ORIGINAL S'l'OCK. 95 



rivers, which was early settled by the French, the Norman, or 

 better known, the French horse, was the first introduced. By 

 long neglecting that judicious course of breedhig which is a sure 

 guarantee for the perfection of this noble animal, they have 

 degenerated into a most miserable form, and lost the type of his 

 ancient prototype— though in truth may it be said, that he yet 

 possesses wonderful powers of endurance on scanty fare— and 

 have proved themselves superior to our English horses, for jour- 

 neying across our plains to the Pacific. High grooming adds but 

 little to their qualities, while with the better bred hoi'se it is all- 

 important, and nine times in ten proper fitting and training wdns 

 the race. It is desirable that some skilful hand should yet 

 awake from his Kip Yan Winkle sleep, and cause this breed of 

 horses to take a more prominent position in the family of his 

 kind. They are well adapted for most kinds of farm work, and 

 possess the advantages of thorough acclimatizing, longevity, 

 soundness of limb, and docility ; they are, however, below the 

 medium size, wanting of action and of that gay appearance 

 which fills the eye of the connoisseur. They may be emphatically 

 termed the poor man's horse, and are hence, if hence only, a 

 desirable family. 



Our best breed of horses in this county formerly came from 

 the Middle and Eastern States. Occasionally can be met one 

 that shows his breeding from Messenger all over. They are, 

 however, rare ; we almost reverence such an animal. The tales 

 of our father, now no more, instinctively rushes in memory, con- 

 cerning his faithful and enduring Messenger, while a soldier in 

 his country' service. Never will our hand forget to imitate his 

 example, in showing kind and gentle treatment to this noble 

 animal. The Messenger stock has indelibly stamped its excel- 

 lence on most of our first-class horses ; though we have none 

 here that can show their pedigree with certainty. Our county 

 also, previous to the introduction of the blood horses owned 

 by Mr. Andrews, struck out of the list of premiums this class, 

 simply from the fact that none could show reliable pedigrees. 

 Moreover, the animal's appearance, when exhibited, belied the 

 thoroughbred parentage claimed by his owner. Thus it will be 

 seen that our horses are of no known parentage ; yet we have 

 many good horses, and some of them have shown speed. " Frank 



