IN AND ABOUT THE FARM.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 138, 20 August 1912, Page 4

IN AND ABOUT THE FARM.

ROYAL HORSE SHOW.

COMMENT ON N.Z. STOCK. The comments of the leading Sydney papers on the recent Melbourne and Royal Horse Show provide food for thought for New Zealand breeders. The following notes are taken from the detailed reports on the show and sales.

The competition at the show between the rapidly-increasing Shires and the old-established Clydesdales was marked, but the latter held the advantage in weight of numbers, and in-the parade of prize-winners for the premium ribbon there were three Clydesdales, two Shires, and one Suffolk Punch. And the three Clydesdales, it is interesting to note, were the New Zealand-bred Plucky Willie, the hero of the last four Royal championships, and two of his progeny, the three-year-old Royal Willie, the property of Mr Hawkins, and Gallant Willie, bred by Mr Charles Greentree, the owner of Plucky Willie. This last-named colt was foaled in December, 1910, but is already an immense animal. He won easily in the two-year-old class from over fifty competitors. He was described by several people as being the finest draught colt they had ever seen in the ring. Plucky Willie's only serious competitor in the aged Clydesdale class —although the class was a very large one, and included a lot of new blood —was Mr M. Water's Darnley Again, and it was not until after much meditation that the judge, after noting the much-improved appearance of the latter horse, repeated the reward of the Easter Show ring, and again placed Darnley Again second. The Clydesdale mares were also numerous in their respective classes, and the tartan ribbon for four years and over was awarded to the New Zealand-bred seven years old bay mare .Milton Lass, owned by Mr A. Hastie. Second place was taken by Mr S. Wilson's Pride, rising four years, another New Zealander. In the three years old class Mr- A. Hastie's Miss Murray, also New Zealand-bred, gained first place, the white ribbon for second being awarded to Mr J, A. May's locally-bred Queen of the Isles. Six out of the nine entrants in the tw.o years old class were Plucky Willie's daughters, and one of these, Plucky Lily, a bay filly, was placed first.

SHY OF NON-CERTIFICATED STOCK.

Referring to the sales, the following comments are of interest: " Even with Clydesdale stallions, a distinctly lower market had to be faced in comparison with that experienced twelve months ago. Even then sales dragged, and only an occasional horse evoked anything like competition. For the majority, the auctioneers had to literally drag bids from buyers. It is true that there /Was a considerable proportion of very mediocre . specimens, and there were no really first-class horses of suitable age for a heavy season's work. The majority of the classy horses were young colts, rising two years, from the Hawkesbury district, by such sires as Plucky Willie, Darnley Again, and Crown Royal. Very promising youngsters went at as low as 50 guineas, and in the first oortion of the catalogue the highest price reached was 180 guineas for Coronation Willie, a handsome son of Plucky Willie, of great' size, and only 21 months old. Mr M. Waters had a couple of grand colts by Darnley Again, but he would not look at the figures offered. When Mr C. Greentree's Plucky Willie colts came out, bidding was rather more spirited, and considering the market he made a good sale with Gallant Willie, the winner of the two-year-old class on the Saturday. He was taken at 240 guineas. Others of Plucky Willie's progeny sold at 120 and 100 guineas. For another, Plucky Lad, 2% years old, Mr E. H. Salter refused an offer of 245 guineas. This colt gained first prize at the last Royal Show. Only a couple of non-certificated horses were offered, and buyers fought shy of them. They were sold at 35 and 52% guineas, but had they had the guarantee of soundnees they would readily have realised twice that money, if not more.

A good proportion of first-class horses, and also a lot of rubbish, passed through the ring at a continuation of the stud sales, and the offering of Clydesdale stallions dragged almost drearily. Prices in many instances were 50 to 100 per cent lower than those obtained at the last parade sales. The owners of many of the better class horses, and including several of the pick, were not disposed to meet the market. The sales progressed through the forenoon without spirit, many horses being taken out of the ring without eliciting an offer, and out of 38 submitted only 18 were quitted. The early sales included a couple of good class three-year-olds at 125 and 160 guineas respectively, the latter being for Britten, a New Zealand bred colt, which was first prizewinner at Berry and Nowra this year. A splendid black HawkesiDiiry colt, a son of Pulcky Willie, the judge's third choice in the

two-year-old classes at the show, went at 195 guineas. Anothei, 21 months old, son of the champion, went at 140 guineas. POOR STOCK FROM NEW ZEALAND. A grand bay three-year-old colt from New Zealand was bought privately by Mr George Bowra at 250gns. A draft of eight serviceable horses,, with size, from New Zealand, were offered on account of Messrs Mitchell and O'Brien. The best was passed in at 220gns, while the others ranged to 200gns, at which Mr Victor Foy purchased a big upstanding three-year-old bright bay. Later on a very slow period followed, while the auctioneer battled with a lot of poor stuffpoor in condition and poorer in quality —most of them hailing from New Zealand. Several of these had been refused Government certificates on the ground that they were not up to an approved standard. These horses all sold at less than gelding prices, running as low as 26gns. Referring to the falling away in the standard of New Zealandbred draughts, another writer says that the quality has fall2n so much that at the recent July sales in Melbourne, when some 800 draught stallions, colts, mares, and fillies were offered, the majority of which were New Zealand-bred, many entires which should have been gelded came into the ring, and then very probably made second or thirdrate geldings. Probably a good lesson has been learned at this year's sales by the dealers and exporters who largely filled this vear's catalogue. Many exporters bought colts in the Dominion practically regardless of quality, and the prices they have been forced to accept in Australia must mean a financial loss in many cases on the original purchase money, without the shipping and selling charges added. This will surely make them more careful regarding quality when buying next year, and breeders who own only medium quality colts will probably find it more profitable to turn them into geldings. One thing is certain, and that is that farmers must realise that every well-come and every well-fed youngster is not necessarily a champion, and when he finds it is only a commoner he must not be afraid to treat it as such.