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HORSE SHOW AT FT. MYER To Augment Fund for Sending Team to Olympic Games. Most Horses to Be Taken Abroad Arc Thoroughbreds Their Condition Excites General Admiration. WASHINGTON, D. C, March 16. Lovers of good horses, from all over the East, filled the riding hall on the government reservation at Fort Myer on the occasion of the one-day horse show, held under the auspices of the federal authorities, on the afternoon of Saturday, March 8. The show, which was ably managed by Major C. L. Scott of the Quartermaster Corps, had a threefold purpose to augment the fund being raised by the American Remount Association by private subscriptions for the transportation of the equestrian team to represent the United States at the Olympic games in France next July ; to furnish the residents of the capital was an afternoons entertainment, and to give Major John D. Barry, the team captain of the outfit, an opportunity to show the results of his efforts in gathering and developing the material, which it is confidently expected will give a good account of itsalf abroad. The committee of the American Remount Association, which guaranteed to finance the venture if the federal authorities would grant leave of absence to the officers taking part, needed 5,000 before last Saturdays show. Major Pierre Lorillard, Jr., of Tuxedo Park, New York, who is treasurer of the committee which has for its chairman Col. R. H. Williams of New York, is head of the American Remount Association, remarked as he viewed the crowd on Saturday, "This will help materially, but we shall need more money in order to do the work right. Many sportsmen throughout the country have contributed gen-, crously in money and horses, but others who could afford to assist us have cither been indifferent or given excuses that savored of poor sportsmanship. However, the team is going abroad and ths throng shows the interest there is in the project in and near the capital." One of the most interested spectators was United States Senator James W. Wadsworth, of New York. He saw several classes judged from a close-up in the ring. Senator Wads-worth knows the value of a good horse in times of peace and war. He never loses an opportunity to raise his voice in behalf of the horse either in the committee of military afairs, of which he is chairman, or at public gatherings in his own Genesee Valley. While there was interest in each of the classes, which were run off like clock-work, that which showed the Olympic team in ac- Continued on second page. HORSE SHOW AT FT. MYER Continued, from first pace. tion over the figure eight course which will be used in France, was naturally the event of the day. Major Barry had the dozen horses stripped and led in between the earlier classes. He acquainted the spectators with the breeding wherever known and detailed the tasks for which the animals were being trained. It was a fine band of horses, most of them thoroughbred and all having some pure blood. Their condition was such as to excite the admiration of experts like Frank Bonsai, master of the Harford Hunt, who had come with a party of friends from Maryland, and Arthur Warthen, Sr., who headed a delegation from Front Royal, Va. There were no wings to the jumps, which were eight in number. The obstacles were as follows: No. 1 A hedge 4 foot JO incites, with a rail on top. No. " Wattle feneo 4 feet 9 inches. No. 15 Iost and rail 3 feet J inches. No. 4 Stone wall 4 feet i inches. No. .r Cate with stile. 4 feet i inches. No. 5 IicVet fence 4 feet G inches. No. 7 Double, over 0 feet wide, hush 4 feet high and rail 4 feet 0. inches. No. S Triple bar, 0 ft. wide and ranging up to 4 ft. 10 inches. Small bales or slivers of wood were placed on top of these obstacles and the slightest touch dislodged them. While some of the horses acted a little high and jumped with less precision than at some of their training sessions, the performances on the whole were good and a few were brilliant, notably that of the winner, I Proctor, a smashing big 16.2 hand gelding, secured from the British Remount in France. Proctor, with Major George up, made a superb showing and deserved the blue award at the hands of Major Louis Beard of the Remount Service, who was the sole judge! of the show. While Proctors breeding is unknown, he is unquestionably a thorough- bred, as he shows quality in every way. Brown Boy, a Missouri-bred gelding of un-j known lineage, ridden by Lieutenant Rob-i inett, was second. The thoroughbred gelding Tango Dance, by Seth, a grandson of Flying Fox, ridden by Captain Padgett, was third.! The benefits of having bridle paths in and around Washington was shown in the size; and quality of the pony and saddle classes. Sixteen appeared in the former, while twen-; ty-onc good horses, well ridden, competed j for honors in the class for lady saddle horses. j The blue in the ladies class was won by the three-quarter-bred chestnut mare Conestogo, by Jingo, owned ana ridden by Mrs. George, j wife of Captain George, who scored later on i with Proctor. The thoroughbreds Hunter and Allahmande were second and third respectively, with fourth place going to the half-bred Dansant. Liggett, by Fume, bred by Major August Belmont, won the popo pony class from eighteen others. It was a strong competition, but Liggett, with Lieutenant Jadwin in the saddle, scored after a superb performance. This pony was played last season by Major A. II. Wilson of West Point on the army team and he is classed as an international mount. His dam was a Texas mare of unknown breeding, but which Major Belmont said showed blood. Tho riding hall at Fort Myer is very large and there was ample room for maneuvering. Tho class aroused a lot of enthusiasm. Liggett was shown by the War Department polo team. Clifton, ridden by Major Cullum, was second and Fearless, from the War Department polo team, was third. A competition which was the cause of pardonable pride on the part of the service vas i that for the best turned out trooper. Per- I I j j i j I j i formance, condition of horse and equipment all counted. Sixteen sergeants shaved two days below the skin, clad in spotless uniforms and resplendent boots mounted on the crack horses of the reservation made a splendid appearance. Brass and nickel trimmings on bridles and saddles showed the result of long periods of industry, reflecting back the rays of the sun which streamed through the windows as the class of sixteen lined up for inspection. Major Beard had his work cut out for him and the closeness of the contest can be judged from his remark as he left the ring : "If that sergeant on the hay horse with the white face hadnt had a rip in one of his gloves, I would have given him first." As the sergeant in question was out of the ribbons further comment is unnecessary. j
