198 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



Reporting these meetings annually, we are favourably 

 circumstanced for tracing the progress of those animals 

 that are exhibited year after year, as is sometimes the 

 case. We have generally found that the completely 

 furnished yearlings do not answer the expectations 

 formed of them. The second and third stages of their 

 growth do not seem to confirm the first. And amongst 

 other instances we observed of this sort at Salisbury 

 was the horse " Koh-i-noor," when a two-year-old, of 

 whom we then remarked, " he is furnished like a four- 

 year-old horse." This year he is four years old, and 

 save for a redeeming pair of legs and feet, would be 

 termed a weedy animal. Physical, like mental precocity, 

 is not a condition to be much desired. But such horses 

 as these liave not always received rewards ; bigger, 

 bonier animals, though less well furnished, have gene- 

 rally carried off the distinctions, and by their after- course 

 show the good judgment exercised by the judges. 

 Maturity in yearling or two-year-oid horses is not 

 wanted, but expansiveness is. 



Class I. — Stallions for Agricultural Pur- 

 poses, FOALED ON OR BEFORE THE IST OF 



January, 1855. 



We have here thirty-seven entries. Of these, sixteen 

 are Suffolk horses, fifteen belong to Berks, Somerset, 

 Hants, and Wilts, two to Lincolnshire, one to Cam- 

 bridgeshire, and one Clydesdale. 



" Matchless," the property of T. B. Hildyard, Esq., 

 of Newark, a Lincoln horse, received the first prize ; 

 and "Young Inkermann," a SuSblk and Lincoln, be- 

 longing to Mr. Baker, of Cambridge, receives the se- 

 cond. Out of five high commendations, four are taken 

 by Suffolk horses, and one by a Lincoln horse, the pro- 

 perty of Messrs. Ogden of Stamford, Biddell near Ips- 

 wich, Wilson near Woodbridge, Barthropp near Wood- 

 bridge ; and two out of the three simple commendations 

 are awarded to Suffolk horses, the property of Messrs. 

 Sexton near Sudbury, and Williams near Ipswich. 



With respect to the first prize there soems to be much 

 dissatisfaction. We have repeatedly urged that a due 

 deference should be paid to the opinion of judges, since 

 they have better opportunities of forming an opinion 

 than those who merely see the animals pent up in their 

 standings. The action of a horse cannot be judged of 

 by those who do not see him move, nor can his sound- 

 ness or unsoundness often be ascertained in his quiescent 

 state. A horse that may have everything to recommend 

 him in point of shape, may on account of some un- 

 soundness be thrown out, and an animal of inferior ap- 

 pearance be preferred. Still, as the public attends these 

 shows for the purpose of educating their eye and judg- 

 ment as to the form most desirable for breeders to select, 

 it is liable to be misled, especially as in the case in- 

 stanced, where the finest animal may have to yield to one 

 of inferior make, because of some unsoundness that is 

 not to be detected while he is in a state of rest. Where 

 unsoundness is an accidental property, too, judges 

 should in nowise so mislead opinion. Our remarks 

 may or may not refer to the first and second prizes in 

 this class. Mr. Hildyard's horse has a very fine top, 

 but very bad and somewhat coarse legs. Now there is 

 no use in a fine top without it has good legs to carry it. 

 Last year this horse contested the prize with Prince 

 Albert's Clydesdale, and was thrown out on account of 

 not trotting ; this year he trots, and so perhaps obtains 

 the advantage over others, as good and better horses in the 

 same class, that Prince Albert's horse did over him. He 

 has a splendid head, neck, and shoulders : his quarters are 

 square and old-fashioned, and he derives a very noble 

 appearance from one of the most beautiful manes we 

 ever saw. Mr. Baker's "Young Inkermann," also a 

 grey, has pushed up his comb since he was at Chelms- 

 ford, where he took the first prize in the dray-horse 



class, and this has thrown the head more in proportion 

 to the body. He stands seventeen hands ; his girth is 

 eight feet — truly a splendid fellow. The best horse we 

 saw in this class is "England's Glory," now the pro- 

 perty of B. Taylor, of Peterborough. His sire was the 

 " England's Glory" which took the first prize at 

 Windsor in 1851. Here is substance and style. Those 

 who wish to breed for the London market should employ 

 this horse. His legs are clean and unblemished. Those 

 of " Matchless" cannot compare with them. His feet, 

 too, are all one could wish. In height he stands 17^ 

 hands. 



