ON THE BREEDING OF HORSES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 85, 30 January 1863, Page 2

ON THE BREEDING OF HORSES.

TART 11. It has been alleged by a writer in the Saturday Review, reviewing some works on the breeding of horses, that our thoroughbred stock has deteriorated, and in order to establish that fact, it is observed that the horses of the present day do not run such long distances or cany such heavy weights as those of our forefathers. In other words, they are not possessed of equal staminr and constitution. It is true four mile heats are out of fashion, and twelve stone is a weight seldom, if ever carried, but it should be remembered that the power of running a distance, is not an invariable criterion of stamina. Many horses will run four miles, with success, if brought out fresh, and at long intervals between their races, yet cannot bear strong preparation or frequent races. It has been truly remarked by one of the most celebrated authorities on this subject, that “ every horse has his distance” ; some, for instance, evince superiority in short contests of only half-a-raile, some at the end of two miles, as is the case with little “ Te Whatu,” and others of our local horses, and some can extend their powers of endurance to the end of three or more miles, as witness that remarkably stout horse, “ Charles O' Malley, - ’ now- in training for our races, by Capt Vivian of the 14 th Regt. But for ail that, it is frequent racing combined with a long continuance of the turf which determines the soundness and stamina of a horse. Then as to weights, with some exceptions, the horse that can win with nine stone on his back, can Win with twelve, providing all theother horses carry proportionate exactions. The exceptions to this rule are the weedy brutes which scarcely ever win. We are averse to the weight for age system. It does not appear to us at all clear that a b-year old horse should have to carry such a heavy difference of weight to a 3-year-old. We would suggest, that, for instance the Hawke's Bay Stakes should be run for by horses carrying equal weights, and of from four years old and upwards, according to the fancy of the owners. This arrangement is perfectly fair, for a horse at four years old, in our opinion, if of sound constitution, will carry as heavy a weight and run as fast as ever he will during the rest of his days, and therefore any greater weight to bo carried by older horses is so much in favor of the younger ones. It is no reason why a 2-year old and a 3-year old race should not be specially run hero as elsewhere, with equal weights, the only difference being an exaction of greater weight from entires. We cannot altogether agree with the writer in the Melbourne Argus, who advocates the claims of the Arab horse, in preference to the English thoroughbred. That the Arabian horse is possessed of some of the most excellent qualities which it is possible to see in a horse is undoubted, but it appears to us that those particular horses from which our own English breed derived so great an improvement happened to be very line specimens of a very fine breed, and wore introduced at a time when, however good the English horse might be in most respects, he was certainly very far inferior to the Arab horse. The one was a breed emerging from a state of natural barbarism, while the other had, for many centuries back, attained its perfection, it must be remembered, that on the one hand, a continued improvement has been manifested in each succeeding generation of our thorough-bred-stock, while, on the other hand, the Arab, being possessed of what he considers a thoroughbred'horse, would be very much offended if you suggested the possibility of ever so remote a cross having crept in to contaminate in bis horse the blood of that most celebrated of runners which carried Mohammed in his precipitate flight from Mecca. Sir Charles Napier, than whom no better judge of horses for cavalry purposes ever lived', preferred North Indian horses, failing a supply of Arabs or Barbs, and lie also evinced a decided liking for the Australian breed, as a

very hardy, much-enduring horse. Fromthe circumstances, therefore of these horses making good chargers, they would, of course, make good hacks, but for racing purposes, we are induced to think that unless mixed with a large proportion of English racing blood, these Arabian and North ludian pure bloods would be found wanting. But we must confess to a strong regard for the Arab breed, notwithstanding our doubts as to his racing qualities, and that as much on account of his excellent temper and docile disposition, as for any other of the many good things that may with truth be said of him. All persons practically acquainted with the subject of horse breeding will admit without cavil that a good temper in a horse is a most valuable characteristic, for which, by the way, our English blood stock are not remarkable. (To he Continued.)