820 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



on Isouciant. In the younger classes tjhe ribbons were justly won by 

 Iowa exhibitors. Iowa has fine Percherons and they are at their best 

 at the state fair. The mare classes were strong, but not so many in 

 each class as the stallions. Burgess' Hellen, a gray mare, carried won- 

 derful depth of body and superior type. Crouch's Favorite had hardly 

 the weight, but possessed great femininity and moved strong with lots of 

 snap. Castile, a strawberry roan, the property of E. N. Gates, a winner 

 last year, is a wonderful mare, but a trifle too chunky to please many 

 Percheron fanciers. Seventeen three-year-old fillies were shown. The 

 class was headed by a fine gray filly well developed for age, owned by 

 Crouch. S. Metz & Sons' Harmonieuse was second. She is a fine black, 

 a Percheron from start to finish, with lots of quailty. Four grays headed 

 the twelve two-year-olds shown. Crouch's Indienne surpassed the second 

 winner in muscling of legs and shoulder, also in conformation of hind 

 legs. McMillan's Pinafore headed the string of yearlings. She is an 

 Iowa-bred filly. C. B. Dannen & Sons showed a fine filly foal winning 

 first. 



BELGIANS. 



With but two exceptions the twelve exhibitors of Belgian horses were 

 from Iowa points. The Iowa breeders were well equipped to make a dis- 

 tinctly high-class display assembled from their own barns; with the 

 assistance of two firms of importers from Indiana and Illinois their suc- 

 cess was still further assured. The veteran horseman, Mr. Alexander 

 Galbraith, of DeKalb, 111., judged the classes in a very careful and sys- 

 tematic manner. He found his most likely candidate for championship 

 honors among the aged stallions. Bonaparte de Boulant, a beautiful and 

 showy chestnut, was nis nominee. He is a horse of great quality, a 

 bold goer and altogether a grand good specimen of the breed. When 

 showing for the championship he was somewhat handicapped by a tem- 

 porary lameness, but nevertheless, easily won the laurels from other 

 very classy entries. Two 'Iowa stallions, Coquet and Gaillard, reappeared 

 this year after doing duty in their respective studs. Both are of the use- 

 ful sort and never fail to please even after critical inspection. Fifteen 

 three-year-old stallions lined up to make things interesting for Carol 

 D. Abee. This well-topped horse, however, was able to display the best 

 qualifications for the lead position. The aged mares furnished the cham- 

 pion, Catherina. She is a squarely built bay and a good one. Positions 

 in the stallion and filly foal classes were well contested and as a result 

 some very likely youngsters came to the fore. 



The number of exhibits and exhibitors of Shire horses at the Iowa 

 State Fair increases each year. This growth in numerical strength is 

 regularly accompanied with an improvement in the character of the 

 entries shown. The breed has made a notable increase in popularity in 

 this country. Judges have continuously insisted upon more quality and 



