STUD BOOK. 



BREEDING 

 IN ORANGE COUNTY. 



BEFORE proceeding to the general subject of breeding 

 horses and kindred subjects, we pass to notice the history 

 and results thereof in Orange County, in which county the 

 subject has received great attention, and has been rendered 

 exceedingly profitable to those who have engaged judiciously 

 therein. Indeed, from the time when the attention of the 

 citizens of this county was first drawn to this subject, the 

 standard of trotting horses throughout the country has been 

 r::adually elevated, and their speed so increased, that with 

 Lie present established record of 2:17, it would seem that it 

 nas now reached its lowest second, and that not much greater 

 achievements could reasonably ba expected from horseflesh. 



The first stallion that we ever saw advertised as possess- 

 ing trotting qualities was imported Bellfounder, in the year 

 1823. He was a bright bay, with black mane, tail, and legs, 

 standing fifteen hands high; and his superior blood, sym- 

 metry of form, and action, excelled all other stallions. He 

 was allowed, by the best judges in Norfolk, England, to be 

 the fastest and best-bred stallion ever sent out of that coun- 

 try. No doubt he was, for, as a proof, he stayed here only 

 one year, and was then taken back. Bellfounder made the 

 season at Washingtonville, with full pedigree given, at 

 twenty-five dollars to insure a mare in foal And here, well 

 niay we mention, that, forty years ago, twenty-five dollars 

 made the farmers of Orange County open their eyes, for at 

 that time, it is a fact well-known, tliat the price of service 

 was looked at, not pedigree. 



