blood, which is purely an inherited quality and a lack of which no after care can ever compensate. Abundant opportunity for exercise in the fresh air is an abso- lute essential to a healthy development of all 3"oung animals ; it is not sufficient that the colt be led out at regular intervals for his exercise ; he needs and should have the opportunity to romp and play. A stirring up of spirit that causes him to extend his muscles to the outmost and expand his lungs to their very depths, and to send the blood coursing through his veins with fiery vigor ; 186 BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. — all of these are essential to a healthy and full development, and nowhere can it be attained equal to the freedom of the field. Still, even in pleading for this wild freedom for the growing colt, I do not wish to be misunderstood. I do not advocate the starving, freezing process through which so many youngsters are obliged to wend their ways to horsehood. A stunted, half- starved animal of any breed will never attain to so perfect physical development as one that has been W'cll fed and cared for. The true policy in developing the healthy grow^th of the American trotter is by a generous supply of nutritious food and by permitting them to romp and race and play at w^ill. By so doing we will secure a healthy and full development of heart and lungs, of bone and muscle. As to the general management of the foal of the American trotter it should not vary much from instructions heretofore given in the management of foals in general. (See Manage- ment of Foals, Chapter XX.) Handling and training will come under another head. (See Breaking and Training, Chapter XXVIII.) HIGH PRICES FOR TROTTING HORSES. American-bred trotting horses have been sold for the fol- lowing high prices : Arion, blk. c, three years, by Electioneer, dam ISTanette by Nut- wood, $125,000. Axtell, b. c, three years, by "Wm. L., son of George Wilkes, dam by Mambrino Boy, $105,000. Anteo, b. c, by Electioneer, dam Columbine by A. "W". Rich- mond, $55,000. Bell Boy, b. c, by Electioneer, dam Beautiful Bells by The Moor, $51,000. Stamboul, blk. c, by Sultan, dam Eleetwing by Hambleto- nian, $50,000. Nancy Hanks, b. m., by Happy Medium, dam Nancy Lee by Dictator, $45,000. BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. 187 Sunol, b. m., by Electioneer, dam "Waxana by Gen. Benton, $41,000. Acolyte, b. h., by Onward, dam Lady Alice by Almont, $40,000. Maud S., c. m., by Harold, dam Miss Kussell by Pilot, Jr., $40,000. Smuggler, br. b., by Blanco, dam untraced, $40,000. Pocahontas, b. m., by Ethan Allen, dam Pocahontas by Iron's Cadmus, $40,000. Karus, b. g., by Concldin's Abdallah, • dam ISTancy Awful by Telegraph, $36,000. Antevolo, b. h., by Electioneer, dam Columbine by A. W. Kich- mond, $35,000. Jay Gould, b. h., by Hambletonian, dam Lady Sanford by American Star, $35,000. . Dexter, br. g., by Hambletonian, dam Clara by American Star, $33,000. Goldsmith Maid, b. m., 2.14, by Alexander's Abdallah, dam Old Ab by Abdallah (1), $32,000. The King, b. g., by George Wilkes, dam Jewell by Gill's Ver- mont, $31,000. Lady Thorne, b. m., by Mambrino Chief, dam Rhodes' mare by Gano, $30,000. Blackwood, blk. h., by Alexander's Norman, dam by Mam- brino Chief, $30,000. Prince Wilkes, ch. g., by Red Wilkes, dam Roe's Chief by Brown Chief, $30,000. Pancoast, b. h., by Woodford Mambrino, dam Bicara by Har- old, $28,000. Gov. Sprague, blk. h., by Sprague's Hambletonian, dam Belle Brandon by Hambletonian, $27,500. Patron, b. h., by Pancoast, dam Beatrice by Cyler, $27,500. Constantine, b. m., by Egbert, dam not traced, $27,000. George Wilkes, b. h., by Hambletonian, dam Dolly Spanker, pedigree untraced, $25,000. 188 BREEDING THE AMERICAN TROTTER. Nettie, b. m., 2.18, by Hambletonian, dam Countyhouse Mag by American Star, $25,000. Oazelle, b. m., by Hambletonian, dam Hattie "Wood by Harry Clay, $20,000. Twenty-seven trotters sold for $1,104,000, or an average of $40,900. Sixty-nine head of colts and fillies, all sired by Electioneer, sold at auction in New York city in 1891 for $68,105, an aver- age of $987.90. Mares in foal should never be used for horseback riding. Many abortions have occurred by neglecting to observe this rule. CHAPTEK XXIL OLD TIME TROTTERS. Topgallant — Ripton — Lady Suffolk — Flora Temple — Ethan Allen — Geo. M. Patchen — Geo. Wilkes — Goldsmith Maid — American Giri — Dutchman — Americus — Dexter — Columbus — Betting on races — Lady Suffolk {In Memoriam). " Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to min' ? Should auld acquaintance be forgot And days o' lang syne ? " AMONG the old-time trotters who have contributed their share toward creating and establishing an interest in the American trotter, and who have afforded much pleasure to the lovers of fast trotters, and who have occasionally electrified the trotting world by their marvelous performances on the turf, but who have long since gone the way of all flesh, I will mention a few of the most noted in their day ; and to give my readers some sort of an idea as to how the trotting business was conducted in the past, I have selected ten noted trotters of their day, which we will — partially, at least — follow through their campaigns. "We will commence in 1829 with old Imported Messenger's son, Topgallant ; then, in order, comes a somewhat noted son of Sherman Morgan, called Eipton; then the much-abused gray mare, Lady Suffolk. Next comes that wonderful little mare. Flora Temple ; then the noted son of Black Hawk, and the King of the Morgans, Ethan Allen ; then will come the brown stallion Geo. M. Patchen, with a race record of 2.23^; then the founder of the Wilkes' family, George Wilkes, 2.22 ; then the reigning queen of her day, Goldsmith Maid— the first to lower the trotting record to 2.14; then the invincible Dex- ter, the great horse of his time who so long held the world's (189) 190 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. trotting record of 2.17^; and finally, that honest and gamy race-mare, dying in the harness and now lying under a monu- ment perpetuating her memory, American Girl. Many others might be mentioned in detail, some of whom may be as worthy of mention as any of these, but in a work like this it should not be expected. It will appear that in the trotting races of fifty or sixty years ago (and even more than that), this sport was highly in- teresting and entertaining to many of the good citizens of those days, and ever has been more or less so since the days of the earliest Morgans, more than ninety years ago. It is sup- posed that then, as now, betting on the results of the races was considered much the same, as "A noble, virtuous citizen Is he who backs the winner ; But he who backs a losing nag Is a gambler and a sinner." Topgallant was a dark bay horse foaled in 1808, on Long Island, ]Sr. Y. He stood fifteen-three high ; he was plain and raw-boned but had rather a fine head and neck, and eyes ex- pressive of much courage. His sire was old Imported Messen- ger. Topgallant was surely an old-time trotting horse and one of the best of his time ; and, being a son of old Messenger, his ex- ploits on the turf had much to do with directing the attention of the trotting world to Messenger and his stock. In speaking of this old-time trotter, the late Hiram Wood- ruff in the " Trotting Horse of America," says : " He was, in fact, in some respects the most extraordinary trotter that ever came under my observation. In the capital points of longevity and endurance I have never known quite his equal, all things taken into account. When I say longevity I mean the length of days while serviceable as a trotter, and able to meet and beat very often the best of his time. I do not mean vegetat- ing, about half dead at the root and rotten at the trunk, as many of the horses spoken of for their longevity have been. OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 191 I speak of old TojDgallant as one of the best and stoutest that ever looked through a bridle. When I first knew him he was spavined in both hind legs, "His spirit was very high and yet he was so reliable that he would hardly ever break, and his bottom was of the finest and toughest quality. He was live oak as well as hickory, for the best of his races were made after he was twenty years old. He was more than fourteen years of age before he was known at all as a trotter except that he could go a distance the whole length of the ' New York road ' as well as any horse that had ever been extended on it. " Topgallant then belonged to a gentleman by the name of Green. In the year 1829, when in his twenty-second year, he trotted four-mile heats against Whalebone over the Hunting- ton Park course, Philadelphia. There were four heats before it was decided. Topgallant won the race after a desperate struggle. Time 11.16, 11.06, 11.17, and 12.15. This old horse of twenty -two years old that could trot four four-mile heats that would have made sixteen miles in less than forty -six min- utes, and who could easily have gone his twenty miles m an hour, had it been twenty miles against time, may justly be con- sidered as one of the shining landmarks of 'ye olden time.' "But if we follow him into his twenty-fourth year, 1831, two years after the great race above alluded to, when he and Whalebone and six others of the best of their time met at the Huntington Park course at Philadelphia and trotted a race of three-mile heats, we find that there were eight trotters in this race — Dread, Topgallant, Collector, Chancellor, Whalebone, Lady Jackson, Moonshine, and Columbus. The race was un- der saddle and was one of the greatest and most exciting races of the year. These horses all trotted twelve miles in this race, old Topgallant winning one heat and was second in the last heat." The following week in Baltimore, in a race of three-mile heats against Whalebone, Topgallant won ; thus showing in a marked degree the tremendous endurance and recuperative 192 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. energy of that wonderful horse's constitution. Topgallant lived to be twenty-eight years old. EIPTON. Ripton was a very handsome bay gelding with four white legs and a blaze in the face. He was bred in Eipton, Yermont, foaled m 1 830. He was sired by Sherman Morgan and his dam was a granddaughter of old Justin Morgan. Ripton was a well-bred Morgan and one of the best of his days, but on account of his bad white markmgs was gelded at the age of two years, and then on account of his high life and great natural speed at the trot, he was taken to the New York market when five years old — in 1835 ; when, after being given a trial mile in harness on the Centerville course — being the first time he ever stepped on a race track — he made his mile in the finest and handsomest style that had ever been shown on that track, driven by an entire stranger to him, Joel Conk- lin, in 2.46. He was purchased at a high price by Peter Barker, who owned the great trotting horse, Dutchman, at the time. He was afterwards sold to George Weaver of Philadel- phia, and went into the hands of Trainer James Hammil. Ripton was a small horse, not exceeding fifteen hands high, of the old-fashioned Morgan type. He was marked almost ex- actly like Dexter, the exception being that in the case of Rip- ton the white on one fore leg ran higher up than the other, consequently it gave him the appearance, when going very fast, of lifting that foot higher and slapping it down with ex- traordinary vim, yet this was a mere optical illusion. Hiram Woodruff, in speaking of Ripton, says : " He' was a powerful horse of uncommon fine spirit and determination, and his style of going was very fine. He went as level as the flow of a smooth stream that is both swift and deep ; and could trot fast, smooth, and honest." In breeding Ripton's pedigree was not unlike his illustrious successor from Yermont, Ethan Allen, and his way of going was much the same. His first race was with Mount Holly, OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 193 whom he beat quite handily in two straight heats. Ripton then passed into the hands of George Youngs, who was quite celebrated as a rider and driver of trotting horses. He was brought back to New York and trotted over the Beacon course, mile heats, three in five, in harness against Kate Kearney. Kate was a bay mare about 15-1 in height, and at that time belonged to Stacy Pitcher. Eipton won in good time. When Wh years old he was put into the hands of that Napoleon of horsemen, of his day, the late Hiram Woodruff. Hiram said of him at that time : " He has all the requisites to make a very fine trotter," and such he afterwards became. When Hiram had trained Ripton two months he captured with ease a two- mile race Avith him asi-ainst Don Juan in 5.19 and 5.23. Kipton was a stout horse of great game and bottom, and re- quired much hard work to bring him to his best racing con- dition. His first trot in 1843 was in May over the Beacon course, two mile heats in harness against Confidence and Lady Suffolk. In this race Confidence was the favorite, but Ripton "won the race in two straight heats, in 5.10^ and 5.12^. He won a race in September of this same season, greatly dis- tinguishing himself in a two-mile race over the Huntington Park course, Philadelphia, by beating Lady Suffolk and making the then unparalleled time of tAvo miles in 5. 07 in the first heat. The accomplishment of this feat in harness caused great excite- ment among trotting-horse men ; it being similar to that when, in after years. Flora Temple outdid herself, and, morally, dis- tanced all that had gone before by trotting a mile in harness below 2.20. In a race against Brandywine and Don Juan, Ripton was timed a half-mile in the then unparalleled time of 1.11^. This little horse, son of old Sherman Morgan, was a great horse of his time and Avas considered at his best after he Avas twelve years old, and after having been raced and campaigned against the greatest and fastest of his day for seven years, and ridden and driven in his races by many different riders and drivers. 13 194 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. As before stated, Ripton was a horse able to stand, and, in fact, requiring a great amount of work in his preparations for a race, and with the same amount of work that trainers of other horses of less spirit and stamina would dare to give them, he Avould be practicably unmanageable in a hotly-contested race. When at his best he was considered the fastest little horse on the American Trotting turf. He was a very horsey little horse, a product of the Green Mountain State, and a fair representative of the old-time Morgans. In recapitulating the performances of Ripton in 1842, by Hiram Woodruff, we find that he trotted in that year as fol- lows: First, two-mile heats in harness, which he won in two heats, beating Lady Suffolk and Confidence ; second, two-mile heats in harness, which he won in three heats, beating Lady Suffolk ; third, two-mile heats in harness, which he won in two heats, beating Lady Suffolk and Washington ; fourth, two-mile heats in harness, which he won, beating Confidence ; fifth, two- mile heats to wagons weighing 187 pounds, which Confidence won in three heats ; sixth, three-mile heats in harness with Con- fidence and Lady Suffolk, which he won ; seventh, mile heats to wagons with Americus, which Americus won in two heats ; eighth, three-mile heats in harness with Americus, which Rip- ton won in three straight heats. Ripton trotted fourteen two- mile races and five three-mile races that season, and of these he won thirteen. Hiram Woodruff said that Ripton, of all the horses he ever had, was one of those that required the most work. " He was so resolute and game, and his spirits were so high, that if not kept down by a good deal of steady work he was almost cer- tain to run away as soon as he was suffered to go fast ; with the work that most horses required he would be almost or quite unmanageable." Yet there was no vice about him, but the exuberance of his spirit was such that when he was at all indulged he would run away from mere fun. OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 195 LADY SUFFOLK. Lady Suffolk was a gray mare, bred in Suffolk County, Long Island, JST. Y., by Leonard W. Lawrence of Smithstown. She was foaled in 1833 ; her sire was Engineer, 2d, a thorough- bred son of Engineer by Imported Messenger, and her dam was Dusky Jane by Don Quixote, a son of Imported Messenger. She was, consequently, a strongly in-bred Messenger mare. She was sold at weaning time to R. F. Blaydenburgh for $60. She was again sold when four years old to David Bryant for $112.50. When young she was an iron gray in color, but in her old age she became almost white. She was about fifteen hands one inch in height ; she was well and strongly built, long in body, back a little roached, powerful, long quarters, hocks let down low, short cannon bones, pastern joints fine, shoulders good, slim but muscular neck, a rather large, long, bony head, and big ears. Her feet were small and crimpy — called mulish feet — but were sound and as tough as iron. Her first appearance on the turf was on a very cold day in February in 1838, at Babylon, ISI. Y., where she trotted for and won a purse of $11 in three heats, the fastest heat of which was three minutes. In her next race, June 20th of the same year, at Beacon course, she was beaten by both Black Hawk and Apollo in poor time, but, two days afterwards, at the same place, she won a race of two-mile heats under the saddle, beating Lady Victory, Black Hawk, Cato, and Sarah Puff in two heats in 5.15 and 5.17. After which she was beaten by Kattler, Awful, and N'apoleon, all of these races two-mile heats, and October lYth she beat Polly Smallfry and Madam Royal, two-mile heats, in 5.18 and 5.26. Rattler then beat her three-mile heats, and Dutchman beat her two races, two-mile and mile heats respectively. In 1839 she trotted twelve races, eight of which were two-mile heats and one of four-mile heats, winning six and losing six. In 1840 she commenced the season by trotting two-mile heats under the saddle at the Huntington Park course, June 196 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 6th, against Dutchman, and was beaten. Two days afterwards Dutchman again beat her over the same course in three-mile heats. In less than a week after these two severe races she beat Celeste and Kapoleon on the Centerville course, Long Island, in harness, 5.26, 5.33, and 5.32. June 30th, on the same track, she beat Bonaparte easily, four-mile heats, in 11.15 and 11.58. Her next race was with Aaron Burr, two-mile heats at the Beacon course, September 21st, when she beat him in 5.22, 5.21, and 5.35 ; and, three days later, on the same course, she beat Dutchman, two-mile heats under saddle, in 4.59 and 5.03^. The opening of the season of 1841 found the little gray mare again at the Centerville course, where she, on the 4th day of May, beat Confidence and Washington, two-mile heats, in 5.13| and 5.41. This was quite a successful season for the gray lady, and during it she beat such good ones of that period as Confidence, Washington, Dutchman, Eipton, Awful, and Oneida Chief. The next two seasons were generally unsuccessful, which was universally attributed to the obstinacy and incompetency of her owner and driver, David Bryant, a very hard master^ who used her very cruelly, it is said. It is thought that had she been handled by such a competent trainer and driver as Hiram Woodruff that her defeats throughout her whole career would have been few and far between. In 1844 she was very successful, beating such good ones as Dutchman, Eipton, Washington, Americus, and Columbus. In 1845 she won four races and lost four. In 1846 she only won two out of five races. In 1847, when in her fifteenth year, she bore away the palm from all her competitors, among which were Moscow, Lady Sutton, Kipton, as trotters, and the pacers were James K. Polk and Roanoke. She won eight races and lost but one this season, and her performances were at three, two, and one-mile heats, under saddle, in harness, and to wagons. Her fastest time for three miles this season was 7.56, two OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 197 miles 5.03, and one mile 2.33J. She only trotted six races in 1848, having met with an accident in the middle of the season, when she was winning races right along. In 1849 she trotted nineteen races and captured twelve of • them, beating Gray Eagle, Mac, and Lady Sutton each twice ; Pelham- five times, the famous twenty-miler, Trustee, four times; Black Hawk, Gray Trouble, Ploughboy, and others. She reduced her record this season to 2.26 under the saddle, which was the world's record at that time. In 1850 she beat Lady Moscow six times at one, two, and three miles ; Jack Rossiter three times. Hector once and in har- ness once, and beat James K. Polk, the pacer, to wagon. In 1851 she was moderately successful. In 1852, when nineteen years old, she trotted twelve races. In 1853, when twenty years old, she entered into two races, but was defeated in both, thus ending the turf career of one of the best of our old-time trotters, after appearing on the American trotting turf every season for fifteen years. Lady Suffolk died at Bridgeport, Yt., on March 7, 1855, at twenty-two years of age. LADY SUFFOLK. In Memoriam. For fifteen years the virgin queen And mistress of the turf ; Most nobly did she win the name As queen of trotting course. Amid the pouring of the sweat And flying of the fur, She never quailed beneath the whip Or fluttered at the spur.* As freely flowed her purple life * She mutely bore the pain ; Winner of the hard-fought strife, This foal of Dusky Jane. * She had a very cruel master, who lashed and spurred her most shamefully in her races. 