BREEDING HORSES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20782, 17 July 1937, Page 15 (Supplement)

BREEDING HORSES

A PRESSING NEED ESSENTIAL FOR DEFENCE “A pressing need exists for taking immediate steps to encourage horse breeding in the Dominion, particularly in regard to certain types, generally known as the “utility” horse, such as hunters, ponies, station hacks, polo ponies, half-draughts, and all horses that might be used for military purposes," said Mr J. S. McLeod, in presenting the annual report to the New Zealand Racing Conference. Thanks to the enterprise of studmasters the Thoroughbred and Clydesdale breeds had been maintained at a high standard of quality, though the high values ruling, and the strong demand for draught horses, whether full, half, or three-quarter, indicated some degree of shortage.

The Hunters’ Improvement and National Light Horse Breeding Society, which had been in existence in England since 1885, was established to improve and promote the breeding of hunters and other horses used for riding or driving, and for military purposes. At the annual general meeting of the members of that society held in March last it was reported that the War Office had again renewed its grant of £4500, while the Racecourse Betting Control Board had increased its grant from £5OOO to £6OOO per annum, for the purpose of providing premiums for thoroughbred stallions. The society decided to increase the value of each stallion premium from £125 to £l5O, and consequently was able to offer 60 premiums in England and Wales. Fourteen special premiums of £5O each (making an inclusive premium of £200) were also to be awarded. The society relied upon voluntary subscriptions to carry on the national character of its wonderful work In encouraging the breeding of hunters, and other horses for riding or driving and for military purposes.

“We have asked the Royal Agricultural Society, New Zealand hunts, polo, and veterinary associations,” said Mr McLeod, “to join with us in our endeavour to impress upon the Government the urgent need for encouraging the breeding of the utility horse in this Dominion. At a later stage of the proceedings of tills conference you will lie asked to support a resolution, submitted by the executive committee, which contrives to provide for country picnic races for horses owned, trained, and ridden by amateurs, without their having to be registered under the Rules of Racing, in order to take part in these picnic races. This proposal will serve a two-fold purpose in paving the way for recreation for the country dwellers, their families, and friends, and will at the same time arouse their interest in the breeding of utility horses, which is so important for the well being of this Dominion. “I tremble to think of what would be the state of affairs In this country if our oil and petrol supplies were suddenly cut off. The shortage of utility horses for transport and other purposes caused largely by this country being drained of its best half-bred, and other serviceable horses, during the South African and the Great Wars, is so serious, that a strong lead requires to meet future happenings with some degree of equanimity. “The disposition of this conference will be to appreciate the action of the Dominion’s representatives at the Imperial Conference in stating they are prepared to support at any cost the attitude taken by His Majesty’s advisers in defence of the British Empire. It is indeed gratifying that our Prime Minister endorses this Empire attitude.

This conference supports the breeding of utility horses as an essential in the mobility of the defence of our country.”