OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 119 
A HORSEMAN WHO RODE IN FLANDERS FIELDS 
42. One of the pioneer supporters of purebred livestock in 
Indiana and perhaps her most important promoter of draft 
horses, is JAMES CroucH of Lafayette, Indiana. Mr. Croucu 
is of English birth, and came to this country with his parents 
in childhood. They early settled in the state of Indiana and 
Mr. Croucy became identified with the group of breeders of 
purebred livestock that centered around the little town of Lafay- 
ette. In 1888 he made his first importation of Belgian horses, 
but his sales were small for several years. The stallions were 
mated to the rather gangling first cross Percheron mares that 
occurred so frequently in his vicinity, with very excellent effect 
on the conformation and draftiness of the resulting colts. The 
efforts of the Belgian government about this time to subsidize 
draft breeding and to build up their native stock, forced Mr. 
CroucH to pay higher prices than the demand for the breed in 
America had hitherto warranted. This seriously hampered his 
work for a number of years, but he never faltered in his sup- 
port of the breed of his choice. In the showyards of the 90’s 
his exhibits made considerable headway in winning popularity 
for this type of horse. When his son GeorcE became a partner 
in the business, Percherons and German Coachers were added, 
and later other stock, but the elder Mr. CroucH has always 
maintained his loyalty to the breed he originally chose. 
Practically all the Belgian championships of the International 
in the early years were won by this firm and such animals as 
Richelieu and Mon Gros have wielded a broad and substantial 
influence in breed betterment. In 1912, 1913 and 1916 he 
showed a six horse team in which Belgians shared the honors 
with Percherons, and first prize on this hitch was received in 
1912 and 1916. About 1912 he and his son extended their 
interests to Herefords and their herd has been prominent at the 
Ohio Valley shows and the International. Many of the best 
