CLYDESDALE HORSE SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 17

CLYDESDALE HORSE SOCIETY.

FOUNDING AND HISTORY. (By an Old-time Breeder, in the Glasgow Herald.) "Few who were prominently identified with the founding 'of the Clydesdale Horse Society in June, 1877, now remain, and probably none of them anticipated the time when there would be in one year an export record of Clydesdales of 1531 head, a membership of 1854, and a capital at credit ot the society of £7235. Yet these are the conditions which the council have to report as characterising the society at the close of the thirty fourth year of its history, lhe vear 1910 was easily the most prosperous the society has ever enjoyed." The above is the opening paragraph of the annual report of the council of the society to the members in general meeting assembled on February 7, 1911, and it.cannot fail to recall to the memories of the "few" referred to the preliminary incidents, the earlier struggles, and the appearance of the first or retrospective volume of the Stud Book. Possibly some of the younger generation, either non-existent or too young tc tako an intelligent interest in such matters at the period immediately preceding or succeeding 1877, may bo glad to learn something of the circumstances creating a demand for a Clydesdale Horse Society, the facts concerning its successful organisation and subsequent struggles, and the individuals among their predecessors to .whom is due the credit for bringing into existence an institution yielding such substantial and beneficial results. —Retrospective Glance. — About 40 vears ago breeders and exhibitors of Clydesdales became convinced that it would be greatly to their advantage to have a breed register. The breed was very popular in England, where Clydesdales, true or reputed, commanded much higher prices than could ie obtained for locallybred draught horses, while there was an increasing export demand, especially for Australia. It had even become profitable for Scottish farmers to import English fillies of Clydesdale type, which abandoned their nationality on'crossing the Border, and in some instances returned south naturalised if not native Clydesdales. The late Mr Chandos Polo Gell, the genial s uiire of Hopton, an original member of the society and owner of an important stud, told-a story of a neighbour of his own, a Derbyshire farmer, who came to Scotland to buv Clydesdales. When ho returned home with a couple of fillkte another farmer, a near neighbour, lost no time in making a visit of inspection. His amusement on finding in the two high-priced "Clydesdales" fillies of his own breeding, which ho had sold a few months before at a very moderate figure, was only surpassed by the dismay and indignation of their new owner. In those days there were several types of English cart-horse, and while such a mistake as the above could hardly have happened with the very tall, weighty, rough, big-boned and more lethargic horse of the Fen country, the Derbyshire type was much more akin to the Clydesdale in looks, as it doubtless was, in many instances, in blood. From the appearance of those Derbyshire horses and also those of the Fylde district in Lancashire one is led to infer that no inconsiderable portion of the large number of Clydesdale entire colts annually imported into England during the eighteenth and first 70 years of the ninteenth centuries found their way to tho districts named. Scottish breeders, recognising that they had in their native cart-horso breed a valuable asset, for which Englishmen, colonials, and foreigners were prepared to pay considerably more than for any competing breed, also saw that if it became understood that many of the so-called Clydesdales had no further claim to the title than was derived from a brief residence in the southwest of Scotland, buyers would inevitably cease to pay the very remunerative prices then current; hence the desire to protect their golden-egg-laying goose by a breed register. —A Breed Register.— In the earlier seventies the matter was mooted at tho Glasgow Agricultural Society, then in the zenith of its prosperity. It was enthusiastically received, and seemed likely speedily to take shape, when an obstacle suddenly intervened. The late Mr T. D. Findlay. Easterhill, an enthusiast in all matters relating to the Clydesdale, a successful breeder, and no mean judge, raised the question of what was to !>e tho test for admission to registration. He insisted that no animal should be eligible unless it could be proved to possess an absolutely pure Clydesdale pedigree so far back as it could lie traced. Those cognisant of tho then existing position will not bo surprised to hear that this stipulation proved fatal to the enterprise for tho time Ireing. A stud book excluding the progeny of Time o' Day. Lord Lyon, and others, not to mention the great l>onc of contention, tho authentic story «T tho two grand-

