216 Lovers of the Horse 



THE CANADIAN NATIONAL HORSE SHOW ASSOCIATION 



THERE is no more jjiospcrous hody iioverning the eiK-ouragemenl of the liorse 

 on tliis continent th;in tlie Caiuulian National Horse Show Association. For 

 vears the horse shows in Toronto were hehl nnder tlie anspices of the Toronto 

 Hnnt Cluh and the Breeders" Association, while the necessity for a really anthori- 

 tative liody. with prominent men at its head, was keenly felt. 



For many years the Hunt Cluh and the Breeders' Association ran their shows 

 in conjunction with the military hody in the city, hut when the new association was 

 organized, the military end of it was practically eliminated. 



The horse breeders of Toronto decided that the spring show was held too late 

 in the season for them, so a hody known as the Ontario Breeders' Association was 

 formed for the purpose of holding stallion shows earlier in the year. 



'I'his meant the decline of the spring horse show, so the Canadian National Asso- 

 ciation was formed with the following gentlemen as cliarter members: (ieorge AV. 

 Beardmore, President: W. J. Stark. Secretary; and T. A. (iraham. Dr. Andrew Smith. 

 .1. .1. Dixon. H. ('. Cox. Hume Blake, R. A. Smith, Ednnind Bristol, Sir Henry Pellatt, 

 R J. Christie. Dr. W. A. \oung. D. D. Mann. H. C. Osborne. Cawthra' INIulock, 

 (ico. W. I'epper. .1. D. Montgomery. Stuart Houst(»n and Miss K. I>. Wilks. as directors. 



The first show of the newly organized body was held in the spring of 1907. and 

 was one of the most successful e\('r held in tiie Donnnion of Canada. After this, the 

 shows were held aiumally. each sea.son showing a big increase in the classes. 



It has done nnich to bring together the horse men of the countrv, and gives them 

 all <)[)portunity to (((mpete with owners and breeders across the line. 



Flic lirst lioiNc shows ever held in i'oionto were conducted in the old roller rink 

 on Shaw Street, and for several years afterwards under canvas on the old Cpper Can- 

 ada College gr<»unds at the corner of King and Simcoe Streets, but this place was soon 

 outgrown, and othei" (juarters becnme necessarv. 



'I"he idea was taken u|) willi the militia of Toronto, and it was decided to hold 

 future horse shows at th<' Armouries. 



At first it was purely a horse show, but later the militia decided to hold their an- 

 mial tournaments in comieetiou with the affair. 'Fhis lasted for five or six vears. when 

 an arena was arranged for in the old St. Lawrence Market building on King Street 

 P^ast. 'I his w;is found to l)e niucli more central than the Armouries, and the shows 

 iiiclu<litig the S|)ring Stallion .*^liow. are held there aunualb. 



It is proi)al)le that the .\ssociation will erect a building of its own in the near 

 future, as the arena at the old market building has outgrown its usefidness. 



The A.s.sociation is a very important factor in the development of Toronto's icpu- 

 tatiou in the horse world, for it is thi-ough the A.ssociatioii that 'I'orouto is enabled to 

 hold her own against the larger lireeders of the other side. 



Many of the horses shown in the (^ueen City are sold to .Vmericans for big prices, 

 thus making the show a profitable commercial enterprise for breeders and exhibitors. 



