THE CLYDESDALE'S FUTURE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1148, 8 June 1911, Page 8

THE CLYDESDALE'S FUTURE.

THE SOUTH ISLAND MOVEMENT. Among thosa who have given their approval to the Otago movement which has resulted in the formation of a Clydesdale Horse Society nro the following North Island breeders:—Messrs. If. D. P. M'loan (Maraekakaho, Hawke's Bay), J. W. Harding (Jit. Vernon, AVaipukurau), and E. Short (I'nrorangi, Waituna West). The chairman of tho meeting (Mr. J. A. Johnstone) suggested that the lines of th 6 Clydesdale Horse Society of Great Britain and Ireland should tie followed. The lines'were:—(l)-To maintain, unimpaired the purity of Clydesdale horses in the Homeland. (2) To collect and publish tho pedigrees of stud hoTses, and establish a proper Clydesdale Stud Book. (3) To promote tho general interests of the breeders and owners. (4) To inspect suspicious and doubtful pedigrees and other alleged misrepresentation. (5) To arbitrato and settle disputes among breeders. (C) To mako by-laws for' regulating the proceedings and conducting the business of tho society. (7) To raise and manage funds, and generally to do all things conducive to the attainment of tho above objects. Mr. Johnstone, speaking as a' business man, said that it was impossible for him to ignore the fact that the name of their New Zealand Clydesdales had suffered, to some extent of late owing to tho class of stock that many of their exporters had been taking to the Commonwealth. A good number of the horses shipped from here had been of such a kind as would do New Zealand no credit, and they ought to set their faces against this sort of thing. Such a society as this would bo invaluable in tho way of setting up and maintaining a high standard and watching very jealously to seo that none but really worthy, representatives of, the breed wero allowed to leave our shores. Another matter that should be taken seriously in hand was the question of stud horse inspection, both as regards stallions and mares. Their neighbours in Victoria initiated in 1907 a system of Government inspection of stallions, and from a "report recently issued he learned that up to the beginning of last month IUS3 horses had boon inspected, comprising 1856 draughts, 930 light horses, and 697 ponies. Out of that number certificates wero granted to 2575, the remaining 908 being refused registration, or, iu other words, rather over 2G per cent, wore rejected. Half of these rejections wero accounted for by failure to reach the required standarll through lack of general character, conformation, or breeding, while tho remainder were duo to hereditary defects. Close on 20 per cent, were put out on account of sidebone. about 2| per cent, for ringbone, less than J por cent, for bono spavin, rather moro than 1 per cent, for hog spavin and thoroughpin, whereas tho rejections for curb, roaring, and shivering were infinitesimal and not worth quoting. The total rejections for unsoundness averaged 21 per cent., and the number refused registration for being

below tho standard of the type was just 7.j per cent. In New Zealand they had adopted 110 measuro of this kind, but tho figures he had given showed how greatly' tho breeding from unsound stock would ho curtailed if a similar system were in vogue here, and their stock would undoubtedly benefit very largely. Sooner or later it would come homo to them, as it did to Scotland, that their outside markets would close their doors to them unless they complied with their requirements in respect to the supply of certified pedigrees rind certificates of soundness with all the stock shipped. During the discussion several breeders 'stated (according to tho "Otago Daily Times" report) that they fully realised they could only hope to retain their hold on tho Australian markets and to jrain an entrance into other markets, such" as the Canadian and the Argentine, by maintaining the purity of .tho breed.