dams of the great Prince himself, would have been founded upon anomaly and courting disaster between 30 and 40 years ago. The matter therefore dropped. The desiro for a stud book remained, however, strong as ever, and circumstances were shortly to give it definite shape. It had gradually become customary at the more important shows to insert particulars of breeder and pedigree in tho catalogue, this proving not only advantageous to intending purchasers and a guide to brooders, but alto information of increasing interest to spectators. During that period the entry schedules of the Highland and Agricultural and Glasgow Agricultural Societies were remodelled and extended to embrace particulars of breeder and pedigree- The Highland made compulsory the filling up of all particulars specified so far as known to the entrant. Tho Glasgow Society urged exhibitors to furnish all tho information asked for in the schedule. A probably Unique exception was the Ayrshire Agricultural Association. For many years its entry schedule bore a footnote requesting exhibitors to limit tho information given regarding entries to a minimum to avoid expense in printing. It preferred, and generally succeeded m obtaining, merely tho bald statement of tho name of the exhibitor. Needless to say, under the present enlightened and up-to-date management of that model society, tho show catalogue, like all else, has been modernised. It was observed that the words "pedigree unknown" not infrequently appeared in entries where readers believed that the pedigree—or absence of it, in a Clydesdale sense —was known to themselves if not to tho owner of the animal. Much discussion ensued, both verbal and journalistic, many strong things were said, and feeling ran high, a stud book being demanded as the solution of tho difficulty. Finally a letter appeared in a leading journal calling upon Mr J. M. Martin, then farming at Auchendennan Dumbartonshire, and breeding and exhibiting Clydesdales, to take the initial step by calling a meeting at which tho matter might be discussed. Mr Martin, who never discovered the identity of the writer of that letter, adopted hia suggestion and summoned by advertisement a meeting, which was held in the Religious Institution Rooms, Glasgow, on February 26, 1877, and 1 at which he presided, on the cvo of the Glasgow Stallion Show. 'The respoifao was very encouraging, a large number of breeders and exhibitors coming forward. Tho speakers wore the Karl of Dunmore, Alexander Baird (now Sir Alexander, Bait.), of Erie, Oliphant Brown. Shiel; Alexander Buchanan, Garscadden Mains; Colonel Buchanan (afterwards Sir David, K.C.8.) of Drurnpeliier; John Clay, Jan., Kerchester (since better known in connection with tho Chicago cattle trade, and' now returned to reside in his nativo Borderland) ; and William Finlay, Brackenbrae. Among others present were Lord Arthur Cecil, David Cross. Ingcston (sen.); Robert Findlay, Springhill; H. Chandoe Pole Gcll of Il'opton Hall; Charles Howatson, of Dornel; Principal Mac Call, Andrew Mitcheil, Alloa; Andrew Ralston, Glamis; Ben. Spraggon, Coc-kn'dge-on-Tyne; and Richard Twcedie, Catterick. A Society Founded.— It was resolved to form a Clydesdale Horse Society, with Lord Dunmore as first president, while Mr John Hendrje, of Larbert, temporarily undertook the duties of secretary. A second meeting was held 1 on April 3, at which the president was in the chair. Among other new faces present were Sir Michael R- Shaw Stewart, Bait.; Sir George Macphers»n Grant, Bart.; the Hon. Grovil'lo 11. Vernon, Auchans; John Clarke, Spindlehovve; Peter Crawford, sen., Dumgoyack ; Arch. C. Douglas, of Mains; Lawrence Drew, Meiryton; Chas. B. Findlay, of Botturich; T. D. Findlay, Easterhiil; Provost Forrest, Hamilton; James Graham, Paroelsbown; VV. 11. Ilardio, Borrowstoun Mains; James Picken, Laigh Langsido; Adam Smith, Stevenson Mains; Ralph Stark, Camelon; Colonel D. R Williamson, of Laweis; Alexander Young, Keir Mains. These and the names previously mentioned are merely given to let a younger generation know to whom, among others unable to a l lend these meetings, they are indebted' for tho initiation of tho society. At this second meeting it was intimated that the Prince of Wales, aftei wards King Edward VII, had graciously consented to become patron of tho society, also that the president had most generously undertaken tho vhole expense of printing and publishing the first volume of tho Stud-book. He reported that he had already received £7OO in life