HORSES FROM BRITAIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 9, 22 October 1941, Page 8

HORSES FROM BRITAIN.

EXPORT OF 100 IN SIX MONTHS. Exactly 100 horses were granted export certificates for shipment overseas from Britain in the first six months , of ; this year. They went to Argentina, the Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Can : ada,. Federated Malay States, South Africa and the United States. Thoroughbred stallions, mares and geldings numbered 69, and there were 11 polo ponies, six hunters, five Cleveland Bays, four hackney ponies, two Clydesdales, an Arab stallion and two other horses. Only 16 of the thoroughbreds are geldings, and will be used solely for racing. The 53 stallions and mares will infuse fresh strains of British blood, recognised to be the best in the world, into overseas stud farms. This will also be the main use of the Arabs and Cleveland bays. Arab blood, the English strains of which compare favourably, with that produced in the original home of the breed, transmits to half-bred stock its own qualities of soundness, endurance, courage and beauty of form. The Cleveland Bay breed, descended from the old English

packhorse, has great stamina and robustness, and is valuable for grossing with the thoroughbred to produce the best type of hunter. The hacking ponies and hunters, sent to the‘United States, are geldings, but nine of the polo ponies, which have all gone to the Bahamas, are breeders. They combine the quality and speed of the thoroughbred with the courage and docility of the Arab and the hardiness of the native English pony. The two Clydesdale'geldings are of interest as the only representatives of British heavy draught horses.