THE HORSES OF TO-DAY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10703, 9 July 1900, Page 6

THE HORSES OF TO-DAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS,

Sir, —I notice that tho Government propose to legislate on the breeding of horses, and, in my humble opinion, not before the time. Any persons looking through the last shipment to Africa could not help remarking what an uneven lot, and lacking in constitution and quality, the most of them were." The fact is, the old breed of hacks we used to have is now becoming extinct. Where now are the horses that would stand long journeys, only fed and tethered cm tussock. Tlie constitution and endurance is ]<>st to a great extent, partly owing, I am afraid, to the importation of the trotters;the bulk of the latter are bad legged, misshapen animals. All very well for a seven or ten mile run, but no good for a distance. In addition to this, the importation has encouraged a class of gambling youths as well as loafers about the streets and publichouses, who probably have brains that would be turned to a more useful account, but know very little about a horse except as a betting machine. These trotting horses should be weeded out and taxed, and sires especially selected for stamina and good Hat bunc encouraged. The style of horse with the old Coco pony blood in it, would stand any amount of work in Africa. Many of the halfbred Arabs were good on hill country, and good stayers on a journey, though often not handsome. Trusting that these few words may provoke a discussion that may benefit horse breeding.—Yours, etc., OLD STAGER.