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Show IMPROVEMENT OF THE HORSE One of Best Methods to Encourage Interest In-terest Is Organization of "Colt Shows" In Fall. (By W. H. TOMSHAVE.) Nearly every person, whether living I In the city, village or country, takes more or less interest in the horse. It is easy to get an audience when It comes to studying horses, be it at a county fair, farmers' institute, or livestock live-stock meeting of any kind. We all have our favorites among the horses in a community, and are always ready to express our opinion as to the merits and demerits of the individuals. Such interest should be encouraged In every community, and one of the best ways of doing it is to hold "colt shows" during the fall and winter months. In the state of Iowa, a number num-ber of these shows have been held during the past few years; and they have done much to improve the horses in the state. In planning these shows, the first step is to solicit, among the farmers, stallion owners and business men, for prizes that are to be awarded. These need not be in the form of money, but may be merchandise, machinery, or live stock of some kind. After the prizes have been assured it will be -necessary to advertise the show and appoint a committee, who should make a personal canvass of the community, com-munity, to encourage the owners of colts to bring them out for the contest. con-test. Proper classification should be made; so that all colts, such as draft and light colts, will not be shown In the same class. Also, have pure-bred and grades shown In separate classes. If possible, it Is a good plan to have the colts from each township show in separate classes, and the first prize winners come together as champions of the show. The colt shows may be held In connection con-nection with local market days, or live stock meetings of some kind. Outside Out-side uninterested parties should be secured to do the judging; and they should in each case give reasons for placing the colts. After the judging is done, practical talks on horse breeding, breed-ing, by local men and those secured to do the judging, should be given. Colt shows of this kind will also do much to advertise the stallions in a community. One of the best ways of Judging the value of a stallion Is by the crop of colts which he has sired. |