79 



The number of Horses entered this year, was much larger than 

 at the last Fair, and your Committee trust that this is evidence of 

 an increasing interest among the breeders and owners of horses 

 throughout the county, as the most distant toAvns were nearly all 

 represented. Believing that the display of horses upon the 

 " track " is by far the most attractive portion of the programme 

 offered by the Society to the majority of persons attending, 

 your Committee recommend that, in future, more time be alloAved 

 for this part of the exhibition. And in this connection, the ne- 

 cessity of awarding premiums for trotting horses presents itself 

 vei'v forcibly to the minds of the Committee, knowing that the 

 " trials of speed" are a large source of pecuniary benefit to the 

 Society. To do this fairly, and in a manner perfectly satisfactory, 

 all persons entering trotting horses should be obliged to pay a 

 fixed sum as entrance money ; this, we think, will give general 

 satisfaction to the owners. The same rule will apply to matched 

 horses, several owners having expressed some surprise at being 

 allowed to compete for premiums without charge. 



In deciding upon the merits of the Thorough Breds, the Com- 

 mittee have endeavored to discharge their duty in a fair and 

 impartial manner. They regret that they were unable to aAvard 

 any premium to Mr. Luke Hammond for his magnificent stallion 

 " Sultan." After a long discussion, it was decided that no stal- 

 lion, however excellent in himself, was entitled to a premium, 

 unless he had proved himself a good stock getter. As the owner 

 could not produce or name any of his colts in this vicinity ; and 

 furthermore, learning from reliable sources that quite a number 

 of persons had paid for the service of the horse and received no 

 return for their money, the Committee felt constraiued to withhold 

 a premmm from otherwise so splendid an animal. 



In the class " Horses of all work," the Committee particularly 

 recommend to the breeders of this county the Morgan stallion 

 '' Royal Defiance," he having proved himself a stock getter of the 

 first order. This horse was entered only for exhibitinu, having 

 previously taken the Society's highest premiums, and by refer- 

 ence to the list we find his colts in their respective classes took 

 the first premium as Four, Three and Two Year Olds Colts. 



We should have been pleased to have seen more Farm or Draft 

 Horses, there being but one entry of that class. 



Before concluding this Repoi-t, your Committee would further 

 suggest that the duties of your Committee on horses are onerous in 

 the extreme, and the short time allowed for their discharge renders 

 it quite impossible for them to do justice to all parties who contribute 

 to this part of the exhibition. There Avere on exhibition at our 

 late Fair some one hundred and twenty-five horses of all descrip- 

 tions, and the time allowed for the examination of each horse could 



