KEEN PUBLIC INTEREST IN HORSES

Southland Times, Issue 24000, 15 December 1939, Page 21

KEEN PUBLIC INTEREST IN HORSES

Southland’s Fine Reputation As Breeding-Ground

PUBLIC interest at an agricultural and pastoral show is never keener than when the light horses are being judged and the jumping events are in progress. Many fine saddle and harness horses and jumpers have been seen in the Southland ring in past years, but this year, on the occasion of the Royal Show and with the attraction of big prize-money in the jumping events, the finest collection of horses for many years should be paraded.

Throughout New Zealand interest in the breeding and riding of good horses is awakening again. Riding schools in the cities have promoted keenness among those who otherwise would have no opportunity of learning to ride and in the country more young men have taken up hunting, which in the past has been directly responsible for the breeding of horses of a good, solid type. The Government has given assistance by bringing into operation the Remount Encouragement Act, the object of which is to ensure a supply of horses suitable for military purposes.

Profitable Industry AS a breeding ground for horses Southland has no rival among the provinces of the Dominion. The tem-

perate climate and the number of river-side pastures available give breeders every opportunity of raising weight-carrying horses as good as any in the world. The advent of mechanical traction caused a loss of interest for many years, but it is now realized that a profitable industry and a fine pastime should not be abandoned and there is every prospect of a successful revival of breeding in the province. With other factors in their favour, Southland breeders have only to use the right type of stallions and mares to ensure success. Breeding material of the best quality, good thoroughbred stallions and suitable mares, is at their disposal. The directors of the Southland A. and P. Association have been wise in making the jumping events a feature of the Centenary Royal Show. The liberal prize-money, totalling £l5O, is an inducement to owners of the best horses to compete and to provide the public with spectacular jumping. Australian shows have always been noted for their jumping events and many New Zealanders have made successful trips to Sydney with their hunters. This year Invercargill will see good horses and clever action.

Farmers in this mechanized age no longer rely on horses and traps and so the smart turn-outs which formerly graced the ring are gradually fading into the past. There are still some enthusiasts, however, who delight in appearing in a smart-looking gig be-

hind a carefully-groomed horse in polished harness and they never fail to draw the applause of the crowd. There is no reason why the harness horse classes should not be as freely patronized as formerly, because good harness horses invariably made good saddle horses. Some tradesmen have retained horses for their work and their displays have always attracted attention at Southland shows.

Trotters And Pacers TROTTERS and pacers have always been popular in Southland, where the light harness sport found favour with the public from its inception. In their own sphere trotters and pacers have much to commend them and there are some very fine animals among them, but many authorities deprecate the infusion of trotting blood into saddle horses and express the hope tha x this practice will not be continued in Southland. Breeders of light horses have much to learn in the show-ring and thus they have every inducement to show their horses, apart from the honour of winning awards. They have an opportunity of comparing their horses with other good quality animals, of seeing how the judges, who are experts in their line, sum up the points and of learning how to improve their stock. As the quality of horses exhibited in the show rings rises so will the standard throughout the Dominion.