Liverpool's Horses.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14042, 28 October 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

Liverpool's Horses.

THE PICK OF ENGLAND. The Liverpolitan may be in doubt about his politics or his religion or his habits, but he is certainly convinced absolutely on one point, and that is the superiority of his big horses over those in any other part of the world. It is not merely an opinion of his. but a fixed belief, and the outsider who has an opportunity of seeing those animals can hardly be surprised at the pride of the citizens. The 'niugnilk-ietit proportions of the Liverpool horse arc attributable in the majority of cases to the exceptional condition of affairs that exists at the Liverpool docks. Along the whole line of these docks, where the great bulk of these animals are employed, there is a splendidlv even roadway. For about eight miles those horses can pull their loads without- climbing a hill; they travel of the level, and they accomplish amazing things. Every day you may see horses pulling a load of nine or ten tons with the greatest case at the rate of two and a half miles an hour. They travel as. easy as a bay with a hand-cart.

In London they can't boast of anv thing like that. The docks there are scattered like grocer's shops, and the horses have to adapt themselves accordingly. They must be prepared not only for leisurely dock travelling, but ready to trot through city traffic amongst light vehicles and to climb hills, which, of course, makes a considerable difference.

It's a delight to see one of the Liverpool shire horses at work. I remember watching one obey the request—not an order, mind you—of the driver to start its heavy load. A powerful beast with brightly polished harness and a speckless coat, ho simply leaned forward until the lorry moved. Then he lifted one foot and went along without an effort. One is quite safe in stating that any of these horses can pull a load of five tons with ease along the line of the Liverpool docks, and as I have said, this weight is fre quently doubled. It is calculated that the class of merchandise shipped to and from Liverpool is heavier in the bulk than at any other port. A heavy breed of horse is, therefore, essential. and the biggest and best of their kind make their way to Liverpool naturally. There is always a demand for theni there, and they come from all parts of the kingdom, chiefly from the North of England and the Midland and Southern counties. Every "class" gelding of recent years has found its way to Mersey port, the cost being regarded as of little consequence, for the owners know that a good horse is worth paving^for. Herein lies the reason for the remarkable parade of big horses which Liverpool arranges once a year. No city in the country can show such a sight, and averaging tho cost at less than £6O each of more than two thousand horses exhibited recently in Liverpool, I calculated their worth at £120.000. The corporation and the railway companies own magnificent specimens, and the competition for such horses is of tho keenest.