1100 New York State Breeders' Association 



actual experience, of the ueeJs of a^ew York farmers, or the 

 resources of New York farms, though I was familiar with con- 

 ditions which prevailed in the West during a long residence there, 

 up to a few years ago ; and I presume that they are not much 

 different from those which prevail here. In seeking the opinions 

 of other horsemen who are better qualified to speak on the subject, 

 among them Mr. A. T. Stark, proprietor of the famous veterinary 

 specific " Reducine,^' whom I have long regarded as one of the 

 best posted and most intelligent horsemen in the country, Mr. ]\1. 

 T. Grattan, of Preston, Minn., Mr. M. A. Smith, of Cawker City, 

 Kans., [Mr. A. T. Graham, of Carthage, 111,, and other practical 

 breeders and farmers; I have found that the ideas which they 

 advanced tallied in almost every respect with the conclusions I had 

 formed, so I have the more confidence that the suggestions which 

 I shall offer are worthy of your consideration. 



As an abstract proposition, I believe the best horse for the New 

 Y^ork farmer to raise is the kind that renders him the best service 

 in his own business and the best returns in the market, in case 

 he raises more than he can use. 



We may perhaps best reach a sound conclusion as to the 

 question by a process of elimination, weeding out those types 

 which from certain well-known characteristics of cost, confor- 

 mation, disposition or other features as a breed are least worthy 

 of consideration — until the final analysis reveals the light for 

 which we are seeking. I believe that in this process of elimina- 

 tion, we should begin with the thoroughbred ; on the theory that 

 the line of least resistance is the best one to follow. Ordinarily 

 the thoroughbred, as a desirable type for the New York farmers to 

 raise, or as a horse suitable in any way to their needs or profit- 

 able production, might be dismissed with scant recognition, but 

 inasmuch as within the past few years a very persistent effort has 

 been made by the representatives of that breed to convince us 

 that the thoroughbred is the sun of equine excellence for almost 

 every imaginable purpose; and the Jockey Club, with admirable 

 altruism has placed some of its most priceless blood at the dis- 

 position of our farmers at a merely nominal fee, it may be worth 

 while to go over the situation to see what the thorouirhbred has 

 to offer us. 