198 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. Ten thousand eyes have danced to see Her snowy tail unfold ; Ten thousand ears have bent to hear Her time, by judges told. At Boston, Cincinnati, On Alabama's plain. With victor's wreaths they crowned her, Daughter of Dusky Jane. A man proves himself fit to go higher when he is faithful where he is. Whatever you do, do it well, and advancement and success are sure to follow. " There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood leads on to fortune ; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows, and in miseries." CHAPTEE XXIII„ OLD-TIME TROTT^EUS. — Continued. Flora Temple — Pedigree and place of breeding — Sale for $13 when four years old — Sale to Jonathan Vielee — Sale to George E. Perrin — Her first race — Her peculiar race with Whitehall, Delaware Maid, etc. — Races in 1853 — Her sale in 1853 for $1,000 — Her races in 1853 — Flora's great race with Lancet for $3,000 — Sale in 1858 for $8,000 — Race with George M. Patchen — Last race in 1861 — Confiscated to United States Government — Sold when 19 years old for $8,000. FLOEA Temple was foaled in Oneida county, near Utica, ]Sr. Y., in 1845. She was bred by Samuel Welch, and sired by One Eyed Hunter, a son of Kentucky Hunter, thor- oughbred. Her dam was Madam Temple, a little bay mare said to be the very picture of herself, and sired by a spotted horse. She was, when full grown, 14-1 in height. As dock- ing was fashionable in those times, she was docked Avith a jackknife before she Avas an hour old, and she stood on her feet at that time, and had the same gray hairs at the root of her tail that she carried through life, which was all the white markings connected with her. Her owner at four years old, a Mr. Taney, finding her so willful as to be unserviceable to him, sold her for $13 to Wm. H. Congdon of Symrna, Chenango county. Mr. Congdon, after keeping her awhile, sold her to Kelly and Eichardson for $63, and after changing hands once or twice more (as she was trading goods) she fell into the hands of a drover buying cattle for the ^ew York market, at $80. This drover sold her on the way to 'New York to Jonathan Yielee, a horse dealer of Washington Hollow, Dutchess couaty, for $175, who sold her shortly afterwards to George E. Perrin of ISTew York city for $350. In the hands of Mr. Perrin, the little bay mare that had (199) 200 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. proved so intractable, so flighty, so harem-scarem, and, to come to the true expression, so worthless to her original owners, was favored with more advantages than she had previously enjoyed. She was not only introduced to the very best society of fast goers on the Bloomingdale and Long Island roads, but she was taught that when flinging herself out " with exuberant and superabundant spirit " (all over the road, as it were) to play her limbs in a true line, and give her extraordinary qualities a chance to show their true value. Whenever she made a skip, a quick admonition and a steady check brought her to her senses, and when in the frenzy of excitement in being chal- lenged by some high-flyer of the road, she would, as the horsemen used to say, " travel over herself " and " go up " into the air, she was steadied and settled down by a firm rein into stead}^ trottmg and good behavior instantly. The crazy, flighty, half -racking and half -trotting little mare soon became a true stepper, and abandoned her confused " rip-i-ty clip-i-ty " way of going, substituting in its stead a clean, even, long, low, locomotive trotting stroke. Many a man, on coming up to a tavern after having been beaten by her, would say to her owner, " That's a mighty nice little mare of yours, and if she were only big enough to stand hard work, you might expect a good deal from her." There was at that time, as there have ever since been, many horses of great repute upon the roads in the vicinity of JSTew York, and among those who occasionally came in contact with the little bay mare was one of considerable speed, called the "Waite Pony. This Waite Pony received the greatest surprise of his life one afternoon in the summer that Flora " came out " — 1850 — by her beating him to a stand still on a mile stretch of the road. This deed of the little mare led to an after matched road-race with the pony, which was virtually the first race of her life, and she captured it very handily. As, however, the time made in this race was over three minutes, it did not in- OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 201 crease the reputation of the mare so much as it discounted her competitor. A match was soon afterwards made between her and a horse known as Yandeburg's Black Stallion, for $500 a side, mile heats ; the stallion in wagon and Flora to go in harness. This race came off at the Union course on Long Island, and was easily won by the mare in three straight heats. Her next exploit was on September 9th of that same year a.nd on the same course. The circumstances of her entering into this race were quite peculiar, as she was not entered until after arriving upon the ground on the day of the race. She was not in racing condition, as on the previous day she had been driven very hard, and, on coming home at night, was treated with a " warm mash " and virtually put to bed. On the next morning, however, she looked so fine that her owner decided to drive her over to the track, as he wished to see the races ; and on the road she behaved so well and passed so many going down the road that he concluded " just for luck " to let her try her mettle for the purse. The race was mile-heats in harness, and the horses entered were "Whitehall, Delaware Maid, JSTapoleon, and Hiram. The first-named horse, a fine brown stallion, was the favorite in the race, but all the others were considered good ; and their owners, being very popular trotting men, had given considerable interest to this race. It was considered a bold and foolhardy exploit to enter that comparatively unknown little runt of a mare under such circumstances against such horses; and when her owner, unable to obtain a trotting " skeleton," determined to " put her through" in a common road sulky, his conduct was looked upon as audacious in the extreme. When the word " Go ! " was given the five were all well together for a few seconds, when "Whitehall, with a fine, bold stroke, drew out of the clump and took a commanding lead ; the little bay mare, however, in the old road sulky, kept right on in his wake, making her long, low, sweeping strides with 202 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. the regularity of machinery, and threatening to pass him the first moment he should lose his feet. At the first quarter- pole there was but a length distance between them ; at the half-mile but barely two, while the others, with the exception of Delaware Maid, who was pretty well up, were being trailed off in a most disastrous manner. In this order the first heat was won by Whitehall; "the little bay mare," handicapped by the road sulky, whom no one thought would have a ghost of a chance in the race, being sec- ond ; Delaware Maid, third, while ]!^apolean and Hiram were distanced. The two latter being now out of the race, the little bay mare secured a trotting sulky for herself, and the record gives her the three successive heats, the time being 2.55, 2.52^ and 2.49, and Delaware Maid being third in each heat. The greatest excitement attended the finishing of the third and fourth heats, and when the race was finished the specta- tors advanced and felt the little heroine all over as they could not possibly comprehend how such a little homely scrub could stand the weight and fatigue she had been subjected to, and yet maintain the speed she did. This was really her first exploit introducing her to the pages of the Racing Calendar, where she was recorded under the modest name of Flora. It was but little thought by those who placed after her name the mystical figures 2, 1, 1, 1, that she was destined to become the Queen of the trotting world and to render its tablets so illustrious. Soon after the above race, " the little bay mare," or Flora Temple as we are now at liberty to call her, passed into the hands of John C, brother of George E. Perrin, for the modest sum of $575, which was more than seven times the sum for which she had been gladly parted with by her former Utica owner some three or four months previously. Owing to an accident in her exercises, whereby the sulky hit her heels and caused a runaway, she was not on the turf at all during the season of 1851. The following season, 1852, her owner, finding she had re- OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 203 gained her former confidence and steadiness, matched 'her against "Philadelphia Sail" for $200 around the "Ked House" track. She won with great ease. Her next race was with Dutchman at the Union course, mile heats, best three in five, for $250 a side, on ]N"ovember 10th. She won in three straight heats, thus placing herself in- disputably "well up" among the best trotters of that day, by recording the time at 2.40, 2.39, and 2.36. In the spring of 1853 she was placed in the hands of that Kapoleon of the trotting sulky and one of the best condition- ers and trainers of his day, Hiram Woodruff ; who, after hand- ling her more or less during the season, and becoming thor- oughly convinced that she was a weight puller as well as a fast and stout trotter, matched her in December of that year for $500 a side, to trot, mile heats, best three in five, with Center- ville, to wagons of 250 lbs. As the mare had been let up in the season's training and had had no fast work for several weeks, the horse talent con- sidered it a rash act in Hiram to make the race under the cir- cumstances ; and his friends endeavored to dissuade him from starting the mare in the race, the betting being 100 to TO on. the horse at the start ; but no one knew the race qualities and stamina of that little mare better than Hiram and he drove her himself in this race. The first heat was a good, but not a sensationally fast, one, but Flora being an easy winner the bet- ting was changed from 100 to 70 on the horse to 100 to 60 on the mare, and she won the second and third heats with great ease ; the time of the three heats were 2.42, 2.46, and 2.44. Considering the time of the year, the condition of the track, and the fact that she was not really in training, this was a per- formance of uncommon significance, adding vastly to Flora's value. Soon after this great performance she was sold to a Mr. Boerum of Williamsburg, — with her engagement to trot Young Dutchman for $1,000. Her price was $4,000. She had been, as before related, sold to John C. Perrin by 204 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. his brother George, the previous spring for $575. This shows that the winning of a great race often adds immensely to the value of a horse for racing purposes. In 1853 her first race was with Black Douglas — a young horse of great private reputation — mile heats in harness, best three in five, on the Huntington course, April 28th. The mare was then too fat and soft for racing and lacked the required seasoning ; the result of which was that the horse beat her in three straight heats in 2.35^, 2.30|, and 2.35. This was a great performance for a green horse of that period; but the little mare was forthwith matched to try titles with him again on the 17th of the next month. Her next race was on the 4th of May with Lady Brooks, a good mare, and held in such high esteem by her friends and admirers, who boasted so much of her speed and staying quali- ties that 100 to 60 was laid against Flora. This race was trotted on the Centerville course for $1,000 a side. Flora won the race in three straight heats in 2.31i, 2.32, and 2.33J. They were all won with great ease and plenty of speed in reserve. Flora was now eight years old. She was sound and of good constitution ; she was a capital feeder, and all the time she was improving. Consequently, on her next meeting with Black Douglas, on the 17th of this month, and when driven by " Old Hiram" himself, Douglas was of no comparative account to her, and she won the race in three straight heats in 2. 32 J, 2.35, a,nd 2.31 i. Flora's next race was with Highland Maid, an exceedingly well-bred mare of her time, being by Sultrum, by Kentucky Whip, out of a gray Messenger mare, and her dam was also of Messenger blood, consequently she was an in-bred Messenger. This race was trotted on the Centerville course, June 15, 1853, in harness and to wagons. The owner of the Maid, Mr. l^odine, drove her in this race, and Hiram Woodruff piloted Flora. Much interest was centered upon the race, and jnuch money was staked, as it was said by the knowing ones that Highland Maid was possessed of much greater speed than she OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 205 had ever shown in public. It was afterwards reported that in her preparations for this race she made a trial mile in 2.18. The day was a beautiful, balmy one in June, of just the right temperature for pleasure and comfort ; the crowd at the track was immense, perhaps the largest ever before assembled there. Highland Maid took the first heat in 2.29, the second in 2.27, and was distanced by Flora in the third heat. Flora's next race was a wagon race with this same mare. Highland Maid. It took place on the Centerville course on June 28th. George Spicer drove the Maid, and Hiram Wood- ruff drove Flora. Hiram was much pleased with Flora that day, as she had already demonstrated her ability to "train on'^ and become better and better for racmg as the season advanced and as she became better seasoned and toughened by much hard work. This great reinsman felt confident, on that June morning, that he was " up " behind one of the best bottomed,, resolute, gamy, and altogether best little mares in the world to rely upon, and, consequently, he determined to force the pace. Flora won the first heat in 2.28, thus breaking the previous- wagon record of 2.31, and this was considered a most marvel- ous performance at that time. In the second heat of this race Flora broke and lost the heat in 2.32. The third was a dead but very exciting heat in 2.32. Flora also broke in the fourth heat, and lost it in 2.33. The fifth heat was an old-fashioned horse race, being trotted from end to end without a break or skip by either. Flora winning by a neck in 2.31J. In the sixth and deciding heat of this great race Flora had it almost all her own way, winning the heat and the race m 2.35. This race did not seem to have much effect on Flora, for two days after it she beat Black Douglas easily in 2.32, 2.32, and 2.36. After the great wagon race of June 28, 1853, Flora was the acknowledged queen of the trotting turf in that way of going. Soon after Flora had defeated Highland Maid and Black 306 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. Douglas, she was matched against Taconey, mile heats, three in five in harness, the race to come off on July lith over the Union course. Taconey was a roan gelding bred in Canada ; he already had a trotting record, under the saddle, of 2.26^, consequently this match created much excitement and the betting ran high, and it was about even. Flora had not made so fast time as had Taconey, but her record of 2.28 to wagon was considered as good as 2.25^ under saddle, and, besides, the game and bottom ex- hibited by Flora in her great race of desperate heats with Highland Maid, and then her contest with Black Douglas only two days after, had inspired her friends and admirers with great confidence in her ability. On this occasion, however, her opponent won in three straight heats. The first, after a desperate struggle, was won by a neck in 2.28, the second by a head only in 2.27, and the third by a throatlatch in 2.29. The attendance at the course was large and the spectators were treated to a race affording great excitement. Before the day was over these horses were again matched to trot two-mile heats in harness in five days. Flora won the race easily in two heats — 5.51 and 5.01. This was the best two-mile time that had then been made. Flora engaged in several other races that season, the last one being on October 15th, when at Philadelphia she tried titles with the Morgan mares, Green Mountain Maid and Lady Yernon, mile heats, three in five in harness, for a purse of $1,000. This Green Mountain Maid was considered one of the greatest opponents Flora had ever before met. She had already beaten several of the best trotters then on the Ameri- can turf ; but the race resulted in a victory for Flora, winning easily in three straight heats in 2.33, 2.33^, and 2.33J. Flora trotted, altogether, twenty-one races in 1853, winning seventeen of them. She also beat all the horses that beat her, and beat them more times than they defeated her. In 1854 she was purchased by D. L. Pettee of New York city, and who OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 207 at that time owned Lady Brooks, and these mares he drove at Newport the season of 1854, at that celebrated sea-side resort. Late in the season Flora was matched against the brown gelding, Mac, for $1,000, mile heats, three in five, in harness. Mac was a Maine bred horse, a descendant of Maine Messenger, and was considered at that time as good as the best. But on the 5th of October Flora beat him with ease in three straight heats. On the 18th of the same month, October, 1854, Flora trotted a match for $2,000, mile heats, three in five, in harness, against Jack Waters, a bay gelding by Old Abdallah. This race was on the Centerville course, Flora winning with ease. Flora Temple was then purchased by James McMann, Her first appearance as the property of her new owner was at the Union course on May T, 1855, in a match for $2,000, mile heats, three in five, against the famous mare, Sontag. It Avas to wagons and drivers of 300 pounds. Sontag was a gray mare by Harris's Hambletonian. Son- tag won the race in three straight heats, best time 2.31. Flora was next matched to trot twenty miles in an hour to a wagon for $5,000. The onl}^ horse that had ever accom- plished this feat at all was Trustee, and his performance was in harness ; consequently, this was considered at the time by the best judges a foolhardy match for her; and it proved to be, for she lost it. Flora's next race was at Boston, Mass., over the Cambridge course against the black gelding Lancet — a son of Vermont Black Hawk — for a match of $3,000, mile heats in harness. She beat him in two heats. This was June 26, 1855. On July 6th she trotted a race in two-mile heats to wagon with Sontag for $2,000. In this race she was driven by Hiram Woodruff, and won easily in two heats; time, 5.07, 5.07. Flora's next race was against Lady Franklin, a roan mare from Maine, two-mile heats, to wagons, for $2,000. This was over the Centerville course, September 11th; Flora won the race in two heats ; best time, 5.11^. Flora's last race of the season of 1855 took place over the 208 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. Centerville course on the ITth of October against Hero, the pacer, for $2,000, two-mile heats ; she in harness, the pacer to wagon. Flora won in three heats; best time, 4.57. The next two years were principally distinguished by her contests with Lancet, in which she took the lion's share of the prizes. She also defeated Taconey, Chicago Jack, Ethan Allen, and others, thereby reducing her record to 2.24^. In 1858 she was sold to Wm, McDonald of Baltimore for $8,000, and during that year secured thirteen victories without a single defeat. In 1859, October 15th, in a race against Honest Anse and Princess at Kalamazoo, Mich., Flora trotted a mile in 2.191, which created the most intense excitement among trotting turfmen all over the country. Flora's first race in 1860 was against the stallion George M. Patchen for $1,000, mile heats, three in five, in harness, over the Union course. Flora was the winner in the first heat by a throatlatch, in 2.21 ; the second in 2.24, and the third in 2.21i Hiram Woodruff remarked at the time that this was the best race that Flora had ever made. She also won in several other very important races during the season of 1860, without lowering her record. In 1861 it was difficult for her to get engagements, but at length a new candidate, John Morgan, put in an appearance. Flora beat him in a mile race in 2.24^ and in a two-mile race in 4.52^. This was Flora's last race. Her owner, Mr. Mc- Donald, sympathizing with the Rebellion, she was confiscated by the government in 1861. After the death of Mr. McDonald in 1864, she was pur- chased by Mr. Welch of Chestnut Hill of Penn., for $8,000. The last tmie that Flora ever appeared in public was when Gen, Grant reviewed the great trotters on Dubois track in 1869. She showed well then, but afterwards, her hind legs failing, she was retired to the stud. CHAPTER XXIY. OLD-TIME TROTT'EHS— Continued. Ethan Allen — Color and description — Breeding — A natural-born trotter — Eighteen years on the trotting turf — His great race against Dexter in 1867 — Crowned King of the Morgans — Success in the stud — His death in 1876 — Ethan Allen in memoriam. Goldsmith Maid — Her breeding and pedigree — Sold at eight years for $350 — Sold in 1870 (when thirteen years old) for $35,000 — Her races in 1871 — In 1874 she lowered the trotting record of the world to 2.14 — Trotted in 2.14 at twenty years old — Retired to breeding stucJin 1876 — Goldsmith Maid in memoriam. ETHAN ALLEN. ETHAISr ALLEN, whose fame as a trotting stallion was co-extensive with that of the American trotting horse for a score of years, was a beautiful bay in color with three white feet and a small star and snip. He stood fifteen hands and a half inch in height and was one of the most beautiful fast trotting horses ever exhibited on the American turf. He was foaled in 1849, the property of J. W. Holcomb of Ticonderoga, ]S^. Y. He was sired by Black Hawk, son of Sherman Morgan, by Justin Morgan. His dam was a flea- bitten gray