134 MY horse; my love. 



own eyes when I read the little pamphlet which told 

 of this remarkable distribution of honors and awards. 



"But, madam, there is but one horse in America 

 which approaches a type, and that is the 'Standard- 

 bred. ' " 



And how does the term come? 



" It is entirely arbitrary. No American horse can 

 be entered at the Columbian Exposition unless he 

 be 'Standard-bred' according to the register, and for 

 the privilege of entry his owner must pay so much." 



Is there not strong indignation at this injustice to 

 other classes? 



" Undoubtedly, and praiseworthy efforts are being 

 made by horsemen to change a rule 'better honored 

 in the breach than in the observance. ' " 



What is the real meaning of the term " Standard- 

 bred?" 



" It means that the only excellence in the horse 

 considered necessary is speed at an established 

 rate. If he can trot in 2 :^o he is entitled to be con- 

 sidered 'Standard-bred,' or, if having been gambled 

 in races, he has beaten some other horse, he may 

 aspire to the dubious distinction." 



Then it describes no type; it belongs to no family; 

 it can prove no ancestry? 



"What you say is all true, madam." 



Well, one might as well say a cow is "Standard- 

 bred," when she gives fifteen quarts of milk a day, 

 and is not so when she fails to give so much. Or, 

 that a dog is no setter unless he makes so many 

 points an hour. The name must include many 

 horses that are not desirable, and exclude many 



