HEAVY HORSE BREEDING IN SOUTHLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24000, 15 December 1939, Page 22

HEAVY HORSE BREEDING IN SOUTHLAND

Home Of Clydesdales Established

In Far South

SOUTHLAND and Otago have always been recognized as the chief homes of the Clydesdale horse in New Zealand. The heavy draught horse has a widespread popularity throughout the Dominion, but the real breeding activities of great note' have occurred in the far south to where the Scottish settlers carried with them their great love of the national breed. Although the farm horse often does not receive the consideration which is accorded the sheep and the cattle directly producing revenue on the iarm, it is a fact that he aids

greatly in maintaining the standard of output and in the past more than today made possible the bringing into a state of productivity much land of little previous pastoral value for sheep and cattle.

A survey of the activities of heavy horse breeding in this province was included in the first volume of The New Zealand Clydesdale Stud Book published in 1914. After traversing northern provinces, the book stated that south of the Taieri the breed had been worthily represented by Mr J. R. McKenzie, of the Glenkenich stud, who, while he owned the stud, imported and used the following horses, all of which made history in the southern districts:—St. Alexander,

Glenkenich, Allandale, Lord Lyon, Baron Graceful, Abbot, Baron Bold, Royal Marcellus, Sir Melton. Mr Donald Macdonald, of Edendale, had also taken a hand in establishing the breed in his district and his importations, which included Royal Knight, Bancor, Sir Thornley, British Time, Dunure Coral and Scotland’s Stamp, did much to increase the breed’s popularity in Southland. Mr John Ewan, of Idadale, Drummond, imported Garthland, full brother to the famous sire of Champion’s Hiawatha. _ He also owned Agitor and later imported Ardimersay Prince and a fine mare, Choice’s Queen, by Scotland’s Choice. Many Breeders IN earlier times there were imported to the Thombury district by Mr Duncan McCallum, the fine mare Damsel, bred by Mr John M. Martin and purchased at his sale at Auchendennan for £5OO. She-was the dam of Crown Prince, Hero, Western Star and the great mare Pearl. Along with Damsel, Mr McCallum imported Molly McKissock, got by Lord Lyon out of Glaick Tibbie. Messrs Sutton, John Macfarlane, William Dunlop (Pine Bush), James Blakie, John Grant Walter Blakie (Ryal Bush), W. Waddell (Waikaka), Robert Kennedy (Drummond), A. Hall (Thornbury) and Affleck Brothers were also mentioned in the brief review as having

taken an important part in this important industry in Southland. An early settler of Southland and a keen breeder of Clydesdales recently said he would like to recognize the activities of breeders throughout the province in the last 35 years. The names of men who had done much to keep the Clydesdale well to the front were Messrs Donald Macdonald (Edendale), Thomas Logan (Otama), Fleming Brothers (Crookston), the late Richard Irving (Clinton) and John Ewan (South Hillend). He recalled the great displays of Clydesdale horses at Southland shows in the days when shows were held at Queen’s Park. Among the breeders and their horses were Mr William Gray (Waimatuku) with the celebrated Nellie Gray, a practically unbeaten mare; Mr Andrew Hall (Thornbury) with Queen Ag; and Mr John Ewan, with Aparima Fancy and Rosie O’Grady. All these mares were by the well-known sire Shepherd Lad. He questioned whether

there were ever four better mares produced by one sire and placed in the one show-ring as at one particular show at Queen’s Park. He recalled that Mr Peter Davidson, of Washdyke, who was judging, had said after awarding the first prize to Nellie Gray that if he had had to judge the mares again he might have awarded the prize to Aparima Fancy, thexs was so little between the two horses. Two Great Mares IN the last 30 years, it was interesting to recall the great mares Queen, bred by Mr Walter Blakie (Branxholme) which had an unbeaten record in the show-ring, and her dam, Maggie McCormick. These two mares were sold to the Australian buyers, Ray and Straill, and ■ were a distinct loss to Southland. Mr Walter Blakie’s brother, Mr James Blakie, of Martindale, Ryal Bush, had in Lady Salisbury one of the finest mares ever seen in the south. Mr. James Blakie imported from Australia the sire Herd Laddie, which in turn produced Shepherd Lad. Then there was Mr Andrew Chrystal, of Lochiel, who was a most enthusiastic breeder. Perhaps the best horse he owned was McFarlane, by McArthur, imported from Australia. Hie blend of these respective bloods helped very greatly the Clydesdale breed in Southland. Of later years the importation of finer-boned horses, less flush of hair, and perhaps, with more hoof had resulted on blending them with a horse of stronger bone and more hair in producing a class of animal hard to beat in any country. When the Clydesdale horse enjoyed its heyday, Otago and Southland were known as the home of the breed and many champion horses were shipped from Bluff and Otago harbour and established outstanding records not only as breeders but as show-ring horses. Even today, Clydesdale breeders in the north' frequently send to Southland if they require a sire or a foundation mare for their studs. New Zealand had a great

debt to the southern provinces for the quality and registered blood of the Clydesdale horses of New Zealand. Although tractors had now usurped the place of the Clydesdales to some extent, it could not be denied that the sight of a well-cared for and properlyharnessed team of Clydesdales could not be surpassed.

It is of interest that in the senior steward in the Clyesdale horse section at the Centennial Royal Show, Mr John Ewan, of South Hillend, is a breeder who many years ago undertook extensive importations and exportations of horses to and from his stud. On one occasion he held the record for the price secured for four Clydesdale mares of his breeding sold at public auction in Campbell and Company’s yards in Melbourne. One mare, Lady Ida, a daughter of Rosie O’Grady, was sold to Mr Norman Falconer, of Mora station, New South Wales, and in his practical hands gained four championships at the Sydney Royal Show, an unprecedented record. Apart from her show-ring career, this horse bred many prizewinners. Well Established PROGRESS in breeding Clydesdale horses has been synonymous with the development and success of the Southland farming industry. The heavy draught breed was well established in the province very early in its settlement and in the days when cropping was carried out extensively in Southland it enjoyed its heyday. It has been widely recognized that the breeding of Clydesdales reached a higher standard in the south of New Zealand than elsewhere and this was probably because much of this part of the colony was first settled. by Scottish pioneers who brought with them the traditions of breeding the famous Scottish horses.

In recent years in Southland, the demand for draught .horses has varied with prevailing economic conditions. About 10 years ago when experienced farm labourers were becoming scarce, farmers showed a greater interest in mechanical traction and the demand for horses fell, but during the depression there was a strong movement back to the horse with the result that prices for useful farm horses showed an upward tendency at a time when all primary products and other classes of stock fell sharply. Improved conditions since then and a more acute shortage of experienced farm labour than ever before have recently led farmers to use tractors to a much greater extent. The draught horse has, therefore, experienced a temporary eclipse, but the enthusiasts for the breed are not by any means dismayed and in Southland and Otago they are continuing their breeding and show activities with every confidence in the future. The wisdom of their action is based on previous experience which has indicated that there will always be an important place for the horse in farm economy.