governors' subscriptions alone (10 guineas), and that 800 pedigrees had been sent to him for examination for insertion in tho first volume. Tin; first general meeting of tho society was held on July 30, when the following Editing Committee was appointed to superviso the compilation of tho retrospective volume:—Oliphant Brown, Duncan MucFarlune (Ton-), Robert MacKcan, John M. Martin, and Alexander Young, with the president and vice president ex officio. The first vice-president was Sir William StirlingMaxwell of Pollok, Bait., and of Koir, but he had' only had tho opportunity of attending one meeting of the Editing Committee when lie went abroad in autumn, and died at Venico in January, 1878. His successor as vice-president was Sir Michael R. Shaw Stewart of Greenock and Blackhall, Bart., who entered with great enthusiasm into the work of the committee, tho meetings of which he attended weekly with hardly an exception until the rotrobpective volume was ready for publication. During its early years no individual contributed more, by hard and constant work and sagacious counsel, to the success of the society than Sir Michael. At this" general meeting Mr Thomas Dykes, a member of a widelj -known and respected Ayrshire family, himself an ablo and versatile pressman, was apiiointed secretary, Mr Hendrie retaining the post of treasurer. It was reported that the capital funds now amounted to £12.00. Rapid Progress.— An advertisement in the spring of 1878 'gives tho names of 93 lift; governors, of whom 48 wcro Peers. The total number of members is not stated, but life governors formed a larger proportion of tho membership at that period than at any subsequent time. For this and tho_ consequent prosperity which tho resulting large capital rendered possible tho society is mainly indebted to its first president. Lord Dunmore was indefatigable in beating up for life governors among his pomonal friends over the United Kingdom, and by his influence and jxipularity he induced many to join tho society whose pursuits and mdi- (

[ vidua 1 tastes were little akin to horse- ! breeding. Being also the first stud-book i in tho Hold, excepting the "General Stud--1 book" of thoroughbreds, the Clydesdale secured much support which, most naturally, was subsequently transferred on tho advent of ihe Shire Horso Society and its studj book. Thanks to our president, however, ! each life governor so transferring left in | Scotland a substantial souvenir in the form i of his 10 guineas subscription Lord Dunmoro's experience in the formation of the Shorthorn Society w r as also ! placed at the service of our society, and, thanks to him, tho assistance and experii once of its officials wero also availablo. This was of material advantage in many directions. In result, it was seen ore long that tho delay following the abortive attempt of the Glasgow Agricultural Society to inaugurate a stud book, as already referred to, had been a blessing in disguise, as the backing the new scheme secured from the first, and the fact that it ' was absolutely independent of any agricultural society and not identified with any particular district, placed it, at a bound, in a position of strength and' independence which the other could not have hoped to occupy after many years' labour. For tho rest, enthusiasm and the fact that entries in the Retrospective Volumo wero free, enabled the Editing Committee during 1878 to submit a volume registering 1044 horses that had served in Scotland or wero recognised Clydesdales in tho sister countries. Of course, it was impossible to guarantee the absolute correctness of all the pedigrees given. In not a few cases the animal, breeder, and owners were long dead, but tho number of corrections subsequently required wore surprisingly few, the majority of tho amendments being in the direction of further extension of pedigives with later information received from readers of the volume. Also it is obvioui that pedigrees of very varying value were entered, as must always be the case when a breed is being registered for tho first time, i When the Committee looked into the ' subject it recognised that, if the book was to bo of real value as an authentic register, its pages must, be open to chronicle matters as they stood rather than as enthusiastio Clydesd'alo breeders could have wished them to stand. When onco a reliable record wan obtained, the society might ! judiciously and progressively tighten the qua'ification for registration' in subsequent volumes —as was promptly done. This Retrospective Volume was merely a record o' sires, and each breeder studying it had to judge for himself whether tho details submitted represented a sire he considered it might bo for his advantage to use.