HOME OF THE CLYDESDALE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 286, 22 August 1918, Page 8

HOME OF THE CLYDESDALE

AN AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER'S IMPRESSIONS. Some interesting particulars of a great Clydesdale Stud are given by Veterinary Sergeant, Keith M'Clymont, of Orange (who volunteered in the early stages of the war) in the course of a letter to his brother, says the "Sydney Morning Iler,ald." "While on leave in Scotland," he" writes, "I was fortunate enough to be enabled to visit the most famed Clydesdale stud in Scotland, the very homo of the fashionable Clydesdales of the world, Mr. Dunlop's Danure farm. This beautiful property is situated about 12 miles from Tnrbottom. Rising early on January 2. in company with Mr. Dodd, who is ivell acquainted with the noted Clydesdalri breeder, ive set out on our walk to Tarbottom station. The farmers were counting the black-faced Scotch sheep in the paddock--, and somo wero hooking horses' to (he ploughs—just after tho break of day, 7.30 a.m.j for it was mid-winter—single-furrow ploughs, drawn by two spirited active Clydesdales, splendid stamps of tho breed. Travelling through fertile, undulating, agricultural country, the well-bred Clydesdale is ever in evidence, all of a similar good type. The sun broke clear into a porfect day, as we reached Ayr, the rich agricultural town where Robert Burns, the immortal Scottish poet, was born 159 years ago. From Avr to Dnnure is a delightful journey along the water of the Firth of Clyde. Agricultural land is washed by the water. From the green dales of Ayr can be seen the silver water of the Clyde and snow capped mountains in the far distance. The Dannro homestead is a. snu? Scottish country home. The most noticeable feature in connection with the valuable stud is that the horses live entirely under natural conditions.

"Or" would export to find stallions valued in thousands in warm stables and carefully Groomed. They are not. They ; are not pampered and rendered delicate a? main- nf (he English owners of tho Shire are prone to do. These, .valuable horses are running in the open field, a small pnelosure for each horse. Herp in the midst of winter, the 'aristocracy' of the flydesdile is subject to cold' and hardships; hence the wonderful constitution of the breed, which has made Inm famous in every land and olim». This st"d of Scotland, which supplies tho f-vhinnnW" horse to the breeders of the Empire, ovists on tho dales of th» Clyde —bene" th» n"me Clydesdale. Mnnv" of the noils pt Dnnure are sired by the ■world-famed Bemn nf Bncblyvie.' This horse wn« submitter! to miction. a»rl. af'"i- sensational, bidding between M«srs. Tinnlon and Kilpafriek, was knocked down to dm T)anure owny for the record price of JM. A silver model of the horse, presented by-admirers to celebrate (ho occasion is now on view at Danure. In the height.of glory (he Baron sustained a broken leg, and was finally destroyed. 1 had read that his skeleton had been removed'te «■ museum, but I learned that his remains are in the Soil of the garden ill Danure. .Notwithstanding tho loss of this great horse, .Mr. Ijunlop was enablod to retain the honour of carrying oft' the championship honours of the United Jungdom with Danuro Footprints. This, sire's fee is ijOgns., and the owner reserves the right to purchase anv colt foal at a price not exceeding ,'lOOgns. "I ftiw this horse in his rough winter .coat in liis paddock at Danure, and he is undoubtedly tho best.horse I have ever seen—well balanced, active, splendid action, and weighty, and, of course; full of quality. Ho is of different type lo the imported Clydesdales that have reached Australia, of late years. Many of these are devoid of weight and size, and with comparatively clean legs. Many similar horses_ are to be seen at Danure. The Baron's stock are that way inclined. Diiiiuro Footprints is low set, with great thickness of muscle and substance. Strange te relate, he has a white patch on the belly, a disfigurement which is never transferred to his stock. Ho lias beautiful legs, with good quality hair and perfect feet and'pasterns. 'The feet and pasterns rire the most prominent features of the stud. "Well they might lie, for how many ill-bred horses become useless owing to faulty feet and pasterns? Much white is noticeable on theso horses. Many of them are white above the hock and knee. If there is anything lacking it is size and weight, Danure Foolprints excepted, for he has weight, action, and every quality, but many of them are of the type recently imported by the Ne»v South Wales Giovernment, and are not too favourably regarded by many breeders. Here in Scotland the mares are of uniform quality and size, and big sires are perhaps not so neeessaiy as in Australia, where there are all classes of mares. In another enclosure the champion niaro of Scotland, Danure Chosen, was seen. This mare could not be purchased for .£3OOO. She is of a similar type to Danuro Footprints, combining weight .nnd action with great quality. Last year, owing to labour shortage, Mr. Duiilop sold a number of young colts, averaging oOOgns. per head.''