THE DRAUGHT HORSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 12

THE DRAUGHT HORSE.

Now that motor traction is becoming steadily a more formidable alternative to the horse, the requirements of users of draught horses have to be regarded, not in the light of the breeder and seller, but in*'that of the buyer and employer. No doubt the stockowner who has the foresight and courage to breed commercial animals to-day is worthy of high praise in the face of the mechanical-driven implements now on the market —but there is a future. The demand which exists in the Argentine and elsewhere for heavy horses is helpful, and serves to prove that in the cities the tractor for short journeys is not moving all . the heavy traffic. Clydesdales of merit still have a “lookin'’ when it comes to heavy work. If not Clydesdales, then Shires or Percherons, as the breed is immaterial, providing they have substance combined with soundness and activity. In the Commonwealth of Australia we find that, according to the Federal Council of the Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society, the year just closed has proved a satisfactory one for the draught horse. Although there was no unusual demand for heavy horses, those of the most desirable type commanded remunerative prices, thus helping to further establish the fact that good horses are a great asset to the’breeder or farmer. At recent sales in Melbourne up to £53 10s was paid (says the monthly circular letter published by the local council) for extra good geldings produced in South Australia, while at country sales figures of from £4O to £47 10s were numerous. Three-year-olds made from £34 to £42. Recent files from Canada and the United States indicated a fair market for draughts. Values were higher., during the past year than for some years. Market reports disclose that there was no sale for nondescript sorts. Here surely is a “tip,” so to speak, to breeders, emphasising as it docs the danger of a policy of breeding from poor’ types of mares and second-rate stallions. No one wants the offspring of ill-mated horses. The agricultural show is a good place to judge the position of horse breeding, and recent happenings in Otago and Southland indicate the very live interest taken in Clydesdales. The importations from time to time from Scotland of males of outstanding blood and breeding cannot but be of value to the Clydesdale world in the South Island of New Zealand. The consensus of opinion in the United States is that farmers are showing more interest in horses than for a long period. This is borne out largely at the shows, which in many instances are assuming something like pre-war standards, and in some cases equalling the best of those prior to the Great War. Here are a few news items of interest in connection with the draught horse, culled from a reliable source: . The Percheron. Society (80 per s cent, of the draughts of the United States are of" this breed) reports an ‘increase of £l2OO during the year. One firm of Ohio stallion importers

sold 12 during October and November, while another introduced a large draft from France. It was expected that 1926 would prove the best importing year since 1914. • At the end of October good geldings -were selling at. Chicago for £70 — £lO higher than the same class were bringing a year earlier. In Canada great progress has been made in Clydesdale, circles. To November something like 120 stallions amt mares had been exported from Scotland to the Dominion—the biggest export year for the breed for many, years. s’-J Air James Kilpatrick, Craigie Mains Stud, Scotland, recently . purchased a colt foal from Mr James Clark, Petdale, for £lOOO. The colt is a full brother to Craigie Ambition. The report of the Scottish Board of Agriculture regarding the results of the administration of the Horse Breeding Act must be considered highly satisfactory to Clydesdale breeders. For the year ended June 30 last only 2.4 per cent, of Clydesdale stallions werje rejected for unsoundness. In 1925 the rejects totalled 2.3, per cent. Upon the , question ..of unsoundness the Council of the, Clydesdale Horse Society of Great Britain recently" considered 'several'proposals with the object of eliminating unsound animals for stud purposes and for’ registration. The council was ' asked

to urge for legislation, or otherwise enforce, the castration of all stallions that had not been passed as sound under the Horse Breeding Act. Also, in order that breeding - from unsound mares should be discouraged and eventually suppressed it was proposed that a scheme be inaugurated on the lines of having a register published periodically of mares that have been voluntarily examined and passed free of shivering and stringhalt. While the Council of the Society did not agree to the suggestions, it decided that “after a given date no stock be registered of any stallion turned down for shivering, or which had not received a certificate of freedom from shivering from the competent authority.” —