A Visit to Ghesney Farm 



By OBSERVER 



4 4 W T HAT sort of a place is it?" one asks when told 

 Y Y that at Mr. O. W. Lehmann's Chesney Farm 

 as many as 4,000 people have attended a one- 

 day horse show and plowing match. And as may be 

 judged from this statement, it is a most unusual place, 

 and well worth visiting. For I was not prepared for what 

 I saw there, any more than you would be were you to 

 visit this wonderful estate. ■ 



Situated in Lake County, five miles from the Wisconsin 

 state line, 50 miles out of Chicago, Chesney Farms com- 

 prise some 640 acres of choice farm land in this garden 

 spot of Illinois. Here Mr. Lehmann raises his own feed, 

 hay, oats and corn, there being about 6,000 bushels of oats, 

 600 tons of hay harvested last year, and approximately 

 150 acres in corn. 



Chesney Farms have long been famous for Belgian 

 horses, American saddle bred horses, hackneys and thor- 

 oughbreds. Lately a kennel of airedales has added to the 

 renown of Chesney Farms — all of the dogs being champion 

 animals. The Chesney Kennels are well known today 

 in the dog world to thousands of lovers of fine dogs. 



At present the buildings at Chesney Farm are under- 

 going complete reorganization. A magnificent riding 

 school is completed, housing what is probably the largest 

 private ring in the country. This ring, more than 200 feet 

 long and 70 feet wide, is in direct connection with 30 box 

 stalls. The total number of buildings includes four stables, 

 one of driving horses, one of saddle horses, one thorough- 

 breds and jumpers and one of brood mares. All told there 

 are about 160 head on Chesney Farms. In the collection 

 of brood mares the aim of Mr. Lehmann has been to have 

 desirable conformation combined with the breeding mated 

 with sires of correspondingly good conformation and breed- 

 ing. The object of course being to obtain the breeding of 

 saddle horses for the show ring. This not only applies to 

 saddle horses but to thoroughbreds and hackneys as well. 



"Garrard Hunt," an Intensely Bred Denmark- 

 American Saddle Bred Stallion, Leading Sire 

 of The Chesney Farm, Lake Villa, III. 



Everything bought for Chesney Farms is purchased with 

 the idea of successful breeding in view. 



Chesney Farms is ideally located and magnificently 

 equipped. It has its own pumping plant and maintains 

 elaborate blacksmith shops. It breeds most of the horses 

 shown by the farm in the prize ring. It now has a stud 

 of seven stallions headed by "Garrard Hunt," an intensely 

 bred Denmark. 



It is Mr. Lehmann's plan to have a local horse show at 

 Chesney Farms next October with Chicago entries; no 

 mean ambition for a Lake County farm, we should say, but 

 those who know Mr. Lehmann realize he will get away 

 with it. This year, with an attendance of more than 

 4,000, there were over a half dozen outside entries. Chesney 

 Farms comprise the largest breeding establishment in Lake 

 County, and Lake County, be it known, has more brood 

 mares than any state in the Union. That, we think, is 

 some record. What do you think? 



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