CHAPTER XIV 

 SHOWING ABROAD 



"If once we efface the joys of the chase 

 From the land and oujtroot the stud; 

 Good-bye to the Anglo-Saxon race, 

 Farewell to the Norman blood." 



— Gordon. 



For the benefit of those exhibitors who have won 

 over here and have become enthusiastic enough to 

 wish to embark upon foreign shows, as well as for the 

 benefit of those persons expecting to import English 

 or Irish show horses, a few words as to how shows are 

 conducted over there may not come amiss. 



To begin with, don't be carried away with the idea 

 that because your saddle horse has won at Madison 

 Square Garden, he is therefore capable of winning at 

 Olympia or at Royal Richmond. If he isn't a thor- 

 oughbred — or very nearly so — if he at all resembles a 

 Kentucky horse — or is a wee bit peacocky and har- 

 nessy, even though he may have won at every show in 

 the whole of the United States, over there he will get 

 nothing better than the gate. The judges, as well as 

 the audience, will merely smile at the sight of him, and 

 mildly wonder where you left the carriage and harness 

 that belong to him.* 



Presuming that your horse is a thoroughbred, re- 

 member that you will have to compete against three 

 or four times the number of horses that you meet over 



* There are, of course, classes for cobs and weight-carrying horses. 

 Cobs are chunky little horses of more or less harnessy type, but totally 

 different from our Kentucky or trotting type of saddler. They are 

 intended rather for the use of a fat gentleman than for show purposes. 



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