mare, a famous roadster bred in Vermont and sired by a Morgan horse called Robin and tracing to Justin Morgan. Ethan Allen was a natural-born trotter, and trotted from his colthood up. His training for the turf commenced when but little more than a year old ; and he appeared upon the trotting turf every year from two years to twenty years of age. He was a most perfect horse and never required any of the artificial appliances so much in vogue at the present time, such as weights, boots, hobbles, etc. When young he was a remark- ably handsome horse ; high-headed and stylish, and when he 14 (209) 210 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. was twenty years old he would pass In general appearance for an eight-year old. When three years old he made a record in harness of 2.36, and later he distanced George M. Patchen in 2.28, and was the first stallion in the known world to trot a mile in less than 2.30. As a trotter in harness his fastest race record was 2.26^. But his greatest turf reputation was made by his trotting per- formance with running mate. His great race against Dexter on the Fashion course, L. I., June 21, 1867, driven by Dan Mace, when he trotted fairly and squarely without weight or boot, a mile in 2.15 — which record at that time had never be- fore been equaled — caused a great sensation in the trotting world and crowned him, not only king of Morgans, but king of all trotting stallions up to that time. In the stud he was quite successful as a sire of fast trotters ; among his get were such noted flyers of their day as Billy Barr, 2.23| ; Hotspur, 2.24 ; Pocahontas, 2.26f ; Fanny Allen, 2.28i ; Fanny Lee, 2.29^ ; "Warwick, 2.29i ; Washington Irving, Honest Allen, the great Daniel Lambert, etc. Ethan Allen was finally purchased by Sprague and Aikers for their "Kansas Stock Farm" near Lawrence, Kan., as a stock horse, and there he died on Sept. 10, 1876, in the twenty- eighth year of his age. Having previously mentioned this noted horse in Morgan horses (Chapter YII) I will here add to what I have here- tofore said, the following : ETHAN ALLEN. In tnemoriam,. On Ethan's grave, in Kansas soil, The grass is growing green ; While Ethan's deeds to memory's call Are fresh to all, I ween. No other stallion of his day Could with this horse compare, For style and action all will say, With speed and beauty rare. OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 211 King of Morgans, beautiful horse; Admired and loved by all; People's pet, and pride of the course, He always had the call. O beautiful Morgan stallion! Perfection in thy day; Still remembered by the million. As hero in the fray. GOLDSMITH MAID. Goldsmith. Maid was a bay mare fifteen and one-quarter hands high with no white markings. She was bred by John B. Decker of Sussex Co., ]N". J., near the I^ew York State Hne, and foaled in May, 185 Y. She was sired by Alexander's Abdallah, when he was a two-year-old. Her dam was called " Old Abb," and was sired by Old Ab- dallah by Mambrino, a son of Imported Messenger ; this was the same horse that sired Rysdyk's Hambletonian, thus making the Maid an inbred Abdallah and a granddaughter of the " old rat-tail " (on side of dam), and a great granddaughter on the side of the sire. She, like many of the Abdallahs, had rather an ungovern- able disposition and was not broken to harness until some five years old; she was more than a handful for most drivers. When eight years old Mr. Decker sold her for $350, parting with her without regret. Her purchaser, soon tiring of a mare that he could not drive, soon bartered or " swapped " her oif to Alden Goldsmith, who thought he detected signs of speed in her, for the equivalent of $750. This gentleman gave her the name by which she was ever afterwards known, that of Goldsmith Maid. He at once set at the work of developing her speed, and in her eight-year-old form in 1865, she trotted her maiden race and won in three straight heats, getting a record of 2.36. With this race mod- estly began that career which afterwards caused the entire trotting world to hold up astonished hands. In 1866 she trotted two races, winning both, and reducing 212 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. her record to 2.30. She won six victories in 186Y before pass- ing into the hands of Budd Doble, who bought her, in com- pany with Barney Jackson, in October, 1867, for the sum of $20,000, and he afterwards trained her and piloted her in nearly all her victories. She was purchased in the spring of 1870 by Henry N. Smith of IS'ew York for $35,000, but who wisely left her in the hands of Doble, who, it is said, had become as closely identified with her as Alexander Avith Bucephalus or Dick Turpin with Black Bess. Doble won one race with her in 1867 and she commenced the campaign of 1868 with a record of 2.28. That year she trotted twelve races, winning eight and being beaten twice by American Girl and once by George Palmer. A very memor- able race of hers was won this year when she achieved a vic- tory over Rhode Island, Silas Rich, American Girl, and others at Bujffalo, on which event there was an immense amount of money staked and in which she lowered her record to 2.24|-, afterwards dropping it, during that season, to 2.22^. In 1869 she was busy ; she trotted eighteen races, only eight of which were victorious. American Girl and Lady Thorne each beat her five times. The little mare was now traveling only in the fastest company. August 12, 1869, she won at Buffalo against American Girl and George Palmer in 2.19f and 2.19i and 2.191, thus placing her on record as win- ning the first three consecutive heats in a race ever won by one horse, and all under 2.20. She emerged from the campaign of 1869 with the record of 2.19^^. In 1870 she trotted twelve races and was only beaten once, by Lady Thorne. This year she gained the highest niche in the temple of trotting fame by scoring the fastest heat on record, 2.17. Dexter, with a record of 2.17i, had held this honor since 1867 ; this the Maid eclipsed at Milwaukee, Sep- tember 6, 1871. This year she trotted fourteen races and was uniformly victorious, and fairly earned the crown accorded her as Queen OLD-TIME TROTTEKS, ^13 of the Trotting Turf. In 1872 she trotted eleven races, win- ning eight, and lowering her record to 2.16f at Boston. In 1873 she was distanced by Lucy in the first heat of her first race at Cleveland, owing to an accident, but she subsequently won ten races. In 1874 her career was one of triumph, Avinning seventeen races and only losing two trials against time. At East Saginaw, Mich., July 16th, she lowered her record to 2.16^ in a second heat and 2.16 in a third heat. At Buffalo, August 7th, it was further reduced to 2.15^ ; at Rochester, August 12th, to 2.14f, and at Boston, September 2d, to 2.14, This record she held for many years as the fastest trotting record of the world. In 1875 she only trotted six races, and was beaten once by Lula, daughter of Alexander's Korman, at Rochester, which was a memorable event, but she reversed the tables at Utica. She was now eighteen years old, had earned immense amounts of money, and her owner decided to retire her from the turf, but changed his mind, and she made a most glorious campaign in 1876, the twentieth year of her life and the thir- teenth j^^ear on the turf ; again trotting in 2.14. Beaten once by Smuggler she beat him three times. At the close of the season this wonderful mare held the world's records as follows : The fastest heat, the fastest second heat, the fastest third heat, the fastest fifth heat, the fastest sixth heat, the fastest two con- secutive, three consecutive, and four consecutive heats, and the fastest time on a half-mile track ; and she had trotted fourteen heats in 2.15 and better. She was then retired to the Fashion Stock Farm, belonging to her owner, Mr. Smith, near Trenton, IST. J,, in the fall of 1876, when in the twenty-first year of her age. She distin- guished herself there as a brood mare and died in 1885, full of honors. 214 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. GOLDSMITH MAID. In Memoriam. " She has gone to her grave, but we ne'er can forget her. The marvelous Maid with a mark of fourteen ; In the ranks of the flyers we'll ne'er find a better. For a gamer or faster there never was seen. " As we think of the track and read its full story, Her name and her fame shall have the first place ; Her trots and her triumphs are hers, and its glory ; She was Queen of the Turf and Queen of her race. " Some may smile and say that others have beaten The records she made in the fights that are past ; But her's was no holiday battle, I reckon ; They were genuine contests from first to the last. " Yes, we'll say in remembrance, there ne'er was a better, A faster or gamer there never was seen ; She has left us forever, but we ne'er can forget her. The marvelous Maid with a mark of fourteen." From The Horseman. CHAPTER XXY. OLD-TIME TROTTIIRS. — Continued. George M. Patchen — Foaled 1849 — Pedigree — Distanced by Ethan Allen in 1858 — Unfinished race with Flora Temple in 1859 — Defeated Ethan Allen in 1860 — His last race with Flora Temple — Sire of the campaigners George M. Patchen, Jr., and Lucy — Died in 1864 — George Wilkes, 2.22, founder of the Wilkes family — Pedigree — Raised by hand — First name Robert FuUingham — Defeated Ethan Allen in 1862, winning |10,000 — Defeated Lady Thome in 1868 — Died in Kentucky in 1882, aged twenty-six years — Roll of honor. GEORGE M. PATCHEN. GEORGE M. PATCHEN, 2.23i, was foaled in 1849 ; bred by H. F. Sickles of Monmouth. County, New Jersey. His sire was Cassius M. Clay, by Henry Clay, son of Andrew Jackson. His dam was a fine road mare by Head-em, a son of Imported Trustee. He was a powerful, brown horse, sixteen hands high, of great strength and much bone. He was coarse about the head, and, although he was what might be called a plain horse, his points — though uncommonly strong — were good, coupled with good trotting action. He made his debut on the public trotting turf of the Union course, Long Island, October 28, 1858, to trot against Ethan Allen, but he was distanced by the little Morgan king in the first heat in 2.28. In 1859, on May 9th, on the Union course, he defeated Pilot in 2.32|. On June 21, 1859, on the same track, he fought out a desperate contest with Lady Woodruff and Brown Dick of six heats, in which the Lady conquered. But six days after, at the same place, he defeated both the Lady and Brown Dick, two-mile heats, in S.Oli, and the next day defeated the Lady again. Over this same course, on July Tth, he defeated Brown Dick (215) 216 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. and Miller's Damsel in 2.26i, 2.26^, 2.28|, and 2.29. Brown Dick took the third and fourth heats. His next race was on October 17th, when, at the Eclipse course, he was defeated by Brown Dick, but three da3^s after- w^ards Patchen distanced him in a second heat in 2.28. He then trotted two races each with Lancet and Brown Dick, win- ning one from each of them. He then made bold to engage with Flora Temple (then at the zenith of her fame), at the Union course on November 21st. The mare won the first two heats in 2.28 and 2.23, with Patchen " close up " in each case. In the third heat, although Flora was the first under the wire in 2.24, the heat was given the stallion because of alleged unfairness and running of the mare. Darkness then coming on, the race was postponed and was never finished. In 1860, May 16th, at the Union course, he defeated Ethan Allen in harness in 2.25, 2,24, and 2,29, and on the 23d, seven days after, he defeated him to wagons in 2.26i, 2.27, and 2.31. His race with Flora Temple drew the attention of the whole country to him. In his great race with her on June 6, 1860, he proved himself a remarkable trotter, and he trotted one of the quarters in a heat better than 34 seconds, and gave Flora Temple one of the best races and one of the most hard-fought races of her life. His last race with Flora was at Corning, October 31, 1860. He was then retired to the stud, and died in 1864. He was the sire of several good and fast trotters in their day, among which was that great campaigner Lucy, 2.18^, and George M. Patchen, Jr., 2.27, etc. GEORGE * WILKES. George Wilkes, founder of the great Wilkes family of American trotters, was a brown horse with one white hind foot. He was foaled in 1856, the property of Col. Felter of Green- wood Lake, Orange Cour^y, N. Y. His sire was Kysdyk's Hambletonian and his dam, Dolly Spanker — a celebrated road mare of her day whose speed was never developed on the turf. OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 217 She was an animal of great courage and wonderful endurance, and possessed natural speed enough to pull a wagon a 3.30 gait. She was undoubtedly a mare of good breeding, although her pedigree could never be established. She died foaling her first colt — George "Wilkes — and he was at first a puny -looking little fellow. It seemed doubtful if he were worth the effort of raising by hand, but after a little stimulant in the shape of whisky weakened and sweetened, he gained strength enough to partake of a little cow's milk, and was brought up with that as his principal food. Although quite small at birth he grew up to be a finely- shaped, compact, hardy animal, about fifteen hands high at the withers and somewhat higher behind, with a muscular develop- m.ent of loins, quarters, and gaskins that could not be surpassed, and which gave him a propelling power that enabled him to successfully compete with the best trotters of his day. When in his prime he was a good model of a horse, and as pure gaited a trotter as ever stepped on the track. The development of his speed commenced at quite an early age. He won his first race at Fashion, L. I., August 1, 1861, where he trotted under the name of Robert Fullingham (by which he was known for several years during his turf career). September 10, 1862, he defeated the renowned stallion, Ethan Allen, over the above course in straight heats ; time, 2.241, 2.25f, and 2.31, winning a purse of $10,000. June 2, 1863, he defeated Rockingham to harness over the Fashion course, and a week later beat the same horse to saddle ; best time, 2.24. At Philadelphia, October 10, 1863, he defeated Lancet, a son of Yermont Black Hawk, to harness, distancing him in the second heat, which was trotted in 2.24. This was the last race which he won under the name of Robert Fullingham. Over the Union course, Long Island, October 26, 1865, he defeated Commodore Yanderbilt to harness, and November 6th of the same year he beat him again in a race to wagons. June 8, 1868, he beat the famous trotting more. Lady Thorne, over 218 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. the same track in straight heats ; best time, 2.25; and six days after beat her to wagons at the same place in straight heats ; time, 2.27, 2.25, and 2.25f. During his trotting career he also beat the noted trotters. Ehode Island, 2.23i, Lucy, 2.18, and American Girl, 2.16^. His record, 2.22, was made in a race trotted at l^arragansett Park, R. I., October 13, 1868, against Rhode Island and Duroc Prince. Having had the honor of occupying a position in the judge's stand on this occasion, I know that his record at that time was by no means considered to be the limit of his speed. I was confident that had he " been sent " for all that was in him at the time, he could have lowered it some three or four seconds. During his trotting career he won twenty-seven races, getting $50,150 in purses. In all he won fifty-six heats in 2.30 or bet- ter. In the stud he imparted his natural trotting qualities and his own resolute will to his offspring to a degree seldom equaled by any other trotting sire. And by so doing he placed himself at the head of the great Wilkes family of American trotters, which may be justly con- sidered as among the leading speed-producing families of the world. George Wilkes died in Kentucky in 1882, at the age of twenty-six years. The following is a list of his sons and daughters, with their records, also the dams of the following trotters : GEORGE WILKES, 519, SIRE OF Harry Wilkes, . 2.13ii Tom Rogers, . 2.20 Brignoli Wilkes, . . 2.141^ Albert France, . . 2.2014 Guy Wilkes, . 2.151^ Lumps, . 2.21 Wilson, . 2.I6V4" May Bird, . . 2.21 J. B. Richardson, . 2.16M Ambassador, . 2.2II4 So So, . . 2.171.1 Kentucky Wilkes, . 2.214 Baron Wilkes, . 2 18 Early Dawn, . 2.211^ Rosa Wilkes, . 2.181^ Brown Wilkes, . . 2.2i3|: Joe Bunker, . 2.1914 Gen. Wilkes, . 2.213^ Gambetta Wilkes, . 2.19M King Wilkes, . 2.224 Wilton, . 2.19M Ellerslie Wilkes, , . 2.221^ OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 219 Jimmy Temple (p. 2.23i^), 2.223^ Daisy Wilkes, . 2.30 Bob's Jug, . . 2.223^ Kitty Wilkes, . 2.30 Lizzie Wilkes, . 2 223^ Bud Crooke, p , . . . 2.15^ Sister Wilkes, . 2.223^ Wilcox, p , . . 2.1634 Alcantara, . . 2.23 Flora Wilkes, p., . . 2.191^ Nelly L., . . 2.231^ Prophet Wilkes, p.. . 3213^ Prospect Maid, . . 2.231-1 Honesty, p.. . 2.22 Magna Wilkes, . . 2.23)^ Pilot Wilkes, p., . 2.23 Sherman, . . 2 23>^ Sir Wilkes, p , . . 2.243^ Queen Wilkes, . 2.233^ and dams Df Favorite Wilkes, . . 2.241^ Delmarch, . . . 2.111^ Rowena, . 2.24J^ Keeler, . 2.1314 Wilkes Boy, . 2.241^ Advertiser, . . 2.151^ Blondine, . 2.24M Waco, . . 2.161^ Madison Wilkes, . . 2 243;^ Celaya, 3, . . 2.171c Isaac, . . 2.25K Blake, 8, . 2.183^ Onward, . 2.25K Frank Jones, . 2.1914 Favorita, . 2 253^ Fugue, . 2.191^ Abbie, . . 2.26 Globard, . 2.191^ Defender, . 2.26 Butterfly, . : . 2.19^ Fanny Wilkes, . . 2.261^ All So, . 2.20.1^ Georgiana, . . 2.261^ Barclay, . 2.201^ Richard Wilkes, . . 2 261^ El Banecia, . . 2.203^ Mike Wilkes (p. 2.15^ ). . 2.261^ Glenview Belle, , . 2.20^ Florence Elmore, . 2.263^ Ignis Fatuus, . 2.201^ Alcyone, . 2.27 Julia H., s. t. b.. . 2.201^ St. Gothard, . 2.27 Pilgrim, . 2.20^^ Tennessee Wilkes, . 2.27 Eagle Bird, . . 2.21 Howard, . 2.271^ Axminster, . . 2.2134 Anglin, . 2.27K Jubilant, . 2.22 Cuba, . . 2.2734- Fortuna, . 2.22 Ira Wilkes (p. 2.223^), . 2.28 Marea, . 2.22 Simmins, . 2.281^ Orania, 3, . . 2.22 Willie Wilkes, . . 2.28 Wilksie G., . . 2.22K Young Wilkes, . . 2.28 Ferguson Wilkes, . 2.23 Black Wilkes, . 2.283^ Wilkesbrino, . 2.23 Kaiser, . 2.28^ Nettle Leaf, . 2.233^ Mambrino Wilkes, . 2.283^ Silver Edge, . 2.231^ Miss Wilkes, . 2.29 Jacobin, . 2.233^ Busby, . 2.291^ Wilkeswood, . 2.233^ Empire Wilkes, . . 2.2914 Wardship, . . 2.233^ Jeff Wilkes, . 2.291^ Banquet, . 2.24 The King, . . 2293^ Count Princeps, . . 2.24 Bonnie Wilkes, . . 2.29K Noblesse, . 2.24 Patchen Wilkes, . ; 2.293^ Billy Thornhill, . . 2.241^ Sealskin Wilkes, . . 2.291^ Welbeck, 3, . 2.241^ Carrie, . . 2.293^ Chatsworth, . 2.243^ Alicia, . . 2.30 W^oodboy, . . 2.25 220 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. Twinkle, .... 2.25^4 Daisy N., . . . . 2.25i^ Pygmalion, .... 2.25)^ Bon Bon, . . . . 2 26 France, . . . . 2,26 San Malo, .... 2.26i^ Queen Wilkes, . . . 2.263^ Bellerene, .... 2.26?^ Decorah, .... 2265^ Balzarine 2.27 Kate Wilton, . . . 2.27 Wilkesmont, . . .2.27 Tennyson, .... 2.27i^ Wild Olive, .... 2.273^ Tilliers, 3, . . . . 2.273^ Eectitude, . . . .2.28 Kingmoor 2.28)^ Eeve So, . . . . 2.281^ Adora, . . . . 2;28i^ Moonstone, . . . . 2.28)^ Wilkesview, . . . 2.283^ Al B , 2.283^ Bonnie Nutwood, . . 2.29^^ Castalia 2.2914 €eorge Willis, . . 2.29i^ Rajah, . . 2.291^ Bonny Bon, . 2.293^ Breadwinner, . 2.293^ Cliastelard, . . 2.29M Newcomb, . . 2.293^ Clifton Boy, . 2.30 Col. Young, . 2.30 Jack Dawson, . 2.30 Pastoral, . 2.30 Manager, p., . 2.063^ Direction, p.. . 2.101.^ Galileo Rex, p., . . 2.123^ Great Heart, p., . . 2.1314 Volula, p., . . 2 15 Wilkie Russell, p.. . 2.15 Nutpine, p.. . 2.151^ Anna Dickinson, p.. . 2.15K Satrap, p., . . 2.19K Bay Baron, p., . . 2.193^ LaClede, p.. . 2.214 Ivlonte, p., . . 2.2314 David Wilkes, . 2.24 Vandal Wilkes, p., . 2.24 Wilkes Nutwood, p., . . 2.243^ Burlock, p., . 