HORSE-BREEDING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13677, 20 August 1908, Page 7

HORSE-BREEDING IN NEW ZEALAND.

VIEWS OF MR REAKES. To the International Horse Show, Annual, Mr C. J. Reakes, M.R.C.V.5., : assistant . chief veterinary surgeon io the New Zealand Government, contributes an interesting article on " Horse-breeding in Australia and New Zealand." At. the outset .Mr Reakes writes :—" The breeding of horses, has been for many years past a prominent feature, in pastoral'.life -in these great southern dependencies' of the Empire.; New Zealand, while certainly holdingher own as regards thoroughbreds —considering her small comparative area is possibly ahead of her great sister dependency in the matter of draught horse production. The breeding of army remounts has, however, there" received the attention it deserves, and while numbers of good, useful, hardy animals are available, no attempt has been made to produce anything like a standard type of horse for either cavalry, mounted infantry, or artillery-.purposes. ''.'■''■■:"'''■■; -" New Zealand horses," Mr : Reakes says,

"are-reputed io be more liav'&y 'and more tractable than Australian,- their greater hardiness—if ii really exists—being'doubtless due to the cooler climate, if the country is compared with Australia, among' the thoroughbred stock' in these countries the Musket strain is continually met with, and -one - can still frequently meet with the slight suggestion of goose' rump' which was a characteristic

of the great ■ Musket. Much of the high standard of quality .afc present prevailing among the thorouhgbred stock in • these countries is, however, due to the enterprise of breeders in, importing .high-class animals from England—animals which, while not necessarily famous for their turf performances, are, nevertheless, hied r'i"ht, and possessed of good constitutions. As illustrating the quality of the Australian and New Zealand thoroughbred stock, one has only to instnee such notable animals as Carbine, Merman, Newhaven, Great Scot, and other good horses, which have given practical proof of their quality in this country. New Zealanders are especially proud' of the fact that Carbine was bred iii their country." Mr Reakes goes on to note that although only a small number. of New Zealand°horses find their way to the Indian market, they have achieved there a- high reputation. ""To go back to the time of the South African war, it cannot be gainsaid that both Australian and Xew Zealand horses did remarkably good work, throughout campaign, work which compared favourably with that done by horses of any other country. New Zealand, when "she starts systematically into the. breeding of army remounts, will do so on the best lines.

"To attempt to maintain a high and tolerably level standard of quality in crossbred siock is always a difficult, matter," says the New Zealand official, "and success can only be 'attained by the exercise of thorough practical knowledge, combined with constant, care and forethought. And, moreover, it is not good conformation alone which is needed, but. a thorough sound, hardy constitution is an absolute essential. Our Empire may at any time have to trust her future to her army, and it. is now, in time of peace, that every effort should be made, to provide an always available supply of thoroughly sound; useful remounts. LTnder present, conditions, Australian , breeders aife doing distinctly good work in this direction, while in New Zealand, a large number of good, sound,, suitable horses are, as already stated, being bred,' but without much"definite system. .' There,; however, a.« in Australia, there are plenty of pure-bred hqr.xis of good quality available as a basis' i'or'.the production of the classes of animal required by the army authorities."