Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers' Gazette. With which is incorporated the Weekly Standard Thursday, August 17, 1905. COMMON SENSE IN HORSE BREEDING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 806, 17 August 1905, Page 6

Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers' Gazette. With which is incorporated the Weekly Standard Thursday, August 17, 1905. COMMON SENSE IN HORSE BREEDING.

With all the theories of breeding there is nothing that will assist n ’he taisiag of great colts so much as a iair amount of common sense. This holds good, especially in regard to the raising of col“.s 1 both before and after being foaled, says “The Horseman.” It hardly seems possible that a man, after investing thousands in stallions and brood mares would allow the young colts to starve, and yet, unfortunately, more than one instance can be cited where promising colta have been stunted and ruined because of stinginess in providing feed for the marl and for the colt after weaning. Pos sibly no breeder would admit that he ever pursued such a foolish policy, yet iii such instances it must be admitted that the breeder has very little common sense in his make up. It is too often the case that a mare and her foal are turned out and allowed to run in the paddock, when it is safe to say the pasture will not furnish the nourishment needed,, either for the mare or her foal. Special care should be taken to see that both are provided with plenty of succulent and nourishing feed. Possibly the pasture will appear sufficient, but if the mare commences to get thin and the colt does not thrive as he should, then pains should be taken to furnish the forage necessary. Some breeders do not appear to realise that a mare and her colt, idle in the pastures as they are, demand a great deal of good food. A mature work horse can get along comfortably with less than a mare in foal, yet many breeders seem to think that meagre pasturage will furnish all the food necessary. This was called forcibly tip mind recently when, in the course of a discussion on a somewhat prominent stallion, a remark was made to the effect that many of his foals in his new home were small, scrubby things, which would never serve to advertise their sire, great speed getter though he has been. In reply the statement was made that it was not to be wondered at that the new owner was prone to turn his colts and mares into a pasture that could not possibly supply all the sustenance necessary. Other breeders with sires of less speed-making ability have been extensively patronised because their colts have invariably looked good and when raced have had the size and

constitution so essential to a racehorse. Colts which have been stunted by starvation cannot stand the strain of hard training, and are sure to develop a weak spot when the work becomes too hard. If it is worth while to invest thousands in a breeding establishment it is very essential that the food supply should he sufficient, and if the farm will not furnish it then money should be expended in its purchase. It is a few hundreds so spent that will make the many thousands a succesfsul investment.