2.25 CHAPTER XXYI. OLD TIME TROTTERS. — Concluded. Dexter, place of breeding and pedigree — Recognized "king of the trotting turf " — Commenced turf career in 1864 and ended in 1867 — His great, race with Ethan Allen — General Grant's ride after Dexter — Died in. 1888 aged thirty years — American Girl — Birth and pedigree — Sold for $3,500 — A great race winner — Died in harness — Monument erected to her memory. DEXTER. IE" April, 1858, at the farm of Jonathan Hawkins, in Orange county, E". J., the black mare Clara by Seeley's American Star, a rapid and gamy road mare, dropped to the cover of Hambletonian, a brown colt with four white feet and legs and a white face, which was, in due time, gelded, and at the age of four years was purchased by George B. Alley of Kew York city. He was then christened Dexter and placed in the hands- of that veteran trainer, Hiram Woodruff, for development. His speed came to him quickly, and in a few years he was; recognized as king of the trotting turf. John Murphy rode him in his saddle race when he beat the 2.19f of Flora Temple, but Budd Doble drove him in nearly all of his memorable contests. The first time he met Gold- smith Maid was at Middletown in 1867, and he easily defeated her. After this he beat her in faster time, as he also did such prominent performers as General Butler, George Wilkes, Lady Thorne, George M. Patchen, Jr Silas Rich, Tacke}?", and Bashaw, Jr. He began his turf career in 1864 and ended it in 1867. In three years he had conquered the Avorld and w^as retired for the reason that there were no more honors to be won. His record of 2.17i was made at Buffalo, August 14, 1867> and Mr. Bonner bought him for $35,000. (221) 222 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. If he had beaten Ethan Allen in his great race with him June 21st, the same season, then Mr. Bonner would have given $40,000 for him. Although Dexter did not win this race when Ethan Allen trotted in 2.15 without a break, Commodore Yanderbilt and others timed him separately a mile in 2.16. This 21st day of June, 1867, was a great day in the annals of the history of the American trotting turf, when Ethan Allen was crowned the king of trotting stallions. Among those who were on the track that day and applauded the effort of Dexter, but who are now gathered with the dead, are Oeorge B. Alley, Shepperd F. Knapp, Com. Yanderbilt, Wm. H. Yanderbilt, E. S. Sanford, Chas. J. Foster, "Wm. M. Eysdyk, Thomas Martin, Alden Goldsmith, Capt. Eynders, Oeorge C. Hall, Com. Dodge, Lew. Potter, Peter Dubois, John Morrissey, Dan Mace, Dan Pfeiffer, and many others. The Avhite-legged king lingered on the stage long after many of his admirers had stepped from it. General Grant and Henry Ward Beecher each enjoyed a ride behind him after he had passed into the stables of Mr. Bonner. If horses have a hereafter, and the proud spirit of Dexter crossed to the unseen shore after it left the worn tenement of clay, how royal must have been his welcome from those who were taught in earth's pilgrimage to extol pluck and prowess. Just after his election to the presidency, but before his in- auguration. General Grant rode out with Mr. Bonner, In passing through the park Dexter was startled by a man trim- ming trees, and the jump he made frightened the stolid soldier of the Wilderness more, for the moment, than he had ever been frightened by the roar of battle. On the way back to the stable Mr. Bonner handed General Grant the lines, and the old soldier-horseman was delighted with the resolute action of the trotting king. Ehringer's famous picture " Taking the Heins " was based upon this incident, and every figure in it is a portrait. OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 223 For some time it was quite the fashion for distinguished men visiting the city of New York to seek the opportunity of riding behind this world-renowned gelding; and for a time he was, undoubtedly, the best known horse that ever lived. Dexter became quite cranky in his old age, and for years before his death he seemed to delight in frightening the timid who called upon him in his box. He would come at them with ears laid back and mouth wide open, but if one stood his ground he was soon all right again. He was just thirty years old when he died, April 21, 1888. AMERICAN GIEL. American Girl, 2. 16 J, was a bay mare foaled in 1862, bred by Philip Travis of Peekskill, IST. Y. Her sire was Cassius M. Clay, Jr., and her dam a sorrel mare about fifteen and one-half hands high with one hind foot of a conspicuous white and a stripe in her face of the same color. This dam had a clean cut expression indicating intelligence, and her general make-up in- dicated her to bs a thoroughbred or closely allied to that breed ; and it was generally believed at Dansville, Va., where she was raised and owned until near the time of the breaking out of the civil war, that she was an immediate descendant of Old Boston. This mare had run several races at Dansville previous to coming north, and was held in high esteem by her owner, Wright Travis, who, being a northern man, was, on account of his political views, most emphatically requested by a special committee to vacate that section of the country. So, as the climate of Yirginia was getting altogether too hot for him, he concluded to accept the invitation to " move on " without much parley or delay ; consequently he with his family and some personal effects, it is said, became a " mover." He went toward the north pole drawn by a sorrel mare with her sorrel mate and a bay gelding as a spare horse ; his destination was his old home at Peekskill on the Hudson, IST. Y. When Philadelphia was reached, the funds becoming low, 224 OLD-TIME TROTTERS. the bay horse was sold to help pay the expenses of the journey, which was then continued with the two sorrel mares. On his arrival at the old homestead Wright Travis needed money, and so to his stay-at-home, well-to-do brother Philip he sold this mare, under consideration. Philip owned and occupied a large farm near by and concluded to raise a colt from this Virginia mare so highly esteemed by his brother Wright, so he sent her across the Hudson to be bred to the horse before mentioned, — Cassius M. Clay. The result of this was that in May, 1862, she dropped the worst-looking, crooked-legged filly that ever was foaled in that vicinity ; at least as far back as the memory of " the oldest inhabitant " went. She was so loose-jointed, weak-gaited, and queer that in her foalhood she was valued by her owner (at weaning time) at $10, although good horses were in demand at that time at very good prices. About this time Philip's son, Eugene, enlisted for three years in the cavalry service commanded by General Kilpatrick ; when he returned home, after these three years had expired, he found that the big, awkward filly of three years Avas the " boss of the ranch," and utterly refused to be ridden or driven. His father told him that if he would break her he could have a half interest in her ; he accepted the offer, and, being a cavalry man, quietly went to work to break her under the saddle. After a hard struggle he finally succeeded in doing this. At this rate of going she could trot a 2.45 gait after a few weeks' handling. After this she was hitched up with the best horse in the neighborhood and could beat her companion quite easily. Then she was matched to go under the saddle in a race against the Odel gray mare to a sulky ; the big, green filly captured the race quite easily. After this she was sold to Cj^rus Travis and Henry Odel, — the owner of the gray mare, — for $1,500. They sold her that fall to Henry Mason, Morris Dykeman, John Carey, and Philip O'Brien for $3,500. When put in training by these parties she soon became the Queen of the Hudson, and her OLD-TIME TROTTERS. 225 reputation reaching the ear of that noted sportsman, William Lovell, he bought her for $7,000. After this " she came into competition with such racers and campaigners as Goldsmith Maid, Lady Thorne, and Lucy, and was among the first to lower the colors of the then great Occi- dent in his own state. She won for her owner, in many races, thousands of dollars, and finally died in the harness on the race track at Elmira, N. Y., where a monument to her memory has been erected at a cost of thousands of dollars. It has been said of her that a more honest race-mare never entered a trotting race. 15 CHAPTEK XXYII. THE FIVE GREAT TROTTING BROOD MARES OF THE WORLD. Green Mountain Maid — Dam of nine in 2.30 list — Two in 2.20 — Also one with a record of 2 20f — Dam of the great Electioneer with 155 trotters in the list — Her pedigree — Beautiful Bells' pedigree — Dam of seven in 2 30 list — Dam of sixteen foals — Miss Russell, pedigree — Dam of nineteen foals — Dam of Maud S., 2 08f, etc. — Canadian blood mixed with thoroughbred in pedigree — Dolly, pedigree — Dam of three great sires — Dam of Czarina — Object lesson for breeders — Alma Mater — Pedigree — Dam of eight 2.30 trotters — Dam of Alcantara — A positive breeder. THE five greatest trotting brood mares of ttie world are as follows : Gkeen Mountain Maid, holding precedence over all others by virtue of being the dam of nine in the 2.30 list, two of which have trotted in 2.20, while another has a record of 2.20|. She has, with. justice, been denominated as "the great mother of trotters." Her life was a long one and was mostly spent in the pad- docks of Stony Ford ; and in the long list of her foals there are but two who were not sired by Messenger Duroc. These were h:)r first two, and were the bay mare Storm, 2.16f, by Middle- •town, foaled in 1867; and the bay horse Electioneer, foaled in 1868, sired by Rysdyk's Hambletonian. The latter never ap- peared in public on the turf, and is not reckoned as one of the nine of his dam's produce in the 2.30 list ; but in fame his name outweighs all of theirs both individually and collectively. Green Mountain Maid was sired by Harry Clay, son of Cas- sius M. Clay, Jr., (20-) a lineal descendant of Imported Bel- founder, and her dam was a most excellent sorrel mare with four white legs and stripe in her face, who was bred by Gold- smith Coffin of Red Lion, Ohio, and sired by Iron's Cadmus by . (226) FIVE GREAT TROTTING BROOD MARES OF THE WORLD. 227 Beach's Cadmus — a thoroughbred son of American Eclipse, son of Duroc by Imported Diomed. Duroc's dam was by Im- ported Messenger ; this mare, Shanghai Mary, was half-sister to the old-time pacing mare Pocahontas, 2.17|^, which she very much resembled, being marked exactly like her and partaking of the color and markings of her sire, Iron's Cadmus. The converted pacing stallion. Smuggler, with a trotting record of 2.15|- (which was the world's trotting stallion record for several years), was a grandson of this same horse, Iron's Cadmus. Consequently, when we take into consideration the facts in reference to this " great mother in Israel " carrying in her veins the blood of the old-time celebrated Fireaways of England (through imported Belfounder), the blood of imported Messenger (through his grandson, Duroc), the blood of im- ported Diomed (through his son Duroc and his grandson, American Eclipse), then we cannot for a moment dispute her legitimate right to have been a fast and gamy trotter herself — had she been trained for that purpose ; or her ability to pro- duce sensational or uniform speed, and her ability to breed on in the speed lines, through generations yet unborn. (See the Electioneers, Chapter X.) BEAUTIFUL BELLS. Beautiful Bells, 2.291, was a bay mare by the Moor, her dam being Minnehaha, by Bald Chief (Stevens), dam JN'ettie Clay, by C. M. Clay, Jr. (22), son of Cassius M. Clay by old Henry Clay. This mare is the dam of fifteen foals, seven of which have records from 2.12f to 2.30f, with three to be heard from, and she is again in foal. Six of the nine foals with records are by Electioneer. Miss EUSSELL. Miss Bussell, a gray mare by Pilot, Jr., whose dam was Sally Pussell by Boston. She is the dam of nineteen foals, seven of which have records from 2.08f — in Mauxl S. — to 2.28 in Russia, by Harold, and own sister to Maud S., and dam of 228 FIVE GREAT TROTTING BROOD MARES OF THE WORLD. the greatest of living trotting sires, Nutwood, with 134 per- formers in the 2.30 list. In the pedigree of this great mare, we find the blending of the northern blood of the old-time Canadian with that of the great American race-horse, Boston ; this latter horse being the greatest of his day, and the sire of the ever memorable Lex- ington. DOLLY. " Old Dolly " was a bay mare, foaled in 1861, sired by Mambrino Chief, dam Fanny by Ben Franklin — a non-stand- ard horse of the copper-bottom stock. She was dam of the three great sires, Thorndale, 2. 22 J, by Alexander's Abdallah ; Onward, 2.25i, by Geo. Wilkes; Director, 2.17, by Dictator and Czarina, 2.21, by Egbert. It is through the great transmitting powers of her sons that old Dolly's memory is kept green. In Dolly, the breeders of the American trotter are presented with an object lesson demonstrating the satisfactory results of the breeding of the daughters of Mambrino Chief to the sons of Hambletonian. ALMA MATER. This cherishing mother was a chestnut mare foaled in 18Y2 and sired by Mambrino Patchen, dam Estella, — thoroughbred daughter of imported Australian. She is the dam of eight with records from 2.19^ to 2.30, and includes the great Alcantara with eighty -two in the list. This mare threw trotters to six different stallions, thus proving herself a positive breeder. CHAPTER XXAail. BREAKING AND TRAINING COLTS. Educate vs. breaking — First lesson — Bitting — Teach ' ' wJioa " — Sliort lessons — Reward good behavior — Hitching double — Patience required — Kicking — Shying — Confidence — Training for draft — Train in line. I HAVE, some time since, come to the conclusion that you do not want to " break " your colts ; you simply want to educate and train them. The best age to commence this is as soon as the foal gets up and sucks the dam, or as soon after as you can get time to attend to it. The first lesson to teach a young colt is that you do not wish to hurt him. The next that 3^ou are a stronger party and can master him. He will soon learn these two lessons and then you can go up to him anywhere, and when once you have your hand on him you can easily hold him and he will. not struggle to get away from jou. The next two lessons are to halter and lead him and teach him to stand tied by the halter. You may then, by kindness, teach him to follow you around and come at your call, by always awarding him for so doing with a sweet apple, a hand- ful of oats, or anything else as such youngsters are known to like. Then teach him at an early age to be handled all over, including the taking up of his feet, and to be curried and brushed. When he finds that you do not hurt him he will like these lessons and will always remember them. Next, accustom him to stand with a bag or blanket thrown over him. When you have taught him all of these, he is ready, as soon as old enough and large enough, to be bridled and bitted. In bitting, put a bitting rig or single harness on him with an open bridle ; check him up rather loosely at first and turn into a small paddock or yard. Do not compel your (229) 230 BREAKING AND TRAINING OF COLTS. colt to wear the bitting gear too . long at one time, as by so doing it has a tendency to sour his disposition. Keep him in the gear just long enough each time to give him to understand that he cannot get clear of it and that he must give up to it ; and do not take it off while he is struggling to free himself from it, but let him fight it out and get quiet first. Always take it off when quiet, otherwise he may think the removal has been caused by his exertions to get rid of it. "When he has become somewhat accustomed to the bit and has given up fighting it, start him up a little ; always use the same expression, as "go on," "get up," or whatever term you choose to use for starting him. Practice in this way for a little while until he learns to start and stop at the proper com- mand. Then take a buggy whip, crack it or touch him lightly on the rump, when starting him up. Teach him the word " whoa " and " back " ; when he thoroughly understands all of this and the use of the whip, put the lines on him, running them back through the shaft tugs instead of the territ rings, to prevent his turning around, and thus teach him all about driving, starting, stopping, and turning. Make all these lessons short, and by frequent repetitions impress each point upon his mind. Be kind and considerate at all times, remembering that he is usually willing to do what is required of him if he understands you. Do not scold or swear at him. After each short lesson, give an apple or lump of sugar, or some delicacy of which he may be fond, as a reward for good behavior; it is surprising to see how soon he will learn to appreciate such awards or favors. Be sure you bit him thoroughly and practice this for some time before attempt- ing to drive in harness on the road. If the colt has always been petted and treated kindly, as he should be, and has no fear of man, there will be but little trouble. The fall after your colt is one year old, if well cared for and well grown, it will do to commence driving him in a light rig. My own method is to drive first double beside a quiet horse, in order to get him accustomed to the road and to sights BREAKING AND TRAINING OF COLTS. 231 he may meet on the road and to give him confidence in him- self. In hitching up a colt double I always put him on the off or right-hand side at first, as then in meeting high loads and other scarey things on the road he is further from them, and what gives him more confidence and less fear, there is another horse between him and them. Another strong argument for thus placing him on this side is that in getting in or out on the near side you are less liable to frighten him, especially so if, by chance, you should happen to slip or stumble. Many a fine, highly-bred colt, for want of confidence in himself becomes frightened on the road from meeting strange and, to him, frightful things, and will try to run away from them ; but if balked in this, his next means of defense or pro- tection is to kick, which is one of the worst habits that a colt can possibly get into. Many a kicking horse first commenced the habit from fright, and not from viciousness, as many sup- pose. If a colt is taught what is required of him, as soon as he is made to understand, he usually becomes a willing sub- ject ; but to attempt to force him to do that which he does not comprehend is to excite him to resistance ; hence the many balky, kicking, and unruly horses. Yet it gives me great pleasure to know that by judicious breeding and handling, as has been practiced for the last two or three decades, we have far less of this class of horses than we had thirty years ago. In breaking and training colts strength is not as essential as patience, perseverance, and kindness. Kindness and gentle handling are the means by which a colt's confidence is gained, and this should be practiced from the beginning. While you should always treat the colt kindly, you should never play or fool with him, as many horses have been taught to be vicious in later life from having been fooled with as foals ; conse- quently, any attempt on the part of the animal towards undue familiarity should be checked at once, or the time may come 232 BREAKING AND TRAINING OF COLTS. when it will find out its power, which may lead to serious re- sults. Colts contract habits very easily when improperly man- aged, and when a bad habit in a horse, as well as in a man, is once established, it becomes somewhat of a serious matter to eradicate it. I do not trust a colt too much when commencing- to drive singly, and recommend the kicking strap at first until full confidence is gained over the colt. When you know that he will not kick under any ordinary circumstances you may with safety leave it off. My advice is not to place too much confi- dence in a young colt on the road, but be very watchful and careful until you are quite sure you have a safe animal. ISText to kicking perhaps shying is the greatest evil to which horseflesh is heir. The inconvenience, annoyance, and ofttimes danger occasioned by a shying horse is anything but pleasant to its rider or driver. Shying in horses is undoubtedly the off- spring of fear. Fear is the emotion excited by suspicion, apprehension, appearance, or approach of danger. This may be termed natural timidity, giving rise to that kind of shyness with which colts and young animals are endowed. Another kind of shyness may be said to be acquired. To illustrate: A colt is naturally shy at any object of imposing appearance, novel or strange to him. On the other hand, he beholds an object that is familiar to him, which he associates with some former suffering. Shyness may also be attributed to a third cause — imperfect vision. A horse whose eyesight is imperfect IS apt to shy at objects in consequence of not seeing them per- fectly. The disposition to shy arising from either of the above causes is often increased by the acts of the driver. Our advice to the driver of such horses would be to keep your temper and save your whip. Gentleness and persuasion are by far the best means of breaking off this habit in your colt. Let the animal stand and look at the object he fears ; speak to him en- couragingly, and gradually he will approach it. After he has passed it turn him around, passing the object several times BREAKING AND TRAINING OF COLTS. 233 slowly, allowing him to feel of it with his lip or smell of it, if practicable for him to do so, and this fear vanishes. By thus gently managing him he soon places confidence in you, and a gentle word from the driver will induce him to move on past the object. It is as essential for the high-bred road horse to have confidence in his driver as for the driver to have confidence in him. Many who claim to be familiar with the business of break- ing and training colts neither understand the nature of the colt nor the best method of subduing or training it. A blooded colt is a highly sensitive and intelligent animal, quick to learn, having memory of certain things equal to that of the human family, and with an intuitive knowledge that cannot be explained or understood. A coarse, rough man, knowing next to nothing of human nature, and still less of the nature of the horse, is no more fit to have the handling of colts than one whose education is acquired on the street and the saloon is fit to teach a district school, or the devil to preach Chris- tianity. From the first, insist that your colt walks fast, for in the majority of horses this is a most important gait. A bright, brisk walking gait will be of supreme importance in the horse of the future, and unless the colt is taught its worth it will never know it. Our horses, like our children, are largely what we make them by education ; and if the colts are allowed to drag along with heads down and move in a snail-pace, careless manner while being educated, they will, in many cases, be in- clined to continue it later on. Style and beauty of motion do not always spring spon- taneously, but are in many cases the result of careful, system- atic training — breeding, of course, having its full share to do in this case. As A is the first letter in our alphabet, so is " whoa " the first letter in the alphabet of the colt's education ; teach him to properly understand that one word as being most essential of all words to be used in his education. Kever allow a colt in 23 i BREAKING AND TRAINING OF COLTS. training to get the advantage of you. The old-fashioned way of breaking colts, as practiced when I was a boy, was some- thino^ of this sort : A farmer has a colt that he thinks old enough and big enough to drive, and wishes to use him and de- sires him to be broken ; consequently, he invites his neighbors to help harness and drive it. It is brought out, but, ha^dng had no previous handling, is excited, trembling in every nerve. Nothing is done to give the poor beast the least intimation as to what is wanted of him. Three or four stout men hold him by the head while as many more are trying to put on the har- ness ; he is spoken to r.oughly ; his ears are cuffed for shaking his head ; the struggle continues until the colt is attached to a vehicle, and now the supreme moment has arrived, when, in spite of the combined efforts of all of these men, the colt rears and starts off, having things about his own way — leaving first the trainers and next the vehicle in his rear — and all exclaim : " That is a terrible colt to break." A colt that would not resist such treatment would not be worth breaking. Before touching a large, strong, unhandled colt, have your plans formed and a knowledge of the general characteristics of the animal to be handled ; he is fearful of be- ing hurt and must be managed accordingly. As a general rule he will do what is wanted of him as soon as he learns what it is. Another essential thing to remember is that whatever impres- sions are made on the brain of the colt are almost as unerase- able as though written on tablets of stone ; hence the impor- tance of making the right impressions — for, right or wrong, he will carry them for a lifetime. In training a horse for draft purposes great care should be taken to avoid over-loading at first. In training a horse for draft purposes hitch to an empty wagon at first until he gets fully accustomed to handling that ; then put a little, very little at first, load on, and gradually increase it until he becomes thoroughly acquainted with pulling heavy loads, and thus he will never know his full strength, but will consider himself duty-bound to pull all loads to which he may be hitched. BREAKING AND TRAINING OF COLTS. 