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WOULD ELIMINATE GELDING . St. Louisan Advocates More Natural Life for Horses Communicates With Breeders of Horses. LEXINGTON, Ky., March 31. Breeders of thoroughbred horses in Kentucky have received a unique letter from Edward H. Miller, 4642 Moraine Avenue, St. Louis, Mo., which is certain to draw, from trainers particularly, some remarks that might appropriately be catalogued under the designation "expletives." The letter follows: "I am trying to get owners of farms and breeders of horses interested in the elimination of geldings, also in giving the horses more natural living conditions. They are entitled to the same consideration as we are. Life is a gift to both us and them, and it should be made as full, enjoyable, healthy, free and strong as possible for both. "You would not geld your son! Why then should you, or anyone, geld the son of your true friend, the horse? It is a dirty deal, and no one gains by it. If one can have patience with the strongly naturally wild and free spirit of his strong young son, he can do the same for the young colt, and both will naturally be more spirited, healthy, strong and happy for it. Why make life maimed and sorry? It seems to me that any man would have to degrade himself to a grossly apathetic or fiendish attitude before he would be able to allow or perform such a deed as gelding. "And would not all be better and happier at the farm and elsewhere if about the same number of males and females would be pastured together and allowed to live more naturally and freely, as they did in primitive nature, before man captured them? "I ask that you give this matter your true thought and decision and help along by interesting others. Why not all colts, instead of some geldings, and more natural living conditions for all horses? And why should we jail wild animals in zoos, canary birds in cages, etc., etc." The most sedate comment heard at Lexington concerning the foregoing was: "The well meaning man is evidently uninformed." Another was: "What a hell of a mess one would make of pasturing male and female thoroughbreds together after they are yearlings? How would anybodyknow the parentage of the foals of the survivors? Such knowledge is essential before registration, and registration is necessary before racing." Castration is a part of the veterinary practice, so the he men of that profession in the Blue Grass region, knowing as they do, the frequent necessity for their services in this respect, were unhesitant in expressing their thoughts with a smile. Some said "balmy" would be the word, but another suggested "nutty" as more befitting, and they adopted that. Meanwhile it is news that ten yearlings were castrated at Le Mar Stock Farm, March 23, and trainer Harry Hart and superintendent James M. Forsythe report them "healthy and happy."
