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ABOUT THE QUARTER-HORSE Research Shows These Sprinters 1 to Have Been a Distinct Breed. "Writer In Breeders Gazette Outlines nistory of the Type from Early Colonial Days to Present Time. The story of the quarter-horse is interestingly . told by William Anson, in an article ; which originally appeared in The Breeders i Gazette and is here reprinted from the January issue of The Remount: My conclusions, drawn from the little research work that I have engaged in, are that the quarter-horse was a distinct breed in early colonial days, prior to the time when the English thoroughbred could have had much influence on colonial horse breeding. I am aware that this point of view is not regarded with favor in certain quarters. It is not a matter of personal opinion; it is formed on the authority of statements to be found principally in Wallaces "Horse of America," Frank Forresters "Horse of America," by Herbert, and Edgars Stud Boole PROOF OF BREEDS EXISTENCE. Facts, as stated in these works, furnish proof that in colonial days there existed a breed of horses called "quarter-of-a-mile running horses." We know that the abbreviated name quarter-horse, originating in Virginia and the Carolinas, drifted through Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois and across the Mississippi river, and was brought to Texas, with specimens of the breed itself, by early settlers. The description of the colonial quarter-horse applies to the quarter-horse as we find him today. The following passage, read many years . ago and quoted in full, from Wallace, induced further investigation : "J. F. D. Smith made an extensive tour of the colonies, especially of Virginia, before the Revolutionary War. In speaking of quarter racing he says : In the southern part of the colony and in North Carolina they are much attached to quarter racing which is always a match between two horses to run a quarter of a mile, straight out, being merely an exertion of speed ; and they have a breed I wish to call special attention to this positive statement that performs it with astonishing velocity, beating every other for that d;s-tance witli great ease, but they have no bottom. However, neither in England, nor perhaps in the whole world, I am confident that there is a horse that can excel them In rapid speed. " OTHER REFERENCES. In Frank Forresters "Horse of America" there are numerous interesting references to the quarter-horse. The most conclusive proof of what they are, and the influence that the quarter-horse must have had on the early American race horse, is tc be found in Edgars Stud Book, only one volume of which was completed. There is possibly a good reason why it was not carried on. It is rare, and few copies seem to be in existence. On the title page we find the following passage: "Containing the pedigrees of the most celebrated horses, mares and geldings that have distinguished themselves as racers on the American turf from one-quarter of a mile up and from which have descended the most valuable blooded stock at present in the united States." This was about the year 1S32. In this old and original stud book, with its quaint wording, we find more than forty horses and mares specifically described as "celebrated or famous American quarter-running horse, or mare." In several instances there is a full description of size, conformation and interesting accounts of races won. This of itself might not substantiate the claim that the original American race horse was in any way indebted to these old quarter-horses. Bruce whether he used Edgars Stud Book or not Inserted thirty-six horses or mares, described in Edgars stud book as quarter-horses, but with the exception of two failing to credit them with the said prefix, "C. A. Q R Horse or Mare." Bruce assuredly did not insert any animals in his earlier volumes without good reason or reasonable assurance that the then : existing families of American race horses " such as could not show authenticated pedi- : .pees had some of the blood of these horses 1 in their veins. I have known several old race horsemen in Texas who were personally acquainted with Bruce. I have heard them say that he himself was an ardent admirer of the quarter-horse. In taking up the question of quarter-horses tracing back to imported horses, the quarter- 1 horse always has been and always will be a 1 composite breed, with a mixture of thorough- : bred blood. In early days, however, the only 1 imported horse which seems to have had much influence on the breed was a horse 1 called Janus. From all accounts, and the ! number of Januses which appear in old pedi- . grees, he must have been nearly as prolific " as our old Texas Steeldust, undoubtedly the most prolific horse that ever stood on four j legs. Janus, while imported, was not in the Eng- i lish stud book, and his pedigree was never authenticated. Herbert says that he was sup- t posed to be a certain Old Janus, tracing i back, of course, to the Godolphin Arabian; his dam was only "reputed to be." His im- mediate progeny was only good for short- i distance racing. I have found six horses by the name of Janus in Bruces Stud Book. l Sidney Herbert, in volume I, page 144, : says: "Janus produced the fleetest then, and l since, known as quarter-horses." It is known that long-distance racing be- r came more popular and fashionable as years l went by. Knowing human nature, it is not j hard to realize how pedigrees tracing to imported horses would be more thought of t than those showing evidence of this quarter- j horse blood. Had I been diligent enough to record all I have been told,. I could give s yards of pedigrees of Texas quarter-horses. j I have heard a dozen different accounts of r Steeldust from men who knew him, all differ- c ing except in one particular, and there is little doubt that he came from southern Illi- t nois, the home of many well-known "short" r, a horses. My own stallion, Harmon Baker, very i successful in his younger days in quarter- t mile and three-eighths races, and most sue- i cessful as a sire, came from the same lo- i cality. i On pnge 12S, Frank Forrester, volume I. c the writer, in questioning the statement that r before the importation of Fcarnaught about ! i " j i t i i l : l r l j t j s j r c t r, a i t i i i c r i 1764 there was little beyond quarter racing in Virginia, goes on to say, "It is only to be understood in the case of second-rate lacers that quarter-running was in vogue at this period.". J have quoted enough to prove the existence of the quarter-horse as such in the colonies. Wo claim that men acquainted with the quarter-horse as he is today find that he has retained the distinctive qualities which he possessed in early days, and that, when bred, he stamps his individuality on his offspring, as a quarter-horse, no matter what he is bred to ; in spite of the fact that he has been denied the privilege of a stud book to guarantee his parentage. He has indisputably been bred for type, perhaps more than for pedigree. I should like to say a word of appreciation for the good work of the Remount Department. It is impossible to overestimate how much this move is affecting the intelligent breeding of riding horses. The liberal and sane methods employed, up-to-date and reasonable, will have a wonderful influence on the American riding horse of the future. Speaking for myself, I can only say that through this means I now have the use of stallion to continue my breeding operations in which I have been engaged for more than twenty years a horse which I could not find myself, though I had been searching and inquiring for some time for such an animal. This is only one of many instances, and its effect has been not only to supply many needed stallions but to put life into an industry which was nearly defunct.