235 So of all other classes of horses ; teach and train them to thoroughly understand that branch of business that will be ex- pected of them. The training and education of the colt should be conducted on strictly business principles, inasmuch as an ani- mal intended as a draft horse does not require a race-track edu- cation, neither does a race horse proper require to be taught to- draw heavy loads. In educating our sons for professional and business men we expect to have them taught " in line" of the business or profes- sion decided upon at the outset. They do not need to acquire- the blacksmith's trade in order to preach the gospel, nor the arts and trickery of trade to enable them to practice medicine. Yet the rudiments of their education should be the same, viz.,. what is to be learned in our American common schools. This species of education is applicable alike to all classes of men and to all professions. "With the horse it is the same ; the rudiments of his education as herein taught are alike applicable to all breeds and all classes of horses that are to be used in harness. CHAPTER XXIX. TRAINING FOR SPEED. High-bred and high-mettled most easily educated — Where to give lessons — Early development of speed — Watch temper and disposition — Short brushes — Don't overwork — Skeleton wagons — The mouth — Pulling — The check. " To those who catch the cadence Of the rise and fall of sound, There is music in the patter Of the hoof upon the ground." HORSES can be educated to the extent of their under- standing as well as children, and can be as easily man- aged or ruined by bad management. Horses of high mettle are more easily educated than those of less or dull spirits, and are, consequently, more susceptible to ill-training. The training of the trotting horse should really be com- m.enced from the time he is handled as a young colt, and what- ever encourages his tendency to make the trot his best way of going should be a part of his training; and therefore the ^'natural to trot" should be improved from the very first. After the colt is thoroughly broken to drive singly he is ready to receive his first lesson in trotting. Such lessons may be given him on the track, street, or road, where smooth and level ; the track is by far the best place, it being morfe level, and usually much safer than either the road or street ; yet a good road will answer when a track is not conveniently accessible. I would never advise the training of a colt for the race course before it is two years old, and it then should be handled steadily and carefully by a trainer of judgment, for however well they may have been kept from birth, and however well (236) i-d J td r+-' to) TRAINING FOR SPEED. 237 grown they may be, it should be borne in mind that their bones and muscles are soft and insufficient to bear the strain of the same work given to those of more mature age. The question as to whether the early development of trot- ting horses will have a tendency to impair their endurance in point of time, is one of great interest and importance. What I mean by early development in this case is of colts not less than two or three years old, and not yearlings, for rea- sons above given ; for in many cases which have come under my observation, young things — ^mere babies — have been over- worked, and when they begin to hitch and hobble, a good rest and let up would do more to restore the stroke than anything else. A colt will not attain his greatest excellence at three years old, or at five either, if such excellence is to be very great or lasting. There is nothing in nature that comes to maturity early and lasts long ; early maturit}'" means early decay in nineteen cases out of twenty. The temper and disposition of the prospective trotting colt should be carefully watched, lest, by overAvork, he becomes Cranky and careless as to pleasing his trainer or driver. Great care should be taken not to make his brushes c^ speed too long, but alternate them with jogging and walking. Never speed him more than thirty rods at first, perhaps less, all to be governed by the circumstances of the case. Age, condition, size, etc., of the colt is to be considered. Speed is acquired by fast and frequent brushes ; it is better to underwork than to overwork the colt at first ; two short les- sons are better than one long one. From two to four miles is usually a sufficient " work out " for a young beginner. Measure off and work him eighths until he can trot them fast before driving him fast for a quarter, much less a half- mile, as is frequently done to his detriment. If he cannot trot an eighth fast, he surely cannot trot a fast mile. Any green horse should be worked for speed on the same 238 TEAINING FOR SPEED. plan as the young colt, but his work outs may be longer, say six miles. By working the colt on this plan he never becomes dis- tressed for breath and never becomes tired or sore. When you find the speed of a colt for one-eighth of a mile satisfactory, gradually increase the distance to a quarter ; then when he has performed that distance to your satisfaction another eighth may be added, and so on, gradually, until a mile is reached; but do not forget to be slow and gradual ; learn to labor and to wait. Always endeavor to teach your colt to Jinish fsbst, whatever the distance may be, as this is a very important item in a race, as the money lies in the last length to the wire. Watch your colt and do not overwork it; as soon as he shows signs of being restive or sluggish let him up a little. Watch for these symptoms carefully, for this is a critical time; if you overdo him much now it will be some time before he is himself again. The Avork must be according to his constitution, to the rate of his growth, and to his heartiness of feeding. He should be carefully watched to ascertain whether he improves or not. When a trotting colt often breaks his gait in his exercise, it is an indication that he has had too much work for his age, and has got or is getting sore on it. Don't waste any time in teaching a young colt to " break and catch." Remember you are teaching him to trot and not to "go as you please" in his races. He should be taught, if possible, not to break at all. In case he does break, do not jerk, snatch, or see-saw on the bit, but give him a square pull back and swing him very slightly to one side, giving him a chance to catch in the " cross stride." It is seldom necessary to use a, whip in training a nervous, highly-bred colt, or in driving such colts or horses in their races. After speeding him for the day loose his check and con- tinue walking, as a rule, until cooled off. TRAINING FOR SPEED. 239 Never, in training, take a colt, foaming with sweat, to his stall, but cool out in walking. Experienced trainers, Marvin included, prefer a skeleton wagon to a cart or sulky for jogging young trotters. Our greatest and fastest trotters never reach their best speed until they have undergone a good deal of handling and training. Always have a light but firm hold on the reins. In all his work the colt should be taught to go alone without being pulled hard. His mouth may be spoiled for life by allowing him to, tug on the bit now, and he is not as likely to make a fast trotter if he is allowed to have his weight upon the driver's arms. While there have been fast trotters and stayers that were hard pullers, there is no doubt they would have been better horses but for that fact ; still it will be remembered when going fast the horse or colt will often require to feel the bit quite sensibly, and that he cannot do his best without it ; and the driver should support him in his fast work with as little pull as possible. The horse with a good mouth will always feel the driver's hand, and if the driver thoroughly understands his business of handling a first-rate fast trotter he can play upon the reins equal to a harper upon the strings of his instrument, and the horse will answer every touch with the music of his feet. The producing and the maintaining of a good mouth on the trotting horse is of the utmost importance and one of the most essential points in his education. "When pulling has become a vice and his mouth has become so calloused that he pulls a sulk}^ and driver along by the reins instead of by the traces, he loses a great deal of the power needed when the struggle for supremacy in the race comes. It must not be forgotten, however, that a great many trot- ting horses must be pulled considerably to enable them to do their best. When this is the case it is useless to expect to remedy the 240 TRAINING FOR SPEED. pull and preserve the trot by means of substituting a severe bit for a plain snaffle, for it is not severity on the mouth that he requires, but a sort of stay upon which he can support himself in the flying trot, and without which he is afraid to put forth his best efforts, Hiram Woodruff, in his "Trotting Horse of America," gives an old-time instance of this kind in the old trotting horse Alexander, that was taken to England many years ago, and could not be made to trot a bit by those who had purchased him expecting great things. Afterwards William Wheelan went out with Eattler, and the gentleman who had Alexander no sooner saw him ride the former against the Birmingham mare than they got him to go and look at Alexander. He found him well cared for, but on being shown the cruel bit with which he had been used our young American ceased to wonder why he would not trot for his English owner, and when Wheelan had changed his hard bridle bit for a plain snaffle he demonstrated that the American-bred horse could trot on English just as well as American soil when properly handled, I give this as a case in point, showing that a horse relied on his driver to steady him in his great bursts of speed, and which he could not do with a cruel, harsh bit. I want my colt to be driven with a light hand and a loose check ; he will then swing off at his own gait, whereas, if you put weight on the bit and check him up taut, he will be fight- ing the bit, unbalanced in gait, and in no temper to trot ; and if this treatment is continued for awhile the colt will have a hard mouth and will learn to lug on the bit. Marvin says that Sunol would have been a puller under any but the most careful treatment, "Whenever she showed an inclination to ' lug ' I would let her have her head, talk to her, and let her go along as easily as possible, without being hard held, and she gradually forgot to pull ; but had I fought her with the bit she would have been ruined," TRAINING FOR SPEED. 241 After a horse has learned to trot fast I like to have it take the bit just enough to steady it in its races. It is a noticeable fact that the most successful drivers of trotting horses seldom use a whip ; even when hard-fought races are on and sensational finishes are made and the extreme limit of speed is secured, it is, in most cases, without the use of the whip. There is a lesson in this, not only for the driver of the trotting horse, but for those who handle any other kind of horses. It is seldom that the fastest yearlings make the swiftest two-year-olds, or the fastest two-year-olds the sensational three-year-olds. Sixty-four trotting tAvo-year-olds took records better than 2.30 during the present season of 1894, thirty-nine pacers being included in the same list, a total of 103, a larger number than ever entered the list in one season before, at two years of age. 16 CHAPTEE XXX. TRAINING VICIOUS HORSES, Old English method — Biting, kicking, and balking — Patience and firmness required — Causes of balking — The cord — Isolation — Kicking in harness — Checking — Biting — Rarey 's method — "War bridle — Pull- ing on the halter — Shying — Pawing in stall. THE subjection of vicious horses lias been a great considera- tion ever since they were first ridden by man, but until a comparatively recent date has there been but little rational means employed for their subjection. The plans heretofore adopted have generally been too much according to the direc- tions of an English trainer of the time of Queen Elizabeth, who wrote as follows : " If your horse does not stand still or hesitates, then abrate him with a terrible voice ; and beat him yourself with a good stick upon the head between the ears ; then stick him in the spurring place three or four times together with one legg after the other, as fast as your legges might walk ; your legges must go like two bouching beetles." To J. S. Rarey, an Ohio farmer, is due much of the im- proved methods of handling and management of the horses of to-day. Unlike the three mythological graces, attendants of Venus — Agalara, Thalia, and Euphrosyne ; or of the three Christian graces, — Faith, Hope, and Charity (the greatest of which is Charity), the three vices in horses are biting, kicking, and balk- ing, and the greatest of these is balking. Strange as it may appear, I regard kicking as the least of these vices ; yet I, at my time of life, do not care to purchase a kicker, but if I do I want to know it then and there, that I may not afterwards discover it at too great a cost — possibly that of life itself, (242) TRAINING VICIOUS HORSES. 243 "When we come to think of it, is it a wonder that we have among us so many unsafe and unreliable horses? There is probably no one thing that people are more conceited about than the matter of handling horses. Our city lady friend will tell us that she can drive a horse, for while she was out in the country she drove the hay-cart to the field twice. Pat can drive, because he " follied a horse in the auld counthry above foive years." " Old Jehu " can surely drive for he was "brought up among horses." John Bull knows all about "'orses," for he has seen the "big uns in Liverpool," while Snob has proved his skill by passing every rig on the Brighton road. And yet the majority of the self-sufficient ones would come nearer the truth if they used the language of a " green hand " I once had — a recent importation from the Emerald Isle — who, on being questioned as to his ability, replied : " Yes, faith and I can drive him just wherever he has a moind to go." It is owing more to the natural intelligence of the horse than to the care and judgment of the driver in many cases that serious accidents are averted. BALKING. It is rarely that we find a balky horse that is not a good one. They are usually very hardy, high-spirited, quick, com- prehensive, and of a strong nervous temperament. A balky driver often makes a balky horse. In handling colts and horses the trainer or driver should never lose his temper ; but if he should, from any cause, happen to do so he should not let the animal know it. I once had a neighbor in Pomfret, Conn., — Kufus Pike — who was quite a successful colt-breaker or trainer. I have often heard him remark that he frequently became very much tried and annoyed by the foolishness and stubbornness of colts in training, and that as he was himself a nervous and high- tempered man he often got pretty mad^ but that he never dared let the colt know that he was mad. 244 TRAINING VICIOU.S HORSES. Horses know nothing about balking until taught it from im- proper management, and when a horse balks it is generally due to some mismanagement, excitement, confusion, or not know- ing how to pull ; and seldom from any unwillingness to per- form his duty. High-spirited, free-going horses are the most subject to balking, and only so because drivers do not properly under- stand how to manage them. This kind of a free horse in a team may be so anxious to go that when he hears the word he will start with a jump that will not pull the load, but will give him such a severe jerk in the shoulders that he will fly back and stop the other horse ; the teamster will continue this driv- ing without cessation and by the time he has the slow horse started again he will find that the free horse has made another jump forward and again fallen back, and now he has them both balked and so confused that neither of them know what is the matter or how to start the load. Next in such cases will come the cracking and slashing of the driver's whip, until something is broken or he is through with this course of treat- ment. It requires a steady pressure against the collar to move a load, and you cannot expect a horse to act with a steady, deter- mined purpose while you are whipping him. Almost any team when first balked will start kindly if allowed to stand for five or ten minutes as though there was nothing the matter, and then speak kindly to them and turn them a little to the right or left so as to get them both in motion before they feel the pinch of the load. To break a horse that has been in the habit of balking, you want to commence as with a colt and go slow. Take plenty of time to educate him. First, put him beside a steady and true horse ; have check-reins on them but left loose ; tie up all traces and straps so that there will be nothing excitable about the harness ; walk them about as slowly as possible ; stop often and go to the balky horse and gentle him ; do not use the whip at all nor do anything to excite him, but keep him just as TRAINING VICIOUS HORSES. 245 quiet as possible ; he will soon start off at the word and stop when told to. As soon as he performs all right, hitch him to an empty wagon and have it in a suitable place from which to make an immediate start. Shorten the check-strap or stay-chain behind the steady horse, so that if necessary he can take the weight of the wagon ; the first time you start them do not drive more than two or three rods ; watch your balky horse closely, and if you see he is getting a little excited, stop him before he stops of his own accord ; caress him a little and start again. Drive them, if practicable, over a small hill a few times and then over a larger one, all the while adding a light load. This process should make any horse pull true, and the above lessons had better, by far, have been given the colt while he. was in training and thereby avoided the necessity of being applied to a balky horse. Causes of Balking. Yelling and whipping on the part of the drivers, over-loading, sore shoulders, or ill-fittmg collars, are some ot the causes that make horses balk. In such cases kindness is much better than whipping. A horse is very susceptible to kindness. I have known quite vicious horses gentled into good behavior. Sometimes the loosening of a strap or unchecking and re-checking will answer the purpose, as it takes his attention in another direction. Sometimes in ob- stinate cases it may be well to unhitch from the vehicle and, after tying up the traces and loose straps, take one line and a whip and give the animal a short lesson m going around in a circle ; after which hitch up and perhaps you Avill have no more trouble, but if so give another lesson in going around as before. It may, in some cases, take two or three lessons of this kind. My experience with balky horses teaches me that there are different kinds of balkiness in them or else a difference of dis- position makes some yield to a remedy that will have no effect whatever upon another. An universal treatment, suitable to 246 TRAINING VICIOUS HORSES. all cases, is yet to be discovered, but here is a remedy that in my experience has rarely failed : Tie a small rope or cord in one ring of the bit ; pass it under the upper lip and over the teeth, then out through the ring on the opposite side. When all is ready to start the horse, give the end of the rope a firm, sudden, but not violent, jerk ; that is all. The horse will usually go. There is a sensitive mem- brane connecting the upper lip with the gum which the rope, when jerked, lacerates. This may seem cruel, but the stinging pain is but momentary and the after effects but slight. Too rude a jerk might destroy the membrane entirely, so that the same method could not be used again with so good effect. Consequently this, as all otlier methods of subjecting and train- ing the horse should be skillfully applied. In cases where I have used the rope successfully no blood was ever found either on the rope or in the mouth of the horse. Away back in the fifties, when quite a young man, I was conceited enough to believe myself smart enough to swap horses and hold my own with the average horse jockey of those days ; the result was that I occasionally got more in a horse than I had bargained for or had even anticipated getting, and among which would be an occasional chronic balker. I dis- tinctly recollect on one occasion of purchasing a large bay mare, sound and apparently all right, but which was so much opposed to the draft family as to consider it far beneath her mission on earth to handle any load more than a buggy or, at most, a family carriage. Consequently, when I had hitched her to a light load of fence-rails she utterly refused to take any stock in their transportation. Being, myself, at that time of life, quite hasty in- disposition, and possessed of considerable " push " as well as impatience, I naturally enough, perhaps,^ felt much annoyed at the turn affairs had taken, and especially so as it was a very busy time of year with me — as I was a farmer — and I did not wish to be delayed in my plans ; conse- quently, I attempted to reform " the old jade " right then and tliere by vigorously applying the whip, and after using up the TRAINING VICIOUS HORSES. 