HORSES. 247 



Draught horses, for heavy work, should be bred for that 

 purpose only. Requiring heavy frames, large bones with a 

 proportionate quantity of muscle, the breeding stock should be 

 selected accordingly. 



Within a few years, the interest in horse exhibitions has 

 increased to such an extent as to require our society, as well as 

 many others, to enlarge its grounds -and make a track. This 

 has been done at a great expense, and in a manner equal to 

 any other in the State. It would seem, therefore, that sufficient 

 inducements should be held out to exhibitors of horses to 

 enable them to show their stock, not only with profit to them- 

 selves, but to the society and public generally. Go where you 

 will, the horses draw the crowd (see treasurer's report) ; some 

 for excitement, perhaps, and some for useful information. 

 There may be a spirit of degeneracy among certain portions or 

 classes of people that attend trials of speed, amounting to a 

 desire of gambling ; and where will you not find them ? Is it 

 in the nature of the exhibition itself, or of the man ? Should 

 exhibitions of an exciting nature be put down simply because a 

 few people attend them through misguided notions ! Your 

 committee will go no further than to say, they can see no 

 difference, so far as the animals arc concerned, between the 

 trials of strength, docility and tractability of a pair of steers 

 yoked to a cart heavily loaded with stones, and the speed 

 of a horse harnessed to a light vehicle. We know very well 

 that a horse-race has more attractions for the crowd, but are 

 there not equal inducements in the one as in the other for the 

 gambler ? 



Many of our oldest and highly-esteemed members, whose 

 opinions and advice are entitled to the highest respect, are 

 opposed to one of the most important features of the horse 

 exhibition. Having no personal feelings in the matter, it 

 would seem, they draw their conclusions from the experiences 

 of the past, and think there is little hope of improvement for 

 the future. Without impugning their motives, your committee 

 sincerely hope that, without damage to their principles and 

 long-cherished associations, they may be induced to look with 

 favor upon what has now become an institution, which, 

 although it may sometimes be put to a perverted use, is, in our 

 opinion, of real benefit to the community. 



