SIZE IN CLYDESDALES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2677, 25 January 1916, Page 8

SIZE IN CLYDESDALES

A lecture on "The Clydesdalo Horse" was delivered recently by Professor John K. M'Call, says the "Live Stock Journal:" The Professor said although it was commonly believed that Lanarkshire was the home of the Clydesdale, there was evidence to prove that at the time referred to quite a . number of good- animals wero to be fout: 7 lan Renfrewshire and other counties/' With the foundation of the Stud Book in 1577 the improvement: in the .'Clydesdale;.was more manifest.than it had, been prior ; to the inauguration of ; the book. - ' Those responsible- for- the • hook had considerable difficulty in . deciding what animals, were to be They allowed in two horses, Prince of 'Wales and Darnley, which were 'the; real foundation of the present breed. Both Darhley. and Prince of Wales were of Shire'descent. . Coming to. .the characteristics .of,-the...breed, he said the chief of the . - were. ;the of extraordinary quality, with-weight, substance, gaiety of action, quality of bone, and nice silky hair; sloping pasterns, and large, sound feet.:.- The height of males was usually about-17 hands,-and of females, up to 16h. 2in. To-day the Clydesdale was really divided into two types, one if which was, ;.the:.:show- type, such as was-fe -be-seen- : a't- Scotstown and other "shows."'/i'AfiifflJils-SfiHiat itype' showed superb " Equality, extraordinary/ finish, and good action, but, if one might be' hypercritical, a little lacking -in middle and' substance. They had not to consider the height of an animal only. A , Clydesdale might be 17 hands high, but; looking at him "end on," there might not bo very much of him. Owing to the great extent to which in-breed-ing- -was carried on, quality was being produced at the expense of substance. Breeders had to face that- question, the results" of' .which, were;, apparent/ in" the: show: ring.' ' . Clydesdale breeders had always to keep the market in view.' Thero was always a demand for good heavy horses.. They had that market at home and. abroad. The colonies wanted horses of size and weight, and if farmers Would choose -to breed with that... object in view there • would bo :feweicS"misfits": ,and ■ disappointments. It had often been .'suggested of late that the only remedy for .the. so:called,deficiency in size was to adopt the principle. of allowing' in. Shire".blood, again. That,, however, was out of the question. The Clydesdale Stud. Book- was recognised, all over-the world, .and it would to open up the book and admit Shire,.blood again. ,' Those yio wanted increase! size -should use the Shire,-.but iot it-be done without ; tho Stud Book.