THE DRAUGHT HORSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1522, 19 August 1912, Page 10

THE DRAUGHT HORSE.

KECENT SYDNEY SALES. PREPONDERANCE OF THE ■ INTERIOR. Referring further to tho recent sales of draught stock held in Sydney, tho "Daily Telegraph" says that to those tellers of draught stock who bated their expectations upon the dear and nctivo market which obtained at the parado sales of last year, tho conditions prevailing must havo come as a shock. 'J he genuine breeder, who looks to these sales to givo him a good portion of his year's income, has found himself not halt as well off perhaps as he anticipated, while the dealers oncountered a profitless path, and in not a few instances were compelled to quit at less than cost. Not more than half a dozen 'horses evoked anything liko competition, and the sales dragged dispiritedly from start to finish. If anything, mares met with readier sale than stallions. In comparison with tho level of prices which ruled last August, values current represent an average drop of about 50 per cent. A few horses sold pretty well up to last year's values, but such quittances wero quite the exception, and the great bulk went for about half what they would have commanded twelve months ago. Tho results of tho sales, though disappointing in most respects, are not to bo regarded as ominious signs of a decadence in tho position of the draught horse. That must be always assured on an increasing scale while settlement and production continue to expand throughout the country, even though the motor is beginning to cut more or less seriously into the domain of the light draught in the city. The prices current for geldings iii the open market is evidence enough for tho breeder of the stability of tho demand. For instance, it was only last month that a draft of heavy Clydesdale geldings averaged over .£53 at Camperdown yards. It was the consensus of opinion among breeders and judges round the ring-side this week that if half tho entire colls brought forward had been gelded they would have sold to better ad-' vantage, their breeders would havo been money in pocket, and the country would have been saved to that extent, from the perpetuation of the nondescript class. Very many of those that have been retained for sires would not havo ranked even as first-class wagon liorses. While numbers of them were obviously purchased to go into drays in Sydney, the majority, of course, will go into the country for breeding purposes. A great deal of the rubbish sold hailed from New Zealand. 'Some of the-dealer* from tho Dominion seem to regard Sydney as a profitable dumping-ground, and it is a pity at least that some bar cannot be placed upon the importation of inferior stallions. Tho gruelling somo of theso sellers have just received may, however, liave the wholesome effect of deterring them from bringing strings of culls across again for a wliile. Even some of the Shires that were brought from England for sale are no acquisition to the country, and the prices offered for such must have,taught the salutary lesson that breeders here will not snap at anything' regardless of quality simply because the horse is entitled to havo the magic (imp.) tacked to his name. It is regrettable that tlio importation of sires from Great Britain has got out of the hands of our careful breeders with reputations to maintain, for it is to these that we can look to introduce from the studs of tho Old Land horses that will help to raise the standard of the stock in the State. It was noted that the slump in uncertificated horses was more pronounced than ever this week. The highest figure paid at auction was 50gns.', and from this down to 2Ggn's. Apparently 'the buyers of most of these rejects intended their purchases to fill the role of the humble cart horse. There is some satisfaction in that. Tho number of unsound horses offered.was smaller than in previous years. Some of the rejects were thrown out by the veterinary officers because they were not up to an approved standard. Those were among some of the scrubbers from New Zealand. One can only wonder that, many more of the local and imported colts wore not rejected on--tho same ground, and this opinion was shared Jby somo of tho most competent judges..