HORSE SHOWS. 81 



HORSE SHOWS. 



The large attendance as well as the number of ex- 

 hibitors at the recent horse show at Madison Squai'e 

 Garden proved conclusivelj" ^e great interest the 

 American public takes in the horse of every descrip- 

 tion. If the annual show is run as it ought to be, in a 

 fair and impartial manner, it will conduce more than 

 anything else not only to enlighten but to create a cer- 

 tain amount of hbnest and healthy rivalry among the 

 owners and lovers of this most useful animal to own 

 and breed the best. 



There were, unfortunately, good reasons for the dis- 

 satisfaction shown not only by the public but by the 

 exhibitors themselves in several classes. I do not in- 

 tend to go into all details respecting the judging, but 

 may mention one or two cases which I particularly no- 

 ticed as being wrong to the exhibitors, showing lack 

 of knowledge on the part of the judges or perhaps dis- 

 criminating favors. The first point to consider before 

 criticising or condemning is whether the judges were 

 competent to fulfill the duties imposed upon them. If 

 not, the blame falls on those who selected them to fill 



