Existing comment:
Saddles, Stables, & Stallions:
Ulysses' dream of developing White Haven and breeding horses began taking shape after he acquired the property in 1866. One of the first steps toward realizing that dream included changing the fields from cash crops to pastures planted with timothy (hay) and clover. He then fenced in the estate, improved and expanded the orchards, and stocked the farm with cattle, hogs, and, of course, horses. Grant shipped Thoroughbred and Morgan stallions and mares from Washington DC to the farm and wrote detailed instructions to his caretaker about breeding and improvement of the bloodlines.
"Have all three of my mares put to a blooded horse... If [my horse] Legal Tender is standing I think it would be well to try him... I have two colts here, one of which I hope to raise for a stallion to put on my farm."
-- Ulysses Grant, to William Elrod, April 28, 1868 |