506 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



for one or two hours each day in the parks and along the bridle 

 paths of our American cities. 



While saddle horses of earlier years were used for this pur- 

 pose and by this class of people, yet a large portion of them were 

 used by residents of the country. Particularly was this true in 

 the south. These people used them as both pleasure and busi- 

 ness horses. Much time was spent by' the planters and land 

 operators in riding over estates to superintend the general ac- 

 tivities of the place. The saddle horse also proved himself use- 

 ful in numerous other capacities. In view of these different 

 functions of the saddle horse, it was essential that he be a horse 

 of considerable versatility. The horse of the earlier day was 

 necessarily a horse possessed of gaits and manners which would 

 make possible his use for a considerable length of time without 

 great fatigue. The running-walk or other suitable slow gait was 

 of prime value as well as the rack, canter and the flat-footed 

 walk. For the horse of the present time which fills the same 

 place these same gaits are of equal importance. For the horse 

 which goes to the city as a pleasure horse a slight difference in 

 the relative importance of gaits seems to be demanded. The 

 trot has come to be considered one of the very foundation gaits 

 of a saddle horse. That great saddle horse authority. Col. 

 Charles L. Railey, has said, "No trot, no horse." While the 

 trot is of the utmost importance, yet the pleasure-loving people 

 who use saddle horses are close students of their horses, and their 

 admiration and their money freely go to the horse that can per- 

 form at five distinct gaits in good form and with the proper 

 manners. 



The demand for quality and finish has also been of the 

 utmost importance in saddle horses. The saddle horse inher- 

 ited beauty from his thoroughbred ancestors, and constant atten- 

 tion has been given to his beauty and his quality since his 

 existence began. Perhaps it is this beauty, intelligence and 

 general air of refinement and culture which is common to all good 

 saddle horses that serves as the deep-seated cause of unbounding 

 enthusiasm and admiration for this type of animal. Certainly 

 it is true that no other class of live stock breeders and users 

 exhibit the enthusiasm which is prevalent among the supporters 

 of our riding horses. 



With the depression which followed the panic of 1893 came 

 a depression in the horse business. Saddle horses perhaps suf- 

 fered less than other horses, yet the lack of financial support was 



