HORSES. 189 



more than his neighbor's liorse, and whether it came of some- 

 body's careful training or of the native power and noble willing- 

 ness of the horse has not been a subject of inquiry. Neither 

 has anything come out of such exhibitions that would help a 

 young farmer or teamster to select the most suitable style of 

 horse to do his work, or give him any hints on managing such 

 a horse as might fall into his hands. To this desirable end we 

 think this public exhibition should tend, and we have endeavored 

 to draw from the exhibitors such facts as were likely to bear in 

 that direction, and present them instead of our own opinions. 

 But the exhibitors had not expected to be questioned, and but 

 little was gained in that direction. Every one knows that the 

 pains now taken to develop muscular power, and other really 

 profitable qualities in farm and team horses, is far exceeded by 

 the efforts to secure the highest speed. Why this should be in a 

 community so largely made up of people who are dependent on 

 animal power, and not on speed, for their support and comfort, 

 is not easily explained. 



It would seem that men who, in erecting buildings or in other 

 enterprises, show so much shrewdness and provide so wisely to 

 secure economy and comfort and durability, would have more 

 regard than we are wont to see to the proper development of 

 the same useful qualities and conditions in the horse. Who has 

 not seen, here and there, a horse of thirty years old or more, 

 sound and kind, and learned that one owner had been his 

 master, and had made him what he was by care and training ! 

 And who has not noticed with surprise, and pity also, the great 

 proportion of unsound, balky or otherwise unprofitable creatures, 

 made so from ignorance or carelessness ! But at present we are 

 not disposed to discourage the development of speed. But we 

 do say that equal inducements should be offered to encourage 

 the development of good working power ; that the greater good 

 s'aould not be sacrificed to the less. In this way only will this 

 part of our agricultural interest keep its proper position. 



At the trial just made we found that two of the three horses 

 entered were entered last year, and took, one the first and the 

 other the second premium then. The former rule of the society 

 would not have allowed them to compete for the same premium 

 again. The new rule does allow it, and it were reasonable to 

 expect that the same result would be reached again. But your 