247 whip, a good hickory sapling, but to no avail. All I was able to accomplish by the whipping was to excite her to rear and plunge and throw herself. I then changed my tactics and, being in the woods, I tied her to a tree and left her there. This was in the forenoon. Towards evening I returned to see how she was getting along and again hitched her to the wagon, when she again refused to budge one inch. I did no more whipping, but again hitched her to the tree. The next morn- ing I visited her again ; she was evidently getting very lone- some as well as hungry and thirsty, still, she again refused to draw the, wagon, and consequently I again left her " alone in her glory," After dinner 1 called on her again. She appeared very glad, indeed, to see me, and whinnied with joy at my ap- proach. I again hitched her to the wagon, and you may depend upon it that she was glad and anxious to move it. Well, the result of this whole matter was that I owned the mare upwards of two years, and scarcely ever owned a better pulling animal alone or in a team, and when I finally sold her I warranted her to pull in any and all harness. A horse left alone, hitched to a tree or post, soon becomes as lonesome and discontented as, perhaps, a person would under the same circumstances, and I claim this method, if rightly used, is less cruel, and better for both horse and man than to cruelly beat the animal with whip or club. KICKING IN HARNESS. Having, as before stated, some experience in " swapping " horses, and as " swap horses " are usually composed of nearly iall classes — except good ones — I have occasionally drawn as a prize in this business an inveterate kicker. JN^ow, while I would not at my age and experience purchase such, or advise my friends to do so, especially as a family horse, yet I have driven and successfully used in my business, at different periods, some mares that were considered even incorrigible and pro- nounced utterly worthless as harness animals. I remember a case in point occurring years ago, when I swapped a well bred 248 TRAINING VICIOUS HORSES. unbroken colt of my own raising for a young Morgan brood mare in foal, "sight unseen" (as the boys used to swap jack- knives), the animals being upwards of sixty miles apart when the trade was made. After having made this trade it was gradually revealed to me that I had secured a kicker of the first water, and that the last three owners had not dared make the attempt of even putting a harness upon her. But I want to say right here that this proved to be one of the best horse trades I ever made in my life. I kept and used this mare for upwards of two years, and used her in any and all places any one could need use a horse, viz.: in the field, on the road, on a milk wagon, under the saddle, and in all ways a general purpose horse might be used ; and, among other things, this mare, beside another Yer- mont Morgan mare, cut twelve acres of heavy grass in a day, driven by my son. N'ow, how would I use a kicking horse in harness ? In the first place, check pretty hard with an over-draw check (let me say right here that this is the only use I ever had for an over-draw check, as they are very cruel if used long at a time, and especially so if buckled at all tight). Tie the tail, at the end, firmly into a loop, fasten with a strong, but small, cord to the whiffletree ; have the string just long enough to allow a very slight motion of the tail. Firmly fasten by the middle to the end of the string a small, smooth, round piece of stick of tough, hard wood, a little thicker than a lead pencil. When you hitch the mare up run this through the loop, fix it securely across and go ahead. She will not try to kick many times rigged in this way, before giving up, as she cannot kick if she wishes to. I will repeat that the cord must be strong. Per- severance guarantees success in this case. I would also recom- mend the wearing of a regular kicking strap on all animals driven in single harness that are at all liable to kick. TRAINING VICIOUS HORSES. 249 BITING HORSES. Horses have been successfully cured of this vice Avhile in harness, by putting a piece of hard wood an inch and a half square into the animal's mouth, about the same length of an ordinary snaffle bit. It may be fastened by a thong of leather passed through holes in each end of the wood and secured to the bridle. It must be used in addition to the bit, but in no way to impede the working of the bit. Rarey adopted this plan with the zebra in the Zoo, who was a terrible brute at biting. Mr. Rarey succeeded, hov^ever, in taming and training him to harness and drove him through the streets of London. Animals with this vice should be treated kindly in the stable, and not- abused with pitchforks, whip, etc. An apple, carrot, or even a piece of bread, soothing language, and a kind pat, but a firm, watchful eye and hand, with the use of the above wooden bit will usually cure the most inveterate biter. The fact that he cannot shut his mouth so as to grip anything while wearing the bit, soon dawns upon him that he is conquered. Jennings cites a case where he cured a horse of this habit by putting something like a war bridle on him and tying the same to his tail in such a manner as to cause him to go around m a circle if moving at all, and then, with a whip, keeping him at it with occasional let-ups until subjugated and cured. To shoe a kicking horse connect the head and tail by means of a small rope securely fastened to the tail and then to the bit and drawn tightly enough to incline the animal's head to one side. This, it is said, makes it absolutely impossible for the horse to kick over the side of the rope. Another way of subduing a horse that is vicious to shoe is to take a cord about the size of a common clothes-line, put it in the mouth of the horse like a bit, and tie it tightly on the ani- mal's head, passing one ear under the cord, not painfully tight, but tight enough to keep the ear down and the cord in place. The Indian war bridle may do as well. Always be as gentle 350 TEAINING VICIOUS HORSES. and kind as possible with a vicious horse, and use soothing in- stead of harsh languge. PULLING ON THE HALTER. To break a colt or horse of this habit either in the stable or at the post, take a rope with a loop or ring in one end, pass the end with the loop in it over the animal's back just forward of the hip, letting it drop down at the flank, then run the other end of the rope through the eye or ring, making a slip-noose, and passing the rope lengthwise of the belly between the fore legs and up through the halter ring, and make fast to a stanch- ion or post, and then give him an opportunity to pull by ad- ministering some of the causes of his former pulling, and con- tinue this from time to time until permanently cured, which will not require many lessons at most. Shying may be recorded as one of the evils to which horse- flesh is heir, and is generally the result of improper training or breaking of the colt. The inconvenience, annoyance, and oft- times danger occasioned by a shying horse is anything but pleasant to its rider or driver. Shying in horses is undoubtedly the offspring of fear.- Fear is the motion excited by suspicion, apprehension, appearance, or approach of danger. This may be termed natural timidity, giving rise to that kind of shyness with which colts and young animals are endowed ; another kind of shyness may be said to be acquired; but as I have gone over the ground pretty well in my views of breaking and training (see Chapter XXVIII), I will only say here that unless the eye- sight is impaired and the animal shies from that defect, it is in most cases easily cured, as already stated in Chapter XXYIII. By all means do not whip an already frightened horse. HUGGING THE LINES. The best remedy that I know of for a horse that is in the habit of catching the lines with his tail and then hugging them so hard that it is almost impossible to get the free use of them again, is a leather pad some four to six inches in width and TRAINING VICIOUS HORSES. 251 the length, of the width of a horse's tail. Attach buckles at each end so that the pad or enlarged crupper may be buckled to the back strap like any ordinary crupper, and put it under the tail. It will elevate it so that the horse cannot hug the line, and, moreover, it will cause him to carry his tail in a graceful and showy position. The cost of this simple and safe arrange- ment is but a trifle. PAWING IN STALL. It is sometimes the case that a horse becomes very annoy- ing to their owners and grooms by the habit — although not necessarily a vicious one — of almost continued pawing while in the stall. My own remedy for this habit is to buckle with a strap (a common hame-strap will do), a piece of chain about the size of a trace chain, and some two to four feet long, around the fetlock of the foot most used in pawing, leaving the other end of the chain to lie loose on the end of the floor of the stall. This simple method usually effects a permanent cure. THE INDIAN WAE BRIDLE. This is a simple and inexpensive arrangement, and has been used by the Indians and Mexicans for many years, having been mentioned in the " Veterinary''^ of London, England, in 1828, as used by the ISTorth American Indian in subjugating his wild horses of the plains ; hence the name, Indian war bridle. This bridle, as formerly used by the Indians and Mexicans, although a simple arrangement and easily made and applied, is, nevertheless, when properly used, a powerful means of con- trolling wild or vicious horses, and may be advantageously used on kickers that kick while being harnessed, groomed, or shod. To make this Indian bridle, take a three or four ply rope or cord (the cotton cord is much the better, as it works smoothly and is much softer than any other). To prepare the cord for use tie a knot in each end and then make a loop by doubling the cord and passing the knot through ; these loops should be at such distance from the knot as will allow the cord to pass ^52 TRAINING VICIOUS HORSES. around the neck at one end and the lower jaw at the other, pass- ing the knot through the loop from the opposite side of the loop to where it first passed through in making the loop, thus bring- ing the thickness of the cord in the center of the loop. By this means safety is secured, the cord slipping easily through, pre- venting the possibility of its getting fast, as it would likely do if passed through the loop from the same side it originally came through. The necessity of this arrangement will be seen in ap- plying the cord. We have here two principles involved : first, steady pressure upon the lower jaw, and, second, friction in the mouth — the one stationary in the mouth, the other slipping through it. The Rarey cord, as used by Mr. Rarey, was a very simple but powerful means of subduing a vicious or headstrong colt or horse, and consists of a cotton rope or cord (about clothes-line size) Avith a loop at one end long enough to slip on the under jaw, the other end going up on the right side of the neck, over, down on the left side through the loop on jaw; the part that crosses the neck should be well back towards the withers to give it a purchase. A strong pull or sudden jerk on this will make quite an im- pression upon almost any horse. This cord is calculated to ac- complish the same results as the war bridle, and is much on the same principle. CHAPTER XXXI. TRAINING CIRCUS HORSES. Height of perfection in training — Skillful education — Mild treatment best — Sensible to plaudits of audience — High prices for trained ring- horses. THE height of perfection in training seems to be found among circus horses, and whether a man is in sympathy with horses or not, if he has any admiration for them at all he certainly must approve of the acquired intelligence which the trained horses for a circus exhibit. The manner of training these horses is also interesting. The education must be given in the most skillful manner, and some points in regard to it will not only be interesting but may aid those who have the training of horses for everyday purposes in doing their work more intelligently. In reply to the inquiry as to how he trained his horses, the trainer of all of Barnum and Bailey's trick and ring horses^ said : " The first thing that we have to do when we get new horses is simply to keep them in the stables with the others until they get used to their company. It is a singular thing, too, how jealous the old horses are of the new comers. You may laugh if you want to, but horses really have their way of ' guying ' green stock. "After the horses get used to their surroundings and their stable companions, we blindfold them and take them into the ring. While they are blindfolded we train them to the circu- lar motion, — that is, we make it appear natural to them to run around in a ring. This requires a good deal of time and patience. It generally takes a month to break a horse to this. The natural tendency of the animal is to go straight, and the going round is unnatural to him. ]N"owadays we use a. (253) 354 TRAINING CIRCUS HORSES, system of check and lines that makes the process much easier to him. After the horse has been taught to run around we take off the blindfold, and the performer for whom the animal is intended begins to try tricks with him. The horse is natur- ally very observant and his natural bent is to do what he sees another horse do ; so when we are teaching a new horse tricks we place him alongside of another, who has been trained, to give him confidence, and the two work together. The rider will first try one and then the other. It is a great mistake in think- ing that punishment is resorted to in breaking in circus horses. Horses that are broken by violent treatment are not to be de pended upon, and for ring purposes we must have horses so trained that they can be absolutely relied upon, "A good animal that has been trained for the ring, will, technically speaking, ' feel ' his rider and accommodate his motions as much as possible to the work that the rider has in hand. Such a horse is the delight of a bare-back rider ; and, by the way, nearly all the riders have their favorite animals. Circus horses are as sensible to the applause of the audience as are the riders. It is wonderful what a horse will do under the stimulus of applause with what he will not do when the audience is cold. Horses are likely, however, just as perform- ers, to lose their head when the approval is too stimulating. This is one of the reasons you see the check and reins with which a circus horse is provided ; they are not intended AvhoUy for ornament as most people suppose. "A well-trained ring-horse is worth easily $1,000. Riders who earn large salaries generally like to own the horses that they ride ; they like to give them their personal attention. Generally the riders in a circus who own their own horses make up a pool together for the employment of a first-class groom. A circus horse needs the most careful attention. Prior to every act his back has to be rubbed with rosin, so as to prevent the rider's feet from slipping ; this must be carefully washed off after each act or the horse's back would become sore in a short time. TRAINING emeus HORSES. 255 "A first-class groom has to be, in fact, something of a vet- erinary surgeon. Tliere are really few accidents to the circus horse when one considers the work he has to do. " We have horses here that have been in training for ten years. The ring work is not particularl}^ wearing upon them when they bect)me accustomed to it ; it is the traveling around the country that tells on them most. At the same time they get the best treatment. The food given them is of the first quality. " I have trained horses that Mr. Barnum, Mr. Bailey, and others have valued at $5,000, simply because of their training. Such a horse must be good blood. " You might think a horse trained for the ring and kept in it year after year might lose any speed he might have had, but we have horses here now that we used in the ring work that could trot a mile in 2.35 to 2.45." CHAPTEK XXXII. FEEDING AND STABLE MANAGEMENT. Value of different foods — Neatness and cleanness — Change of food necessary — Treat kindly — Indian corn — Watering — Corn meal — Flax seed — Roots — Light and ventilation — Blankets. ALMOST any man can work around a horse-barn, but to properly understand feeding and the best care of horses in the stable, is a trade of itself, and one which has but few ex- perts. The lack of proper knowledge of different foods for horses under peculiar conditions, as well as lack of judgment under circumstances relating to the care of horses Avhen they are out of condition, added to carelessness, inattention, and poor treat- ment when disease attacks the vital portions of a horse, is a source of much fatality among them, and annually shortens the lives of many good ones. Among the vast horde of horses that die every year there are only a few that are really worn out. The most of them die from some cause or other, and these causes are what horsemen should look after if they desire to have their animals live to " a green old age." It is generally easier and cheaper to preserve horses once procured than to obtain new ones. Aside from accidents, a sound horse should be as good at eighteen or twenty years old as at any other age, yet we find but a few who, having lived to that time, are still able to do even a few days work without great fatigue. Owners of horses should study the care of them in order to get the greatest amount of service out of them, if for no other reason. Remember that with your horse, as with yourself, every time you do an imprudent thing you will have to pay dearly for it. If the results of poor care and bad management ( 256 ) FEEDING AND STABLE MANAGEMENT. 257 of horses could be seen immediately there would, undoubtedly, be more thought given to the matter. A French investigator, by an elaborate test, found that oats were especially good for horses. By an electrical apparatus he found an excitable principle in oats which he called a nervine, and he discovered that crushed oats were more active and not as enduring as the whole grain, used as horse food. It is understood by the practical horseman that oats favor more speed and endurance in the horse than any other food. Experience has proved, beyond a doubt, that as a grain food for horses, few, if any, feeds are superior to oats. Many farmers and teamsters, however, by experimenting, have decided that other grains may be cheaper and answer nearly as well. As to the cheapness, of feeding horses with grain, as far as the cost of the grain itself is concerned, there is no doubt that ground grain mixed with cut hay, or hay and straw, is the most economical ; but in this manner of feeding we must have the conveniences not otherwise required in feeding whole grain, and the extra time it takes to cut and grind the food should also be included in the expense account. When corn is worth less than a cent a pound, the feeding value is, no doubt, in favor of corn, but corn being very hearty great care must needs be exercised in dealing it out. Constant feeding of corn for two or three months often deranges the en- tire system, requiring a complete change of diet, and often necessitating the services of a veterinary. The thick hull covering the oat kernel prevents fast eating ; consequently, more saliva is formed, which aids digestion, yet some horses eat so voraciously that some kernels are swallowed whole. In such cases either have the grain ground and fed dry or place several stones two inches in diameter in the feed-box. These will prevent the grabbing of a full mouthful of grain at once, and thus cause twice the time spent in eating a given quantity. There is a vast amount of ignorance exhibited in 17 258 FEEDING AND STABLE MANAGEMENT. feeding horses. Some owners feed their horses when most convenient, regardless of the wants or necessities of the animals. The capacity of the horse's stomach is about sixteen quarts ; people who are ignorant of this fact fall into many serious errors. ISTo one owning or having the care of intelligent horses should have to be told how necessary to good health it is that everything about the horses, and most especially about the feed-boxes and mangers, should be perfectly neat and clean. It is too often the practice of the attendant to empty the contents of the measure into the feed- box without once glancing in to see if it is in condition to receive the food. If the horse does not eat his food out clean the box should be cleaned out before another feeding time. There is no animal more fastidious than the horse, and if there is a little grain left in the box from time to time, it soon commences to decay or mould and offends the horse's sense of taste and smell. For the same reason the hay-rack or manger should not be crowded full every time the horse is fed ; give but a small feed of hay at a time ; usually about seven pounds is enough. Following this direction the hay will always be fresh and the horse will not gorge himself, but will eat it much better and do much better. A horse requires an occasional change of food, as well as the human being, but great care should be exercised in the change from time to time instituted. Unless intelligence is ex- hibited in feeding, the results frequently result in disaster. Feed and water as regularly as possible. It is a fact w^ell w^orth bearing in mind that you cannot ill- treat YOUR horse in any WAY WITHOUT MATERIALLY DEPRECIAT- ING HIM IN VALUE. A state of uneasiness and restlessness by horses being yelled at or unmercifully beaten about the stable, often lessens their value and, indeed, often makes them w^orthless, when the satis- faction of handling them is considered. A humane man will be more guarded about using harsh language and ill-treatment FEEDING AND STABLE MANAGEMENT. 