PALSE STANDARDS IN JUDGING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 974, 15 November 1910, Page 8

PALSE STANDARDS IN JUDGING.

A HOESE AUTHORITY'S.CON-' ' : CUJSIONS. . The following ■ article. .'should : . make flraught horso breeders generally ask themselves if, with all their? striving for ehew ring honours, they are working along tho right lines. The extracts are from the "I''arm and Stockbreeder" (England), and are written over tho name "Sphinx." "Why," asks tho writer, "do the heavy dorse breeders grow' their stock on tho rich silts and alluvial pastures, which can and are fattening bullocks around them as they grazo? There is no secret about the matter. I have,seen horseflesh of this description in'tho manufacture,' and in the show-ring too. The answer is simple—because it pays on account of our False criterions and standards. Is not the whole subject of horse-breeding, both light and heavy, worth reconsidering once again before it is too' late? : The United. Kingdom cannot grow its own .horse supply. Tt can, however, do something which is much more valuable for mankind and lucrative for the national pocket; it can grow any type* of horse required to absolute perfection if it works along scientific lines of observation, and culture.' Our supremacy "in , developing and growing the thoroughbred puts the matter beyond all doubt. It is only a question of finding the right lines of evolution. . If our position is threatened at any time, it will be the, result of our own mad folly. : Done and Muscle. ■ "Weight of bone.and muscle where -the size is v elephantine are one thing, weight of spongy bone and laid-on flesh another. The larger the frame the more the animal costs in. upkeep. and replacing. It has yet to bo proved that vast size is of much value when pitted against compact bone and frame, iron muscle and a bravo courage. I remember, on a large farm, if a difficult job had to be done, one mare had always to bo fetched for the purpose. She was nothing particular to look at or great in size, but had determination and strength of muscle beyond anything else we ever had. She was. a deep, breeder, and her stock were the best , that ever left this place. Four witnesses,, at different, times, told me she performed a' task alone that two heavy geldings . together : \ had , failed to accomplish. .If size and weight can overcome treat and constant strains which thoroughly, test it> it will certainly have a place, but not the very highest place, in the draught-horse; world. This, for the very best of reasons, that in nineteen cases out of twenty the gift, when set against .its first cost and upkeep, will be prohibitorv. Moderate size, determination, and shength of; muscle in practice ;will knock everything . else out. Why 'cannot this extr'aspecially valuable gift be sought out by tests, and used in : producing , the ideal draught horse? . ■ .

i A Suggested Stud Book. '■■■; '"There-, is but one reasonable, way... to j' bring the heavy horse societies into line .'. .with modern knowledge. They must '■■ combine to a certain extent, and have one !■". common stud book, or have separate ones ; that allow of freq crossing. Most im- ; portant of all, they must devise a full and satisfactory list of tests, and always : bo ready to'increase them. •, Loojis, hairs, • ontward:_ideaV form, mustvbe sacrificed for energy, .pluck, capacity and stay, jiin- '. der the hardest conditions.. ."Geldings .'would be- inadmissible, ,and '• . colts and fillies, too, till their fourth V year. 'The. testing combine of liorse 1 societies,, as they would have the welfare of the/draught horse at heart, and a de- : . eire ever to improve it, would cast aside Hi ibejipnd theifr purpose, all prizes for ■; ■ foals and. other-immature stock, , ■-, and ! '■■'■ eteadily discourage parly maturity in all ;, ways, being solely desirous not to dwarf '<./■ good natural capacity by over-straining ;■■■■'■ in immaturity. This must be insisted on. ; ."Let anything that is presented, if ■ found 'to be sound, be tested, and if ; sterling merit .is discovered, let it be al- .; lowed/ on those'; merit's to enter' the stud !.'. book or books. In the end, as only prac- ■ fcical tests would be followed as guide, ■'' and not any artificial standards, from the : leavy breeds of : England in combination \'."■■■ would come a new heavy breed for the whole .— world. It will be a form made out of i. '■■ the best qualities of all■ the.breeds, and : anything good still lying outside; it would ' not be like any one we possess to-day in -Britain.. It will /be the product, of 1 • natural evolution directed by man,-not .of artificial standards. It will be all this, and more , than cannot be named ■bow, for it will -possess the symmetry ,'" and beauty of perfect. health and aptii' tnde for its work, because it will, be the : produce of natural laiv and practical : tests, arid not of any foolish human ideal : eriterions."