318 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



THE HORSE DEPARTMENT 



A high-class show of horses was expected at Des Moines and in char- 

 acter of animals it measured up to that standard. Numbers were consid- 

 erably smaller than usual. Some of the larger exhibitors of former years 

 were absent and some small breeders were showing- who have attempted 

 little or nothing of the sort before. 



An unfortunate arrangement was the judging of some of the most 

 interesting mare classes on Saturday before the principal week of the 

 fair. Of course very few horsemen cared to stay away from home over 

 Sunday for the sake of seeing a few classes judged on Saturday. As a 

 result most of the interested visitors did not arrive until Monday morn- 

 ing as usual and exhibitors had to show their mares on Saturday before 

 a very small audience. There w^as plenty of time to have judged all of 

 the breeding classes of draft horses during the first three forenoons of 

 the principal week of the fair. Presumably the horse department is run 

 for the benefit of horsemen, and accordingly their conveniences should be 

 considered by allowing them to see all of the draft horse breeding classes 

 by spending three days at Des Moines instead of five. 



The horse barns proved to be one of the great attractions of the fair 

 and were always crowded with interested and inquiring people. Wilson & 

 Co. had their splendid six-horse team of bay Clydesdales on the grounds 

 for exhibition purposes, and these were universally admired for their 

 scale, splendid legs and stylish appearance in harness. 



THE PERCHERONS. 



Percherons numbered sixty-seven and came the nearest of any of the 

 draft breeds to measuring up to breeders' expectations in the showring. 

 Classes were large enough to make real sharp competition, with no 

 prizes falling to unworthy tail-end animals. The tops of the prize-lists 

 were occupied by horses of the same high order of type and draft excel- 

 lence that has characterized this show for many years. 



Colors ran noticeably to blacks. Some classes were all black. One 

 reason for this is the strong demand for black Percherons from breeders 

 farther west which has influenced many corn belt breeders. Certain it 

 is that blacks are on the increase in the Percheron breed, especially west 

 of the Mississippi River. 



Breeding operations are outlined for the future with a continued or 

 even an increased outlet expected for the surplus Percherons produced. 

 More study of sires was evident at the ringside than has been the case 

 heretofore. Much discussion ran in that vein. Good colt-getters are admit- 

 tedly scarce and every breeder seems to be on a still hunt for a horse 

 of proved worth as a sire or else one whose sire has been getting many 

 of the right kind. 



The pleasant duty of passing opinion upon so creditable a collection 

 of Percherons vi^as delegated to Wm. Bell, "Wooster, O., and his work 

 was generally approved. 



Aged stallions numbered eight, three grays and five blacks. Interest 

 at the ringside immediately centered in the flash black Mitral later made 

 grand champion. He was imported a few years ago and is now owned 

 by Singmaster. In neck and croup he might be a bit larger, but other- 

 wise he is a wonderfully well balanced horse with a sire's head and with 

 legs of the fashion and finish that stay sound even under old work horses. 

 Mitral was popularly accounted one of the outstanding horses of the 

 season. Right beside him in the line-up stood Barnum 2d, whose sire 

 Barnum was also the sire of Singmaster's Philix which won so many first 

 prizes last year. Barnum 2d is a black and was shown by his breeder, 

 C. P. Quirin. He was not so well fitted as the winner but is of similar 

 type and powerfully built. The blocky big-boned Truman gray Onuphre 