259 about a horse than he will about a person. The latter can reason and consider the source and circumstances, while the former, acting only from instinct, is more deeply impressed by the treatment received. Vicious and stubborn dispositions are often the results of poor stable treatment, and it is not to be wondered at. If a horse can be soothed by gentle words — and there are but few that cannot — then it naturally follows that different treatment will produce different effects. In feeding grain to horses it is important that it should be fed at such a time that it may remain in the stomach as long as need be to secure its complete digestion. The nitrogenous elements, in which grain is richer than other food, are better digested in the stomach than in the in- testines. The grain should be fed after the hay has been eaten, and no other food or drink should be given for some time after, so that the grain may remain in the stomach until fully digested. If the grain is fed first and then a ration of hay, the grain will speedily be forced from the stomach by the hay and will not do more than about half as much good as if fed after the horse had eaten about seven pounds of hay and had all the water required. This system, although contrary to the general practice, is well worth the owner's consideration in feeding horses. Indian corn is the great food crop for animals in this coun- try, and is produced in nearly every county of every State, and probably more cases of horse colic arise from feeding corn-meal than from all other foods combined ; and this especially occurs among farm horses, as farmers study the philosophy of foods very little, or the effects of the conditions of food upon animal health. They, naturally, feed what is most convenient and cheapest, without considering that any good food can be other than healthy. In my experience as a veterinary practitioner I have known of the death of many horses, which, by examination, proved to 260 FEEDING AND STABLE MANAGEMENT. be caused by feeding corn-meal alone. Some feed it wet and others dry, but, when fed alone, it is more dangerous wet than dry, for when wet it may be swallowed with but very little mastication, while the dry meal must be masticated until the saliva saturates it before it can be swallowed, and the saliva is a more active agent in the process of digestion than is mere water ; therefore, it is in better condition for digestion when fed dry than when fed wet. In my experience of upwards of forty years in feeding horses I have never known any serious effects from feeding even the finest of corn-meal when mixed with cut hay or straw. My plan of mixing is to moisten the hay or straw (or both mixed, half and half) just enough to cause the meal to adhere to it that it may all be eaten together. Be careful in the mix- ing and not get the hay too wet. My experience with horses and hostlers leads me to say that there are as many horses injured by over-feeding as by under- feeding. It should ever be borne in mind that every bit of food placed before a horse more than his capacity for assimilation and digest is not only wasted, but is positively injurious to the horse. It should be the study of all horse owners to see that their animals do not go to bed at night either hungry, thirsty, or suffering from too much supper. It Avould be assuming too much for me to say how great or small a quantity you should feed your horses, for you will find by closely watching a stable of a dozen or more horses that some require much more feed than others. It is the same with men ; what is eaten by one small man will sometimes be a suf- ficient quantity for two larger ones, consequently I do not wish to place myself on record as saying just how much or how little you shall feed your horses, but would advise the owners them- selves to see on how little food a horse can Avork and thrive rather than to see how much food he can get away with. Of muscle-producing food, beans are first, oats second, and barley third. Of fat-producing food, Indian corn stands first, pease second, and barley third. Wheat is also a most excellent grain to be judiciously fed to all animals. FEEDING AND STABLE MANAGEMENT. 261 All grains should be ground in order to be of the greatest utility to animals, and especially horses, when mixed with cut hay or straw. "Wheat bran is not only a food rich in muscle and bone-forming matter, but a medicine for the bowels which may be classed among the safest and best as well as cheapest. Flaxseed, oil-cake, and oil-meal are all excellent in their way of keeping the bowels open and in a healthy condition when judiciously fed in connection with dry food. Roots occasionally fed to all horses in winter are not only wholesome but toothsome. Among the different varieties of roots grown here in America, I prefer carrots for horses, but parsnips may be quite as good. An occasional feed of apples when plenty and cheap, and especially sweet apples, are usually much relished by all horses. Even turnips and potatoes for a chano^e to horses that will eat them are to be recommended in winter, as all these, while making a change in their diet, have a tendency to regulate their bowels also. Next to roots and fruit for this purpose, flaxseed, linseed m.eal, and wheat meal are advisable. Salt should be so administered as not to overdo or underdo the matter. Provide each horse with a sufficiency, and not force more upon him than he requires. My present method of salting horses is to place quite a lump of mineral salt in the feeding box or manger of each horse, and when it has all disap- peared replace it with another. I know that in this way some eat twice as much as others — possibly too much ; but I know of no better way in which to salt horses while in the stable, and, when in the field, I usually leave lumps of salt within their reach and where they can have free access to it. All stables for horses should be well provided with light and ventilation without draught. All work and driving horses should be well bedded every night and well groomed every morning. Blankets are to be used when necessary, but care and judg- ment must be exercised. CHAPTER XXXIII. MANAGEMENT OF TEAMS ON THE FARM AND ON THE EOAD. Don't rush in the morning — Good vs. poor teamsters — Noon feed — Groom properly — Blankets, etc. FARM TEAMS. DOJST'T rush the teams in the morning or after a long rest ; warm them up gradually if you would get the most out of them, and give them the least necessary fatigue. When plowing, the first round or two in the morning should be made as easy as possible ; and if the plowing is hard on the team, as, for instance, heavy clay land, when they are obliged to pull quite hard all the time, — it should frequently be stopped for just a little while and not allowed to get over-heated, exhausted, or discouraged. I have had many farm-hands and teamsters (?) to work for me, and nearly as many different kinds as numbers. For in- stance, I have had a man who would take a team in the morn- ing fresh from the stable and in my toughest plowing in Indi- ana clay soil, would do a good forenoon's work and bring his team in at noon in good shape to water and feed. You would seldom hear this man speak to his team, and never hear him yell or scold at them ; he would do a good spring's work and keep his team in excellent order all through. Look to the field whenever you would, you might invariably see his team moving quietly and steadily along.. . He made frequent stops, however, but of very short duration. ; always when he stopped he backed the team a step and usually raised their collars to give air and to see that all was right. I have had other plowmen and teamsters who, when working their teams, would bawl and swear at their teams until they (262) MANAGEMENT OF TEAMS ON FARM AND ROAD. 263 might be heard all over the farm ; these would rush them for all they were worth for an hour or two until they were reeking with foam and sweat, and then stop them half an hour or more at a time, letting them stand all the while on a draw with traces taut and bracing in the collar, while they rested sit- ting on the plowbeam ; and perhaps when the dinner bell rang they would bring them to the b^rn so heated that they could not be watered or fed for half an hour. Such teamsters, — if by such name they may be called, — will use up a good team in an incredibly short time, as I know by observation. Some teamsters will annoy and fret a good team with spirit and mettle more by constant yelling and swearing at them — and take more out of them in this manner — than will all the work they are able to accomplish. In the spring of 1894, I hired a young man from Ohio to work for me for the season, and gave him a good team to work. Both horses were well-bred, and belonged to the American trotting family, both were full of life and spirit, were in the best of health, and in excellent condition. They Were both intelligent and good dispositioned animals, but rather nervous ; both were willing to do lots of work, doing it cheerfully, steadily, and pleasantly. This young man commenced bawling and swearing at his team from the very start. We could hear his foul language all over the farm and into the house, even ; not only that but he soon became a neighborhood nuisance through his loud swearing at one of the very best teams ever hitched to a plow or elsewhere. He had lungs like an ox and the voice of a fog- horn. I cannot now see why I should have kept him for a month, but I did, for he was a good worker for the times, and I suppose I thought that by reasoning and talking with him I might reform him in the manner of using a team, — but it was of no use. I could not change his methods, and so I sent him away. I then engaged the services of a mild-mannered young man (a graduate of a commercial college) to Avork this same team. He soon proved himself to belong to the chronic 264 MANAGEMENT OF TEAMS ON FARM AND ROAD. lazy class, and required a large amount of sitting down in order to accomjDlish a little work. He Avould rush his team for all they could stand for half an hour or so and then stop them for as long a time while he sat down and had a good rest and smoke. The noon bell would frequently catch him with a very light forenoon's work accomplished but with a heated and fatigued team. He also was a great hand to yell and scold at his team ; but it was a busy time of the year and good help very scarce, so I kept him two months, and at the expiration of that time his team was in an excellent condition to make first-class scare-crows of, Now had this same team, with proper handling and proper care been well managed at their work, they would not only have accomplished all that they did, but would have held their own in flesh and condition. I give this illustration here as not one of great singularity, but a recent one, and one that I was much interested in. If farm horses are fed loose hay at noon they should have time to eat it before being fed grain ; then as soon as done eat- ing their grain they are ready for the field. Not to exceed seven pounds of hay should be given at one feeding to each horse. Always water on coming to the stable if team is not too warm ; if such be the case they may eat their hay first, then drink their fill, and eat their grain lastly. Eemember to feed grain after hay in all cases, in order to get the most from the grain. MANAGEMENT OF HOESES ON THE EOAD. "When farm horses are not much used on the roa^ds, and are required to haul heavy loads long distances, their drivers should use great care not to allow them to become too much Avearied ; for, when in this condition, excessive sweating is liable to cause severe chills and colds, often producing internal fever accompanied by severe constipation or stoppage. Farmers should go on these trips to market in cool weather, prepared to give warm clothing while the team is resting. Laxative food should also be given in moderate quantities, as MANAGEMENT OF TEAMS ON FARM AND ROAD. 265 an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. There is nothing better for this purpose than boiled flax-seed ; this in small quantity mixed with other food is very soothing to the stomach. When flax-seed cannot be obtained, linseed oil-meal will an- swer as well. Oats are the best grain-food for teams either working or driving on the road, but oats and barley in equal portions ground together make an excellent ration. Another matter that farm teamsters are quite likely to neg- lect, is proper grooming. Thorough cleaning for a work-horse is said to equal a small feed of oats. There is no doubt about the healthfulness of good grooming. Proper attention to feeding, cleaning, and blanketing will be found much cheaper than to engage the services of a veterinary after your animals are taken ill. CHAPTER XXXIY. MANAGEMENT OF ROAD AND DRIVING HORSES. Start out moderate — Long distance — Water frequently — Checking — Hitch- ing to buggy — Whip — Feeding on the road — Short-distance driving — Reins well in hand. THERE have been periods in my varied and busy life when my business required much driving on country roads, and sometime of upwards of sixty miles in a day. I usually had a good horse for these long routes, and knew — or thought I knew — very well how to drive and take care of them. My way was — and is — when starting out with a recently fed and watered horse to drive the first five or ten miles about as slow as a good road horse will naturally travel, and by that time they will have gotten themselves into condition for good road work and will be ready to take a good, comfortable road gait for the next ten or twenty miles without distress or fretting. When driving on hilly roads I allow the horses to walk up hills . and drive very carefully and with a snug rein down the hills, always taking advantage of the best, smoothest, and level places in the road to make up my time. When driving long distances I never enter into brushes or races with others on the road, but always drive as steadily and easily as possible. Many has been the time when driving long distances on the road that someone has driven out of a yard or stable when I was about opposite, and, going my way, have driven past and away from me — perhaps entirely out of sight — but after a few miles of steady driving I have come up to them, and perhaps passed them and driven away, out of sight and hearing of them for the rest of the journey. When driv- ing on the road in summer I water frequently, giving a little at a time. I never check hard when driving long distances — (266) MANAGEMENT OF ROAD AND DRIVING HORSES. 267 nor any other time, for that matter. On the road I am very particular that my horse, if checked at all, is only very moder- ately so, and that he hangs quite loose in the harness. Most people, to my notion, buckle the hold-backs too tight ; a horse cannot travel nearly as easily with the breeching drawn tight across him. I want it quite loose or left off altogether,, although a hilly country road calls for the breeching ; but be sure it hangs right, not too taut nor too low. Have it well up on the thighs and not so low as to have a tendency to trip in descending steep hills. So particular am I over this point of the hanging of the breeching that many has been the time when driving a horse harnessed by others, I have got out of my buggy and adjusted the same to suit myself, even though I were driving but a short distance. As to the whip ; there are few men who like a good whip, perhaps, better than myself; and I have thought that few could use one more dexterously when required to do so. I always want a good whip in my buggy when driving, no mat- ter what the distance may be ; yet, if kept for my use alone, a. good whip would last me a long time, as I have but little occa- sion to use it. One of the worst possible pernicious features of road driv- ing is an almost continual clucking, tapping with the whip, and jerking on the reins. I very much dislike to see the hair worn off horses from wearing the breeching too tight. I have often thought were I a horse hitched to a fine buggy or carriage and compelled to stand the irritable driving that many good horses are subjected to, I would play " Old Ab- dallah" with the carriage, and serve it as he did the Long Islander's fish-cart many years ago, even though I were made to pay the same penalty for my rashness as he did for his — being turned out on a sandy beach to starve to death. I have often observed that the best drivers, whether of teams or single horses ; whether those teams were composed of oxen, stags, mules, or horses; whether being worked on the S68 MANAGEMENT OF ROAD AND DRIVING HORSES. farm, driven on. the road, or even on the race track, were those who used the whip the least. In driving many different horses, of as many different dispositions, I have had at various times many occasions for the use of the whip ; but in all cases I en- deavor to have the horse fully understand why I use it and for what purpose. In former times, when serving at county or state fairs as a committee on oxen and steers, I have admonished exhibitors in reference to the too free use of the lash — advising them to do their training and necessary whipping at home ; then bring their trained animals only to the fair for exhibition, and not make too much of an exhibit of themselves or of their method of training steers. While on this subject of training for fairs and the use of the whip, perhaps it may not appear as too great a digression from the subject under consideration for me to relate a little ■circumstance of several years ago. In September, 1873, I ex- bibited a beautiful pair of Devon steers at the Windham county (Ct.) fair. My steers were four years old only, and weighed -about 2,400 pounds, and at that time were compelled to compete in their work with oxen of all ages and all weights. Their exhi- bition work consisted in drawing and backing a cart filled and rounded up with stones and probably weighing about two tons — not less. In this competition were oxen weighing all the way from 3,200 to 4,200 pounds, and probably not a pair com- peting for the prize weighing any less than 3,000 pounds. Well, the result of the showing was that all the teams were able to draw the load, and after much yelling and scolding and a good deal of whipping, several pairs were able to do some- thing in the way of backing it. There were some twenty pairs in competition. After all the oxen had shown what they could and could not do, I hitched my " little steers " to the cart. I could dis- tinctly hear the murmur through the crowd that " Dimon will be unable to compete with the others," — that while he had a beautiful pair of steers, they were altogether too light and MANAGEMENT OF ROAD AND DRIVING HORSES. 