ANNUAL ENTIRE HORSE PARADE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 546, 7 October 1881, Page 2

ANNUAL ENTIRE HORSE PARADE.

The parade of. entire horses took place yesterday in a paddock ki dly provided by Mr P. O'Reilly. One can hardly go further without saying what th-u-ks are due to this gentleman for his great kindness in providing a place in which the various horses can be shown, more especially as he does so without th« faintest possible benefit accruing to himself.

It is with very great regret that we noticed the very small attendance of the public at tliH show. In a place like the Peninsula, where, owing to the hilly roads, horses are absolutely necessary, it is of most vital importance to the farmers to get really good hacks to carry them, and the many people ivho own brood mares would not only be consulting their own good, but that of the public also, in coming to the annual parade and selecting the most suitable entires. This is the great point that has to be settled, for an entire suitable for one mare may be utterly useless for another, however extremely good he may be. Breeders therefore should all assemble at the parade to select the particular horse for their requirements, and those that do not do so are neglecting a duty and losing money also, for it is only by look- ! ing at horses alongside each other that you come to a true knowledge of their merits. There are certain points strongly developed in every mare that want encouraging and others that require diminishing, and selecting a horse .with the opposite characteristics to the latter is the true art of breeding. No general rule can be laid down, and no one entire can suit every variety cf mares, aud one can quite understand an owner with half a dozen mares, puling each to a different horse. There were six horses present in all, the thoroughbred, hack, and carriage class being represented by Marmion, Bantam, Young Diomedes, Sunrise and Touchstone, and the draught by Chevalier alone. Chevalier is a grand horse and thoroughly suitable for the Peninsula, lie is very nuggetty and not too big for the hills, a great qualification in this country. His color iB a rich dappled bay, and he was bred by Mr W. Boag of Fendaltown in 1873, his sire being the grand horse Prince Charlie, and bis dam Princess Maud, a mare which was imported from Victoria, and very much admired in her day.

The first of the blood horses one noticed was Touchstone. He is by Malton out of a Tasmanian mare, and is a dark brown with good flat bone. He stands I.6'hands :md was turned out in very fair condition,

A symmetrical close built horse, he should be a sire of capital carriage horses and »J,so of nuggetty hacks. Little Bantam came next, and a prettier horse it would be hard to put one's eye on. He is just a little on the low side in condition, but a horsa with his points does not want fat to cover them. His sire like Touchstone's is Malton, his dam is Creepmouse by the Peer and he does credit to both sides of his pedigree. His stock aro already well known on the Peninsula, and though he is rather small, yet with his quality he should, if mated to suitable mares produce horses fit for anything.

Marmion, the next in order, is a really grand horse, and his owner, Mr Holly, is to be complemented on bringing hun out in the very pink of condition. His breeding is admirable ns he is by the great Panic out of Barbelle. He is a rich dappled bay and he shone like a picture fromH-Jie perfection of his condition. He stands 16 hands 3 inches high, has immense bone and great quarters, is well ribbed up, and his action is excellent. He should certainly secure a good number of mares, being a good enough horse to be patronised anywhere. Mr B. Shadbolfs entry, the three year ■old colt Sunrise, is the next on the list. He is a son of the well known Eclat, and is a great raking colt of much power and substance and already stands \G\ hands. He seems v«ry good tempered, moves well, and should furnish into an excellent horse. Young Dioinedes was in grand condition and much admired by many. He is •a really handsome horse, with the true thoroughbred iook, and will no doubt secure his full share of patronage.