ETIRE HORSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1796, 24 April 1886, Page 13

ETIRE HORSES.

Tbu necessity for legislative measures to control the keeping and use of entire horses, for *tud purposes has been prominently under notice of breeders in the Australian Colonies during Hie last 12 months. An agitation to attain tho object lias gradually acquired force, and in New South Willed several of the most influential agricultural societies have strongly supported the proposal. The subject has been brought under notice of the Government, and it is expected the result will be the addition of ceitaiii clauses to the Diseases in Stock Act, as all that i>s sought for at present is the menus of preventing tho use of sires affected with hereditary uusoundnefch. In Victoria and Queensland the matter lias been fully discussed, and there appears to he a, concensus of opinion iv favour nf ht- ms b< ing In ken to stay an ovil <,\hich lv's a'ueidy iudicif '. much harm. Impartially oouMd.rtd. Witt, •< i--, ohvious incousislenoy in rassi .s^, '„i-,., i" ;. ■•vent the iiiticductiou of stock dis»e;. *>•;■> «hi'o no means have hi-.e.i adopttd to fetay the perpetuation of those which already ;)i-ov«ii, ami ii-iiquently in aggravated forms. Very few persons yivethe matter much thought, and thcrutore the amount of mischief which lnii&t result from the vise of an hereditarily unbound hor.se is seldom fully estimated. Generation after generation of the progeny inherit and transmit the impcrfectioM, ami thus involve breeders in continuous \« ' disappointment. It may bo contended t'..j. ..w evils aie more fancied than real — that i> • :■ i of tho caution and judgment exerci.s;;t! !.\ timers of mures, aound sires only aro pawoni'ioel. Admitting that this is to some extent correct, it may still bo pertinently asked. What proportion of the immense number of breeders have tho qualifications which would en o V>le iln-ni to dt-ttjcfc many forms of unsoundnc&s which prevail amonghom*s? At one of the principal horse; show* held LiMy in England, and where il was reqi'Mcu that the animals entered should bear inspection by competent veterinary surgeons, it transpired that in one class more limn half tho entires were disqualified for unsouiiduo.ss, and Therefore forbidden admission into the judging ring, From this we may fairly conclude that when judges specially selected to decide on the merits of horses co far as shape.-., action, kc, ku. aro concerned require nrofe.-sioiial help (o dei'rmine soundness, tho average breeder*, rtquiic protection. Ib may be at the same time conceded that in many districts of the Colony the known cost or valao of the biies and charge for service are guarantees ; but even iv localities where such animals abound, owners of iuforirr horses by charging small foes can always reckon on a good list. In remote districts matters are commonly won-e, and therefore, p.li the circumstances considered, ifcisnotsurpiising that a considerable purcentngc of t unnound young horses is tj Le mot with, while weedj' wretches everywhere abound. The proposed remedial measures — tho inspection of all sires at certain interv.iU of liiaioby competent authorities, who would t'rivnt certificates, and tae infliction of penulliiij on owners who failed to comply with tho law— will deservo the attention ol members of .\;;ri"u!t"ral suciatias, aud tlio whole: quot-tici sOukiM im c maidorod and dic-cusbs lat runnings u'uirjj z winter. Should the societies affirm the neee&-

sity for the measures suggested, tho repre* sentativea of the country districts in. Parliament would experience no difficulty in having effective clauses added to the Diseases in Stock Act, and most i,«rtaijily the. list of sires s-hould be thoroughly purged between this and next season. It should be impressed on the members of the associations that afresh impetus has been given to horse-breeding, and that assistance is expected of them so far as is in their pov\er to make the new departure on irreproachable lines. The magnitude of the interests involved are scarcely yet appreciated. The comparatively recent but growing export trad© in horses indicates sufHeieutly what may be achieved in the future if breeders will but adhere to correct principles. Last year 3022 horses were exported, valued at £75,700, »* against 2347, valued at £56,789 in ] 884— an increase in number of 675 horses and in total valuo £18,911 for the past 12 months. The following abstract of the new law in force iv France providing for the oversight of stallions may prove suggestive of the measures which should be adopted in the Colony : —

Article 1. A stallion that is neither approved nor authorised by the administration of the haras (officials conducting the Government breeding stables) cannot be used to serve mares belonging to others than his owners without being furnished with a certificate showing that ho neither has the heaves nor a periodic discharge. Article 2. This certificate (good for one year) shall be furnished free after examination of tha stallion by a commission appointed by the Minister of Agriculture. Article 3. Every stallion used for service that may be approved, authorised, or furnished with a certificate as aforesaid shall be branded under the mane. In caso the approval, authorisation, or certificate is revoked, the letter R shall be branded in the same way above the former mark.

Article 4. In case of violation of this law, the owner and the manager of the stallion shall be punished by a fine of from 50f to «500f ; a second violation shall be punished by a double fine. Article S. Owners who have their mareg sarved by a stallion that is neither approved nor authorised, nor furnished with a certificate, shall be liable to a fine of from 16f to 50f .

Article 6. The mayors, commissiaries of poliea, rural guards, gendarmes, and all tho agents and officers of the police, the inspectors-general of the haras, the directors, sub-directors, and overseers of the stallion stations, and the chiefs of the Government stations duly sworn shall be qualified to take cognisance of violations of this law.

Article 7. An order from the Ministry shall regulate the composition of the cornmissiou ; the time of its meeting, the manner and condition of the examination, and all the measures necessary for conducting the same. We may observe that in regard to article 1, the certificate should simply bo for absolute soundness.