THE AUCKLAND STUD COMPANY.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 36, 21 May 1881, Page 392

THE AUCKLAND STUD COMPANY.

A THEORY ABOUT BREEDING EXAMPLES — THE IMPORTED MARES— THEIR APPEARANCE— STLVIA AND HER COLT. BY JttUSKET — THE DRATJOHT STOCK.

At the end of my last article I mentioned that I hold a theory regarding stallions at the stud which hus been largely discussed at Home. The theory is that never mmd how good a horse has been on the turf, he will not be a success at the stud unless he is out of a good performer. Space will not allow me to go through the whole of the Studbook, so I will merely take instances from both sides, that are most likely to be known to my readers. Those, however, who wish to go further into the matter have only to get the Studbook and investigate for themselves, and I feel sure they will then be convinced that the theory is a sound one. Let us take, then, the Plying Dutchman, Voltigour, West Australian, and Gladiateur — four as good horses on the turf as ever looked through a bridle. Well, what did they do at the stud P They got the pick of the mares both in England and J?rance, but they never sired an animal •within 141 b. of their own form. The Dutchman did get Ellington, a Derby winner, but he won by a fluke owing to the l^eavy state of the ground. At the time it was said that he carried short weight owing to Aldcroft weighing with one whip and then changing it for a lighter one. Whether this was so is not known, but immediately after the rule was made that no jockey should weigh in with his whip. Voltigeur's best son was Vedette but he was a far inferior horse to his sire ihe other two got nothing of moment These stallions were all what might be called chance gets as the other foals out of the same dams did little. Now, go to the other side, and take Newmmster out of Beeswing, Orlando out of ttie flying Viilture, Stockwell out iof Pocahantas, and Beadsman out of Mendicant. These have all proved a suocess at the stud, and so have their sons and grandsons Let the rising generation of breeders study the Studbook, and watch the career of Isonomy versus Robert the Devil and Veraueil versus Petraeh as well as the produce of Silvio, George Frederick, Albert Edward and other crack horses out of good dams, and compare them with those out of inferior mares. It is a mistaken notion to suppose that like will beget like. Inbreeding the blood calculated to nick must be considered Now-

a-days many inexi>erienced men go into breeding and think that if they put their mares to the best horses they must get racehorses. Thero never was such a mistaken notion, and the consequence is that they become disgusted, sell off their mares, and declare it does not pay. Another thing must be born in mind, that horses generally get their speed from the sire, constitution and stamina from the dam. Mr. Wright, the celebrated Yorkshire breeder, has just raised another question, and I must say that in my opinion it is one that wants ventilating. He says that the cause of so many weeds and non-stayers being bred at the present day, especially to fashionable stallions, is because they are allowed too many mares. He argues that no stallion under ten years old ought to have more than twenty or twenty-five mares, and over that age nob more than thirty or thirty-five. Now owners think nothing of forty or fifty; and even more. It was only the other day that a man boasted to me that his horse covered one hundred and twenty maros last season. What will be the result ? Why, many mnres barren, and the produce of others " weeds." Not more than 5 per cent, will be good ones. When I visited the Stud Farm the three imX>orted mares that Sir Hercules Robinson purchased at the Middle Park sale were in a paddock by themselves, looking none the worse for their long voyage. Clytemnestra (foaled 1867), by Blair Athol, clam by Irish. Birdcatcher, out of Mickleton Maid, is a long, low, roomy chesnut mare, standing on short legs. She is rather light in her arms and thighs. Her breeding, however, is particularly good, as through her sire she goes back to Stockwell, by the Baron, out oEPocahantas, while her dam was by Irish Birdcatcher — a strain of blood that has always been successful at the stud, especially on the dam's side. Little fault can be found with this mare either as regards her shape or breeding, indeed she is decidedly the best of the three. Mersey, a chesnnt mare (foaled 1874), by Knowsley out of Clenience, by Newminster, I do not like, either as regards breeding or shape. She is short and jumped-up. Knowsley never was a favourite of mine, though through having Newminster blood in her veins Mersey may belie her looks and throw a racehorse. Sister Agnes (foaled 1877), by llosicrucian out of Penance, by the Flying Dutchman, is a great raking brown filly with splendid hind quarters, and looks all over like racing, but through being kicked on one of her hocks as a youngster I believe she was never trained. As a brood mare Ido not like her, though her blood is undeniable. Her fault is having short back ribs which, in my opinion, is a great one. There is no room to carry a big foal, and nature generally provides against such a thing ; therefore her foals are sure to be small when born, though with good feeding and care they may improve with age. Still it is not an experiment I should like to try. In another paddock the following mares were running, all of them barren last year — Moonbeam, Cynthia' Atalanta, Rangi, and Nightshade. Of these the two latter are far away the best of the lot, though the others may produce something that can gallop to Cap-a-pie, but the two latter ought to suit Musket, especially Nightshade who is by Kelpie out of Flora M'lvor by is'ew Warrior, dam Jo by Sir Hercules— staying blood all through. Sylvia was in a paddock by herself with a magnificent colt foal by Musket. Sylvia is a gem ; she is a fine roomy mai'e, quality all over, with the iinost head and neck I ever saw. She has also produced some good racehorses, amongst them Goldsboro and Robin Hood. If there are any more mares like her to be purchased in Australia, the Stud Company would do well to secure them instead of sending to England and risking a long sea voyage. Her blood is undeniable, being by Fisherman out of Juliet by Touchstone. Her foal by Musket is one of the best I ever saw. At one time I thought he was rather too compact for his age, but he now appears to be growing the right way. The only fault I can find with him is that be is a trifle back in his knees, but then many good horses are the same ; for instance, the Flying Dutchman. This colt, with luck, ought to turn out a first-class racehorse, and be a credit to his sire. Onyx was in a paddock by herself. She is quality all over, but rather on the small side. Her breeding is also very good, being by Angler out of Chrysolite, by Stockwell out of Juliet. Slits was unfortunately barren last year, and through au accident lias slipped her foal this season. However, next year she may be all right. Both these mares ought to suit Musket. " In another paddock the following mnres with foals were running: — Moonlight, with acolt by Muskut ; All Steel, a filly by Musket ; Erycina, a filly by Musket". These mares, with the exception of the latter, who i.-> by Slcdinere out of Atalanta, by Dainty Ariol out of Moonbeam by the Libul, can only be called second-class as regards breeding, though they may produce some useful animals, especially the latter who has a very nice foal, though rather backward. It should, however, with care, turn out something .q-ood. The other young stock were in the Waikato, so I had not a chance of seemg 1 them.

