THIRTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XHI 757 



were bred in this country. In fact, each breed included more home- 

 bred animals in the open prize-list than has ever before been the case. 

 All along the line it was a breeders' show and a good one. 



The enlarged horse barn accommodated about 47 5 head and ex- 

 hibitors expressed much appreciation of its convenient arrangement, 

 ample lighting and ventilation facilities. With the exception of two or 

 three every one who made entries was on hand with his horses. There 

 was some decrease in numbers of animals, however, from the original 

 entry list and the final count showed 775 head in the stalls. 



From a popular standpoint probably the greatest interest was found 

 in the Morris six-horse team which made daily exhibition drives about 

 the grounds, in front of the grandstand and in the pavilion. Wherever 

 these horses were, whether in harness or in their stalls, they were the 

 center of a crowd of admirers. They were brought out in fine bloom 

 and shown skillfully by Frank Housley, creating a favorable impression 

 for the draft horse and for the Clydesdale breed which they represent. 



There was a very strong delegation of ponies and light horses, and 

 saddle horses in particular made an exhibition that would be hard to 

 excel at a state fair anywhere. The most disappointing feature of the 

 horse events was the necessity for judging the light horses mainly at 

 an outdoor track sou'th of the barns where comparatively few people 

 could see to advantage. Such classes of these as were judged at the 

 evening performances in the pavilion were the chief attraction there. 



The work of judging progressed smoothly. Rules excluding visitors 

 from the ring were more fully observed than formerly and Prof. C. F. 

 Curtiss and his able assistants called the classes with the promptness 

 for which this fair has become famous. The horse department was a 

 live place and attracted a live crowd of progressive Iowa breeders. 



THE PERCHERONS. 



Percherons of course attracted most attention. It was largely a 

 breeders' show and was accordingly all the more highly appreciated by 

 the hundreds of Iowa farmers who are doing their farm work with 

 Percheron mares. They saw here what others like themselves have 

 done in producing horses fit to show anyhere. The futurity classes for 

 yearling Percheron stallions and fillies aroused more speculation and 

 comment than any other feature of the show. Likewise in the open 

 classes the American-bred ones, which were numerous, were closely 

 watched. Judging by the tone of discussions heard about the ring, 

 farmers have at last come to the conclusion that there is no reason why 

 they cannot raise as good Percherons in the cornbelt as anyhere in the 

 world. Some are doing it now, and the number of those thus success- 

 fully engaged is constantly increasing. When Rosine added another 

 open championship to the list of such honors which H. G. McMillan & 

 Sons have won with American-bred mares, and W. S. Corsa headed the 

 open classes for yearlings with colts and fillies of his own breeding the 

 efficacy of American soil, feed and brains in this line of endeavor was 

 convincingly demonstrated. 