Mr. Biddell's " Major," highly commended, is a very 

 superior horse ; quite a type to Suffolk breeders— 

 Catliu's blood in the head and eye. There was a great 

 struggle at Chelmsford between this and the first prize 

 horse, which ended in the Suffolk going second. We 

 scarcely ever saw such a barrel. The legs are perfect, 

 without a puff. Mr. Wilson's " Captain" is of the 

 same sort; and his " Duke" too, which is highly com- 

 mended, notwithstanding he is small, and his legs are 

 blemished. He comes of Catlin's stock however, and is 

 mostly of his distinction, Mr. Sexton's " Chelmsford 

 Champion," which took the first prize amongst the 

 two-year-olds at Chelmsford, supports his reputation, 

 although simply commended. Mr. Barthropp's highly- 

 commended " Hero'' and " Hercules" display fine 

 breeding — style, bone, substance. Well done, Mr. 

 Barthropp ! " Young Samson,'' Mr. Frost's pro- 

 perty, of Linton, Cambridgeshire, for a Suffolk, has the 

 greatest amount of bone we ever saw. His sire took 

 the first prize at Gloucester ; and his brother, by the 

 same sire, takes the first prize this year in the two-year- 

 old class. Most of the horses from the southern counties 

 are small, and generally deficient. 



Class II. — Stallions for Agricultural Pur- 

 poses, FOALED IN 1855. 

 There are 24 entries. Of these 14 are Suffolk horses, 

 6 belong to the Southern counties, 1 to Lincolnshire, 1 

 to Leicester, and 1 is a Clydesdale. The Suffolks carry 

 off both prizes, all the six high commendations, and one 

 commendation; while Berks, Wilts, &c., out of four 

 commendations, take t'nree. This, then, is quite a 

 triumph to the Suffolk breed. Mr. Clayden's " Royal 

 George," brother to Young Samson in the class above, 

 takes the first prize. He stands 16| hands, his quarters 

 are something to see, his substance great, and withal 

 his appearance is quite fashionable. Mr. Wilson's 

 " Young Duke," which wins the second prize, is of 

 very short body ; the girth is great, ribs well arched, 

 completely furnished, legs clean, feet good ; Catlin's 

 Duke's blood again ; the head and neck alone prove that. 

 Mr. Webb's " Why not" is of the same blood: great 

 beauty, but not bone enough. Mr. Ward exhibits two 

 singularly good animals, " Boxer" and " Young 

 Colonel;" one highly commended, and the other com- 

 mended. Boxer has more bone than any horse in this 

 class ; and the other is nearly equal in this respect. 

 Since we first noticed this gentleman's stock we cannot 

 but observe a very great improvement, and the attention 

 he has given to an increase of substance and power we 

 hope he will continue: he will benefit himself and 

 benefit the country. Mr. Badham's " Captain" (highly 

 commended) comes very near in point of substance, but 

 loses ground in point of fashion. Mr. Gobbitt's " Young 

 Briton" (highly commended) promises well ; plenty of 

 expansion ; will be very big ; well made ; feet splendid. 

 Mr. Pond's " Emperor" (highly commended) is a 

 heavier-topped horse than Royal George, but less ex- 

 pansive ; his girth is enormous. Mr. Crisp's highly 

 commended colt is a gigantic fellow ; he looks gaunt 

 and raw, like one that has grown beyond his strength ; 

 his sides look flat, and his quarters lank. Some would 