The draught stock belonging to the company, taken as a lot, are very promising. Elgin, an imported Clydesdale, is the in'incipal stallion. He is a compact horse, a quick mover, and very good tempered. His head, however, spoils him, having a small eye and narrow forehead. Five of his foals that h;id just been weaned were running in a paddock together, most of them have that fault, but still are good \iseful animals. A gentleman (a Scotchman) whom I met there told me that the characteristic of a Clydesdale was a small eye. Not being a thorough judge of that particular breed, I have looked up the authorities, and find that a bold eye and broad forehead is one of the essential points. Mr. Uire, of the Upper Ward of Lanark, writes with regard to the breed of Clydesdales, "They pay strict attention to every circumstance respecting the colour, the softness and hardness of hair ; the length of the body, breast, and shoulders, breadth of forehead and boldness of eye both in sire and dam. No inducement whatever can lead them to encourage the breed of a horse that is not possessed of the best qualities." The Clydesdale Stud Book, chiefly compiled by Lord Duumore, is one of the best works that can be obtained relating to this valuable breed of horses. In a small paddock was a very tisef ul two-year-old colt by Loch Fergus. He takes after his sire a good deal, and is rather too high on the leg to suit my fancy, the same as Loch Fergus is. In taking leave of the Stud farm, which I hope will succeed as it will be of great benefit to the province at large, I venture to impress on the popular manager the necessity of feeding all the stock well, especially as the quality of the grass is far from good. Mares carrying a foal require quite as much feeding as those that are suckling. They should not have less than lOlbs of oats a day. Tares and rye are also the best green food that can be given, especially to young things an there is no kind of green food that tends more to promote the gi'owth of bone. Foals after weaning till the time of going into training should have as many oats as they can eat and a good mash of linseed boiled to a jelly once a week. If blood stock does not pay for keeping well, they will not pay for starving. Trainers also soon find out the difference between yearlings that have been well kept and those that have not. Pages might be written on this subject, bub those who take an interest in breeding would do well to get any of the following works : — " Armitage on the Horse;" William Day's book on breeding and training ; Mr. Wright's, of Bichmond, Yorkshire, experiences, or one of the many other wellknown books. Breeding is a science, and has to be studied. No one can make it pay if he does not study. Many go too much into the haphazzard style of breeding, and as a consequence come to grief. Picador, Jtjn.