269' young to compete favorably with their older and heavier com- petitors; that, while the J might he ahle to draw the load up the hill, they could not possibly be expected to back it a single inch. When all was ready I gave them the word and they, at once, started together, settling into their yoke, and took the load up the hill and around to the backing place just as well as. any team had been able to do. Again the murmur ran through the crowd : " Dimon did very Avell at pulling, but he can't ex- pect them to move that load backwards; they haven't the ' heft ' for it." So, again, when all was ready, all I had to do was to raise my whip before them and give them just one word, " Back ! "^ Back they went, almost backing over three or four men who stood in their way behind the cart. The murmur of the crowd turned into a shout. They cried : " This is the only backing we have had to-day." In this exhibition I only made use of the two words, " Come " and " Back." I did not strike them a lick with my whip. It was a case where I had done all of my training and necessary whipping at home, and the cattle already knew what to do and what to expect if they failed to do what was told them. Then, in training horses, as well as steers, whether for ex- hibition or use, first teach them thoroughly just what you want them to do ; and then it may be time to teach them what to expect in case of failure to perform what they are capable of doing. In driving long distances on the road I only feed at morn- ing, at noon, and at night. Some think that after a fifteen or twenty mile drive a horse should be stopped and fed, no mat- ter what the time of day ; I cannot agree with them. Feed regularly in this work just the same as in other work. Of course, if a horse is pulled out of a stable at midnight and starts off on an empty stomach, it cannot be expected that he will not need feeding again until noon ; that would be too 270 MANAGEMENT OF ROAD AND DRIVING HORSES. long. Use judgment in this as in many other cases where it is impossible for the wisest head to lay down infallible rules to go by. If a man has no judgment in the use of a horse, he should not be allowed to use one, but be forced to turn his at- tention to other less responsible pursuits. Having described my way in treating a horse on a long dis- tance I will say a few words regarding short-distance driving. "While at my time of life I like a " quaker trot " about as well as any gait — both as to comfort and safety for me — still if I have a good horse and the roads are good and I have only five or ten miles to go, I see no particular necessity of spending too much time on the road. Time is money, and life is too short to fool away too much of it unnecessarily. I contend that a horse well able to do so and without a heavy load, had better travel over a good, smooth ten-mile road in an hour and a half and receive good treatment at the end, than to spend two and a half hours on the road and receive no care at the end of the route. Besides, the older I grow I more and more see the import- ance of making each hour count to the best possible advan tage ; for, as Longfellow has it : " Art is long and Time is fleeting; And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muflfled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave." Always, when driving on the road, have the reins well in hand, always being "in touch" with the horse through his mouth. Then, if through any cause your horse makes a mis- ste]3, or shies, or stumbles, you have him under your control at once — as you otherwise could not do. I have driven horses full of life and spirit, whose action and speed I could govern by the mouth alone, without a word or single act on my part except just slight variations in the pull or non-pull of the lines. > "A O p— I H O o CHAPTER XXXV. HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. The author a judge in races — The trainer — Driver — Swipe — Big-head — Early vs. late training — Toe-weights — Jogging — The mouth — Sta- bling -^ Treating a warm horse — Time to succeed. IT has been said that " all money in trotters is in the hand- ling." The management, handling, and driving the trot- ting horse in his races, is as much of a science and requires as much skill to do so properly and successfully, as that of almost any other profession. It is a trade of itself. If the candidate for this profession is not possessed of a natural taste, as well as ability, for it, then he had better turn his attention to other fields of employment. Although, as stated in the preface of this book, I am not a professional driver in races, yet I have occupied the judges' stand in many very good races, trotted by some of the best horses and driven by some of the most expert drivers of their time ; and from that standpoint, especially as it usually devolved upon me to act in the capacity of " starter " in the races, I have had an opportunity to learn very much as to how horses should be managed and driven in their best work. But the success in this business is not alone dependent upon the driver, for in the " swipe," or care-taker of the trotter, really depends nearly as much as upon the driver ; inasmuch as the best driver would be unable to win purses with the best trotters not in condition to trot. Were I in the business of campaigning a stable of trotters I should be very particular in my selection of the proj)er men to take care of the horses, as well as in the selection of the knight of the sulky to pilot them to victory. If a horse makes a sensational hit in a race the driver often gets all the credit, while the poor swipe gets left. (371) 272 HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. If the horse comes to the " scratch " out of condition, and, in consequence, loses the race, then the swipe usually gets all the blame for this state of a£fairs. Without doubt the talent necessary to be a successful trainer and developer of trotters, especially youngsters, is more- rarely found than is the same amount of ability as a driver in races. Another consideration is that a man who has thus been eminently successful rarely, if ever, fails to be a good driver in races ; whereas some of the most renowned " knights of the sulky " are far from being in the front rank of the profession or art of carrying animals from the primary school to . the graduating classes. It may seem singular to those not intimately acquainted "with the training of fast harness-horses that there should be any hesitancy in accepting advice from persons who, by study and experience, are fully qualified to give it ; but those wha have had such experience will agree with me that very many trainers, and some drivers as well, appear to regard suggestions as an implication of ignorance and resent it accordingly. It more frequently happens, perhaps, in this business than in most others that a young man engaged in the capacity of trainer or driver gets what is sometimes called "big-head," which, when it attacks its victim with severity, is a most stub- born disease, and in some cases is incurable, but usually succumbs to study and experience. I have known young men engaged a single season, perhaps, in the capacity of handling the trotter, that in their own esti- mation knew more about the trotting horse from beginning to end than those much more advanced in years, and who had made this subject a life-long study. As to the early training of the trotter, unless you are par ticularly anxious to give your colt a record at an early age, notwithstanding- all that has been written and said to the con- trary, I maintain, as heretofore stated in Training for Speed, Chap. XXIX, that early maturity means early decay. I would HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. 273 much rather have my colts intended for campaigning purposes grown up in their free and natural way until at least two years old, and if longer so much better for the durability of the animal. I may differ in this respect with some of the modern trainers and drivers, but agree with that great Wapoleon of the trotting turf of his day, Hiram Woodruff. J^either is my theory antagonistic to the staying and lasting qualities in such " old time " trotters as Imported Messenger's greatest son — on the trotting turf — old Topgallant, whose first race was made at the age of fourteen years ; or of Sherman Morgan's fastest trotting son, Ripton, who never stepped on a track until after he was five years old ; or of the reigning queen of the trotting turf of her time, Flora Temple, whose first race was when in her sixth year, and who was a regular campaigner for eleven years ; or of the -wonderful horse of his day, Dutchman, who had few, if any, equals ; he was on the trotting turf for many seasons, but first saw a race-track at the age of five years. The gamy mare. Lady Suffolk, was on the turf for thirteen successive seasons, her first appearance before the public did not occur, however, until she was five years old. Goldsmith Maid, the queen of all trotters in her day, and the first to lower the record to 2.14, was eight years old before making her first race, and remained constantl}'' on the turf until about twenty-one years old. Dexter, the trotting king of his day, and who for so long held the world's trotting record of 2.16f, had never eaten a bushel of oats — it is said — at four years old, and never saw a race-track until six years of age, and lived to be thirty years old. (See Old-time Trotters, Chap. XXYI.) It is true that we are now living in a faster age and have more fast trotters and more trotting tracks than in those times, and consequently, cannot afford to wait so long for the develop- ment of our horses ; but how long do the best eacees of the PEEIOD last ? 18 274 HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. As stated in " Breaking and Training " (Chap. XXYIII), I believe in commencing the education of all colts at an early- age, and believe their teaching should be in harmony with the business afterwards expected of them ; but to hammer the life out of the poor things when they are but mere babies, as is often done, seems to me to be both cruel and inhuman. If, as in " Training for Speed " (see Chap. XXIX), the train- ing can be slowly and carefully conducted, it may be com- menced at a comparatively early period in the life of the youngster, who, if not pushed beyond his strength and capacity, may, in some respects, be advantageous. Now as to managing the trotting horse at the track. Our old-school doctors and farriers used to consider it necessary to first bleed their patients for all the spare blood there was in them ; all the early trainers and managers of trotters thought it necessary to first sweat, scrape, and physic the animals under their charge ; but time has changed their views on those sub- jects, and doctors now first experiment with their patients and " bleed them " afterwards, and so modern trainers have changed their minds as to sweating, scraping, and physicing. As to shoeing and properly balancing, much depends on the speed procured and the ease with which it is obtained. My views on shoeing may be found in full on page 319, Chapter XLI ; but I will here remark that the nearer you imitate nature and the least possible weight with which you can balance the colt, you should carry. As a rule, I would recommend the discarding of toe-weights altogether in training and managing horses on the track ; still, their use may be admissible in some cases, as there are gener- ally exceptions to all rules. I would, however, recommend the training of the coming trotter to trot in light shoes, and not ask him to go at a faster gait at first than he could be made to trot level and square in that way of going, and then increase the speed gradually ; but in this matter, as in so many others connected with the horse, there can be no definite, positive rules laid down to govern in HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. 275 all cases. A grain of oommonsense and practical good judg- ment to meet the emergencies of cases as they occur is often worth more than a pound of instruction by the wisest author. Trainers are too apt, I think, to jump to the conclusion that colts and green trotters need weights, when the difficulties that present themselves could be easily removed without resorting to this artificial assistance. I agree with Trainer Marvin when he says : " I need not enter into any argument to show that the ideal trotter will trot barefooted, needing no balancing other than what nature has given it ; and that the use of the shoe is simply to protect the foot, after which every ounce of weight has its detrimental influences. It may, however, become in some cases necessary ; but the careful trainer should, in such cases, endeavor to reduce and never in any case increase weight until certain that nothing else will remedy the difficulty en- countered. In case that you decide that it is best to put on weights and find that they remedy the trouble, do not for a moment think it will be always necessary to retain them ; but, after a little while, commence gradually reducing it until you get down, if possible, to an eight or ten-ounce shoe." If a horse is worked for speed at a rate that he can go fairly and squarely, going clean without weight or boot, his speed wiH naturally and gradually improve, and the final result will be much more satisfactory than if you had resorted to artificial appliances. Keep your trotter going square ; do not be too impatient if he inclines to hitch in his gait or to become generally unbal- anced ; take him back to a gait in which he can trot level and square by natural training before experimenting too much with his shoes. Other things being equal, the horse carrying the least weight will go fastest, stay better, and last longer than his weight-carrying rival. As to "jogging," its only object is to prepare the horse to trot by emptying his stomach, limbering up his joints, Avarming up his blood, and getting his whole organization ready for ac- 276 HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. tion. There is no real development of speed in jogging, but it is a simple preparatory service for the exhibition of speed. At the commencement of the season if your horse is too fleshy as well as soft, the best way to relieve him of this super- abundance of flesh is by the natural way of working it off, and not by sweat-blankets and hoods. I have but little use for either of them. Some horses will require much more work than others to accomplish this, but usually the more work the better horse ; after you have got your horse in a good driving trim, with flesh of a hard variety, then, and not until then, he should be given the greater portion of his work in hard brushes, as fast as possible. The principle of work for colts and mature horses is the same. To prepare a green horse for fast work, give plenty of exercise, careful grooming, and judicious feeding. Always in your work-outs work well within your horse's limits, and not overwork or over-tire and discourage him. With the fast mile and repeat business, as often practiced, your horse cannot but lose his speed to a great degree. On the day of the race you will want all the speed that you can command, and you should husband it well for that very purpose, as herein lies the suc- cess of all your past efforts. . Remember in training for races that " speed makes game- ness." The horse going within his limit will always outlast the one required to do his very best from wire to wire. In prepar- ing for the race you will soon learn to judge when the horse has had sufficient exercise, as he will show it by acting tired and losing his eagerness to go. At the first sign of this he should be taken to the stable. Care of the mouth in training is an important thing. See that it does not get sore, that the bit is not hurting it ; and en- deavor, if possible, to keep it in its natural, sensitive, and easy state ; very much depends on the condition of a horse's mouth at the time he is to enter a great race. The best drivers are those who so skillfully handle the reins that the horse is not only steadied in his work, but also receives HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. 277 a sort of electrical communication from the driver through the bit. Whenever a trainer or driver and his horse " get out " with each other, the sooner they part company the better for both ; neither can do himself justice while fighting the other. Work to be of the greatest benefit in any kind must be entered into with good temper on both sides. As to stabling the training horse while in training, the re- quired requisites are plenty of room, good light and ventilation, and, if possible, have each box-stall independent of the others, and each one having its own door and window. The stables should be located on high and dry ground, and quite convenient to the track. I like a southern exposure best, and half-doors, not only for their being more pleasant, but also of affording more freedom to the animals, who often in fine weather like to stand with heads and necks protruding, taking an interest in whatever may be going on, and thereby undoubtedly enjoying life much better than if closely housed. These stalls, as well as their occupants, should be kept per- fectly clean and free from all bad odors. Feed and water the animals regularly three times a day, and with judgment at all times ; watch and note the effect of food upon each individual and regulate the quantity and variety according to circum- stances. Horses differ in the necessary amount of food needed as they differ in the amount of work required. Quality is a great essential in food for the race track. All food should be clean and free from dust, and the importance of good water is equal to that of good food. On coming to the stable after the pupil has had his work- out give him a few swallows of water, then remove the harness, throw on the blanket, keep him out of the draft, scrape him off lightly (but not overdo the matter), and watch him closely lest he take cold. Be careful not to use too heavy a blanket, as you do not want to sweat your horse, only to keep him from taking cold. If he is pretty well warmed up when coming to the stable, then, after the scrape, a body wash may be applied, com-, posed as follows : 378 HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTEES. One and one-half gallons pure cider vinegar. One quart full proof alcohol. Six ounces arnica flowers. Eight ounces salammoniac. Four ounces saltpetre. * Rain water to make three gallons. This should be quickly poured and rubbed over the loins and muscles of the shoulders ; after which the legs are band- aged ; then put on a light blanket ; then walk him slowly for some twenty minutes, letting him stop occasionally ; then, when he is nearly dry, take him and rub him out carefully and lightly. Hard rubbing a horse in racing condition is both irritable and painful. To bandage the legs properly is quite a knack, and you should remember that the lower part of the ankle and heels needs the support furnished by the bandages just as much as any part of the leg ; the object of the bandage is to brace the ankles and tendons until they are thoroughly rested after the strain of fast work. The bandage should be wrapped down and well under the fetlock ; it should be put on moderately tight and left on from one to two hours. As to cleaning tools, a soft bristle brush is preferable to stiff corn brushes, but the rub-cloths or towels, accompanied with plenty of elbow power, should do the principal work in cleaning the trotter. The importance of having good rubbers and the difiiculty of obtaining them confront every trainer. A good rubber or swipe will take the best care of three horses. The feet of the young trotter and campaigner should at all times receive the best of care ; they should be carefully cleaned and washed out and " stopped up "with clay every night while on the track. As a rule, I use no oil on the feet. For a wash I use the leg-wash previously recommended as a body wash also; rub this well in by the hand, along the joints and tendons ; then bandage with a pliable or open bandage of po- rous texture, being careful that it is not too tight and thus in- HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. 379 terfering with the circulation ; it should not be left on more than ten hours, or the legs may become heated. I have but little, if any, use for the soaking tub for the feet ; a walk in the dewy grass in the summer is, to my notion, much better. Marvin says : " It is well to learn to drive by the watch, provided you don't try to beat it ; it improves a man's judgment of pace and hence teaches him to rate more evenly." It is well enough to let time be your guide but not a com- petitor with your horse in training. In preparing for a race a trainer should not overwork his horse so as to dull his spirits and get him " track-sick." At every stage of preparation the trainer's judgment should come to his aid and guide him as to what to do, when to do, and how far to go. Just as horses differ so must the methods differ. In preparation for important races the jogging should not be left to the boys, but should be done by the trainer himself, as in this branch of the horse's education much is at stake, as mouth, gait, and temper are all directly • involved. In order to be most successful, one hand should do all the driving ; the horse will readily perceive the difference. Attention to details amounts to much, in this as in other branches of business. Marvin says : " The man who gets into the sulky after the horse is ready to work, drives him his mile and repeats and leaves all the rest to rubbers to do if they will, and how they will, may have an easy and pleasant position in this life but he Avon't break many records." In the race be sure to have everything in readiness to the clanging of the judge's bell ; don't let that rattle you in the least, even if it is your first race ; keep cool and attend strictly to your business ; always co-operate with the starter and en- deavor to prevent delay in starting. After receiving the word " Go," do the best you can to get to the front, and stay there, if your horse can do so within him- self, but don't waste a fraction of speed, any more than is nec- essary to safely win, without the necessity of driving head and head finishes. 280 HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. After the heat treat your horse as in his brushes of " work- outs " while in training. If he fails to scrape well, however, and seems unduly distressed, sprinkle him with tepid water from a watering-pot, then sponge him over. Sometimes cold water will do as well, and either will generally relieve him. In some rare cases it may be necessary to give some internal stimulants, — whisky is, perhaps, as good as anything, then, — although as a rule I do not approve of using any such stimu- lant. Between heats (after the second or third), feed your horse one or two quarts of good clean oats, as it cannot be expected that a hungry horse can trot and last through a long, hard race. He cannot trot on a full stomach but requires some nourishment to keep him strong and to prevent that gnawing, " all-gone " feeling at the stomach. Make up your mind to win the race if possible ; do so fairly without trickery or jockeying. Don't try to say smart things to the starter ; give the judges no back talk. It has been truthfully said that drivers are born, not made, and it is impossible to teach any man so that he can get up be- hind a horse and drive him successfully in a race, unless he has the natural gift for it. A driver going out on a campaign w^ith horses is not, by any means, on a pleasure excursion, if he should attend prop- erly to his business. He should stay right with his horses, always remembering " The time to succeed is when others, Discouraged, show traces of tire; The battle is fought in the home-stretch And won 'twixt the flag and the wire." 3 -^ ij ^s