THE HORSE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18203, 2 March 1929, Page 10

THE HORSE.

On looking over some old files of cuttings dating back as far as from 12 ‘to 20 years ago, it surprised a writer in the Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society’s monthly publication to note the number of contributions to various papers in Australia and America prophesying that within 20 years or so horses would be almost out of use, and that there would only be the racer left over with which to amuse ourselves. One wonders' what these prophets must think of themselves if they are still in the land of the living. Time, no doubt, has modified their views. Whilst the position is that in most countries to-day there are fewer horses, still, so far as the “horseless age” is concerned, we are a very, very long way off that period—if it will ever come about. Even in the United States, where millions of dollars have been spent in developing the motor trade, and millions have been likewise spent in endeavouring to push the horse out of use, we still find that there are some 20,000,000 horses and mules in that .country. Their neighbour Canada, has gone on increasing her population, whilst another neighbour in Mexico has increased her horse to a remarkable extent. In France 30 years ago, there were 2,917,000 horses and only 1672 motors. In 1925, whilst motors increased to 721,300, horses showed a decrease of 40,000, despite the fact that many thousands had beer killed during the war. Horses have steadily been increasing in France from 2,848,000 in 1923 to 2,927,000 at the end of 1927. In European countries, all efforts to displace the horse have failed, and it may be of interest to our readers to know that in Berlin there are some 76,000 horses in use in trade and industry, and that there are over 3,805,000 horses in the country, excluding army horses. Horse breeding is being carried on in most countries in a systematic manner, and Australia is one of the few places where there is what we might term no constructive policy in operation designed to encourage and assist the production of horses of a better standard.