VETERINARY INSPECTION OF SIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 21

VETERINARY INSPECTION OF SIRES.

I The Cawdor Cup for Clyde' dale stallions i« the eo\eted prize of Scottish breedeis. It has been unanimously resoh ed by the Clydesdale- Hors© Society that veterinary inspection of horses competing inu«t be a condition. This (says the Scottish Farmer; is tantamount to a 1 evolution in the Scots '•howyards. It scarcely admits of doubt that the example thus eet will, sooner or later, be followed by all the principal shows in Scotland. The credit for the re-volution must be placed at the door of I Mr Brydon. Had he not made it a condi- / tion of the competition for his challenor*- '

shield that all horses must bo "vetted" tho anomaly of the Stud Book Society's position would not ha\e been made patent. But the logic of the position put before tho council by the smah com* niitteo was irresistible. Mr Kerr and Principal M'Call did not recommend Ihax all horses competing for the Cawdor Cup. should pace a veterinary test. They directed attention to the facts, and asked th 3 council to consider them. A horse nof submitted, for valid reasons, <o the veteri« nary test required by tho conditions of tha Brydon shield easily won the third Cawdor Cup, to which no veterinary te-t was applied. Thus the breed society's trophy went to a horse which was openly wilhI held from the veterinary test. The council instinctively felt that such an incident could not be repeated. The owner was quite withm his right, but the principle was tinsound. No horse rising four years o!d will be allowed to compete for this cup unle^i it is proved to the satisfaction of a committee appointed by the council for tin purpose to have left at least 35 per cent, of foals in the preceding season.