Annual Meeting 1083 



the worst enemj, for he is the sort they first displace, both for 

 pleasure and for business. 



The saddle-horse is a specialized article ; the hunter is in but 

 limited use, and only those after " schooling," especially apt at the 

 game bring good figures ; the carriage horse is snowed under ; the 

 roadster finds no demand ; the fast trotter is in the hands of the 

 few wealthy breeders, etc., who can afford to take a chance. 



The trotting horse has been bred in New York State for many 

 years with good results, but the demand for the old-time " up- 

 state " carriage horse has fallen away to small proportions. It 

 is up to you to guess whether that demand will ever revive. As 

 a dealer in such horses for forty years, I can only say to you that 

 while sentiment bids me hope it may, ordinary business common- 

 sense tells me it will not, and I have, with dozens of others, given 

 up the light horse business before it reached the point where there 

 was no business left to give up. The trotter is the best all-round 

 horse in the world, but for fifty years we have been breeding speed- 

 machines, regardless of any other purpose. We have them, but 

 if the speed-market fails, what other outlet have we prepared for 

 our product ? In this state it is no use to advocate trying to sell 

 him for a saddle horse, which is a special trade the native farmers 

 do not understand ; nor for a hunter, which is still more a special 

 trade, with a very limited demand, and one in which the high 

 prices you read about are never paid for the raw material, but only 

 for the finished article shown to the best advantage in the hunting 

 field, and exposed primarily to all the accidents such an education 

 entails. There is nothing for any farmer in trying to raise fast 

 horses, and the effort so to do has ruined many la farmer, and his 

 boys as well. 



The thoroughbred can have no value for the agriculturists of 

 this state, although much effort has been wasted to convince them 

 to the contrary. As a dealer I will tell you that the one horse 

 the markets of the country never yet would assimilate was the 

 thoroughbred and his grades that looked like thoroughbreds. If 

 you accord me belief on no other point, I beg you, gentlemen, to 

 heed me here, and to consider the practical end of the matter 

 only. If anyone else, with as long a market experience as my- 

 self, endeavors to assure you to the contrary, accord him what 

 approval you choose, of course, but be sure he speaks from hard- 



