BREEDING OF DRAUGHT HORSE

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

BREEDING OF DRAUGHT HORSE

Origin Of Clydesdale In

Scotland

Displays of Clydesdale horses have always been a strong feature of Southland shows, breeders supporting the exhibitions widely to demonstrate the high standard of their breeding. In recent years there have been most attractive rings of young horses and this sign of vigorous breeding activities has been most promising. Several valuable sires have been imported to Southland within recent years and they cannot fail to have an important effect on the quality of the stock bred in the province. Scotland has been the chief source for these importations and buyers have, therefore, shown a sound appreciation of the history of the breed. Although there was a type of working horse historically recorded in Scotland as early as the fifteenth century, it is to quite recent times that the development of the Clydesdale of today is owed. The early working horses were largely bred for the special purposes desired by the ruling monarchs—some wanted speed, others wanted horses that could carry riders

over the hill bridle tracks, and others again heavy chargers that could carry a warrior bold with all his armour. The only early time horse, indeed, similar to the Clydesdale of today was actually the war-horse of medieval times.

The one broad fact about the origin of the Clydesdale is that it is native to the area after which it has been named—the valley of the Clyde, in Scotland. The external influences —from Flanders particularly, and England—have been grafted on to the parent stem has been established, but amidst all the changes the ground type has persisted. The modifications effected have been due to the requirements of trade and commerce, and all these changes have left some permanent improvement behind them. We have noticed even in New Zealand, the extent of these changes in comparatively recent years. Before the advent of motor power, for instance, there was a demand for a lighter type that could move quickly on.the road. After the' road needs were largely displaced the type reverted to the heavy field horse of substance and power. Modern Horse THE modern Clydesdale, according to authorities, evolved between 1820 and 1878, and the history of the breed in that time is parallel with the history of

the Highland Show Society. Really systematic breeding of the Clydesdale began with the institution of the Clydesdale Horse Society of Great Britain and Ireland in June 1877, and the publication of the Retrospective Volume of the Clydesdale Stud Book by that society in 1878. It will be interesting history for the newer generation of Clydesdale breeders to learn—or for the older generation to recall—that the decision to produce a Draught Horse Society’s book was decided on by the Canterbury A. and P. Association before the publication of the Scottish society's book in 1877. The decision in Canterbury was actually made ’in 1872 dr 1873, but the publication was necessarily delayed until a compilation. of a list of the horses eligible was made. This list was completed to enable the first volume to be published in 1878. A second volume was published in 1879, and a third in 1882, the lastmentioned embracing the three issues. A perusal of the little book recalls the. names of many breeders and horses famous in the earlier days of the industry. The publication was edited by Mr Robert Wilkin, the first president of the association. In introducing the original Draught Horse Stud Book, Mr Wilkin notes that “it is strange that nothing of the kind at the present time, either in England, America or in any of the colonies, and that the example shown by the breeders of racehorses in compiling the General Stud Book has not been followed by breeders of draught horses long ago.” It was noted in the preface that “recently, an ‘association, called the Clydesdale Horse Society, has been organized in Scotland.” It was further noted by the editor that the Scottish society intended to take cognisance of Clydesdale horses only, but the Canterbury society intended to admit the entries of draught horses of all breeds. “The Clydesdale breed occupies by far the largest share of favours, not only amongst New

Zealand farmers, but also with the farmers of Australian colonies, but occasionally breeders are met with who prefer Lincoln or Suffolk horses, and it is not intended to exclude them from the Draught Horse Stud Book.” Breeding Incentive

THE experience of the Canterubry Herd Book, published in 1871, si quoted as an incentive to horse breeders to enter their stock. In 1879 the association published the fourth volume of the Herd Book, and the animals recorded had grown from 167 in 1871 to 701 in 1879. The editor notes that it was believed that some owners of good horses had been deterred from entering them (in the Draught Horse Book) because their pedigrees were unknown. “It may be as well to point out,” the compiler continues, “that the possession of a pedigree is not an indispensable requirement and that the mere entry of an animal whose antecedents are entirely unknown will result in a pedigree being built up which in a few years will be of very considerable value.” In support of this policy, it is mentioned that Coates’ Herd Book contained the entries of many bulls without any information whatever. The frontpiece to the stallions in No. 2 volume was a portrait of Pride of Scotland, and to the mares of Maggie Craig, both imported from Scotland oy Mr James Walls, of Kaiapoi Island, who was a leading breeder in the 70s and the early 80’s. The mare mentioned was a great prize-winner m her day, and many good horses in mter years traced back to her. The stallion was also a great success. It is interesting to note that No. 1 in the book was Young Banker, owned by the Hon. Matthew Holmes, and a horse that was the foundation of numerous “Bankers until the early part of rhe present century. It is disappointing in the extreme that the identity of this notable rec- rd, with its carefully compiled foundation of Clydesdale famibes should have been completely lost in the changes that came about by the substitution years later of the New Zealrnd Clydesdale Society’s Book.