TWELFTH. ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 565 



THE HORSE DEPARTMENT. 



Every section of the horse department had a large number of high- 

 class entries, which combined to make a horse exhibit of unusual bal- 

 ance. Every horseman found something to interest and instruct him, 

 and everyone looking for breeding stock got a good glimpse of the ma- 

 terial available at the stables of a large range of breeders and importers. 



Never have the new and less extensive breeders been so well or so 

 successfully represented as this year. Horses that some of them bought 

 several years ago have been carried along in about as fresh finish as 

 ever they exhibited in the hands of more experienced showmen. It 

 speaks well for the natural aptitude of American farmrs as horsemen. In 

 the light of what others have done there is no reason why a farmer who 

 can use but a few horses should not secure and succeed with the best. 

 Iowa farmers have been encouraged by the comprehensive classification 

 of grade draft horses to take an active interest in the show-ring, and they 

 have demonstrated great ability as breeders and fitters both in the grade 

 and pure-bred classes. Many American-bred stallions and mares won blue 

 ribbons, and some of them bore off the purple as well. 



As importers and breeders displayed the character of this stock for 

 the first tirne this season, it was at once apparent that they have exer- 

 cised the greatest discretion in making selections. Only horses that fit 

 the standard demanded in American draft horse markets were brought 

 over this season from France, Belgium, England and Scotland. Import- 

 ers are determined to furnish their customers just what they can use to 

 best advantage. There is a notable scarcity of inferior horses in the 

 show and sale stables. It costs a neat sum to bring a horse across the 

 water, and there is a steady tendency to deal more and more in 

 high-class stock for which the expenses figure only incidentally in the 

 price. While there is plenty of gcod material available for the trade this 

 fall, and no excess of trash, the way business opened up at Des Moines 

 indicates that it will be well to buy early. Not much was expected in 

 the way of sales, owing to the drouth which has reduced the amount of 

 feed and of cash crops in Iowa, but exhibitors found a good inquiry 

 and a ready market for quite a number of their best horses, some taken 

 singly and some in groups. 



The horse department was too full of horses and classes for the room 

 it could have in the pavilion, and consequently there was a little con- 

 fusion among the exhibitors toward the last of the showing. It was im- 

 possible to get all of the judging done where it could be easily watched, 

 but Prof. Curtiss has in mind improvements of buildings and the ar- 

 rangement of the judging programme that will enable both exhibitors 

 and public to get a larger measure of satisfaction from the showing 

 another year. 



THE PERCHEKONS. 



As usual, Percherons far outnumbered every other breed of horses 

 shown at this fair. There were 24;i Percherons on the grounds this year. 

 That is only about three-fourths of the number shown last year owing 



