A RESERVE OF HORSES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1330, 1 September 1886, Page 3

A RESERVE OF HORSES.

Colonel Ravenhii), R.A., lately delivered a lecture in the United Service Institution regarding the reserve o£ horses for the army, and his remarks may prove interesting to colonial breeders. It is far from encouraging to hear that, exclusive of horses in India, the British army is short of something like 28,000 horses. To meet this want Colonel Ravenhill advocates the re-imposition of the horse-tax, and a system of registration. In no country, with the exception, perhaps, of Australia and Canada, is the horse supply .very much ip excess of the commercial requirements of the country, and it seems, therefore, clear that a e must breed our horses before, we can sell them to the Government jibe ..to any one else. Colonels Bavenfoljfjiym^Phillips are abcnt to sail for Camtaar&'order to ascertain and to report what supply is to be obtained there. Whether there is hope from that quarter or not. Government must do something at home to encourage the horse breeder. Government studs in England and also in India have proved failures, being too costly. The cheapest plan after all is to buy two-year-olds from the breeder, and to this end of ths JRoyal Agricultural and Hunters’ Improvement Societies can help much if well seconded. In India, also, there is a great dearth of army horses, which is always increasing. Australia has the means of supplying a fair number of troop horsts for that country, and if sufficient inducement were offered by the Indian Government could almost meet the demand. Is it cot v|thin the bounds of possibility that before long the southern colours may be in a position to send horses to the Mother Oountiy ?