568 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



the general comment that the powerful easy-keeping drafty pattern of 

 extreme weight was well exemplified among the horses of the breed. 

 Belgians have a strong foothold in Iowa, and numerous small breeders 

 from the central part of the state were represented by horses that con- 

 vincingly assert the adaptation of the breed to the cornbelt, and of the 

 cornbelt to the breed. 



The heaviest horse in the entire show came proudly to the head of 

 the line of nine aged stallions. This Finch roan Jupiter won third place 

 last fall at the International when he was thin. He has preserved his legs 

 in excellent form while taking on the mountain of flesh tha't he carries 

 smoothly and with ease. His weight was given at 2,600 pounds. He is 

 one of the best balanced horses of extreme size that has come to this 

 country. Martin du Hazoir, now nine years old, came back in splendid 

 form and weighing 2,225 pounds after just finishing a season of over 100 

 mares. He preserves his form and quality from top to bottom wi'th a 

 persistence that demonstrates the possibility of breeding draft horses 

 that will wear as well as weigh. A somewhat smaller compact durable 

 type of blue-roan won third for Chas. Irvine. Finch Bros, also came to 

 the top with the chestnut three-year-old Saturne, a colt of unusual sub- 

 stance and finish of underpinning. A rather more compact bay stood 

 next. The next blue ribbon also went to the Finch stable on a chestnut 

 two-year-old. This colt. Challenge, built right from head to heel, was an 

 easy winner, and he did not end his triumphs until he had wrested the 

 chief honors of the male classes from his burly stablemate. The yearling 

 class was led by a rather upstanding but wonderfully forward chestnut 

 shown by Hopley & Son. Iowa breeders brought out a very good lot of 

 stallion foals. 



Chas. Irvine's roan mare Duvelinne was a winner in her class, with her 

 great weight, solid type and easy action. A thin, matronly bay of un- 

 usually rugged build pushed her hard for the honor. The next two mares 

 each had admirers, but Prof. Kennedy preferred the strong back and bone 

 of the chestnut Bon Marche to the finish and style of the other. There 

 were only two three-year-old fillies. The half-dozen two-year-olds included 

 the outstanding roan Binette with which Henry Lefebure subsequently 

 won the reserve championship. She was beaten in this final contest by 

 the chestnut yearling filly Hector from the Finch stable, a youngster of 

 remarkable balance, big, level of top, long of croup and set right at the 

 ground. J. A. Loughridge showed a very sturdy pair of filly foals that 

 headed their class. 



THE SHIRES. 



Shires to the number of ninety head made a strong exhibit all through, 

 convincing all who saw them that importers are bringing a valuable class 

 of English cart horses to this country and that American farmers are 

 going right on with the constructive work begun on such a solid founda- 

 tion. R. B. Ogilvie, Chicago, 111., tied the ribbons except in the final 

 classes, which were handled by Prof. Kennedy In his abesnce. Bone, clean 

 as well as strong, and substance both above and below, with powerful 

 straight-away action characterized the winners. 



