CHAPTER XVI 



HORSE SHOWS AND THEIR CONTROVERSIES 



LONG before the National Horse Show Association 

 was founded in 1885, there were arena competitions 

 for prizes, and he who made the awards had to have 

 knowledge of form, as well as action. In the small 

 ring speed could not be satisfactorily tested under 

 the watch, and the trained eye was the sole reliance. 

 The verdict was not reached until form, as well as 

 action, had been analyzed, and this verdict gave rise 

 to many heartburnings. At the great St. Louis 

 Fair, at State Fairs in Maine, Massachusetts, Ver- 

 mont, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, and elsewhere, 

 horses passed in review before me, and I handed out 

 blue, red, yellow, and white rosettes with a feeling 

 that, although I had tried to be just to all, I prob- 

 ably had failed to render unto each what he was 

 entitled to. The conscientious judge does not regard 

 himself as infallible, and therefore does not com- 

 plain of fair and intelligent criticism. Notwith- 

 standing the upbuilding influence of arena competi- 

 tions at agricultural fairs, there was a growing ten- 

 dency to sacrifice everything to the speed standard. 

 Trotting tracks multiplied to such a degree that re- 

 sistance to this tendency seemed wellnigh hopeless. 

 The National Horse Show was a financial failure 



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