HORSES FOR THE ARMY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 311, 12 November 1910, Page 3

HORSES FOR THE ARMY.

-& —■ — A CHANCE FOR THE KING COUNTRY.

On and off for a number of years officers hnve visited the colonies in quest of remounts for the British forces in India, and apparently England itself is not now doing all that is necessary in the way of breeding horses fit fcr service in the artillery and cavalry regiments. Indeed, the subjeet has lately been much discussed in the Old Country, and, only the other day it was stated in a cable message that the British Government had determined to spend £40,000 in grants to encourage breeders to produce horse 3 fit fcr service in the troops. In these days when the Empire is all linked up, the remotest parts of' it might claim to be allowed to compete for the benefit of such grants, and there is surely no reason why the Government of New Zealand should not address the British War Office on the subject. There certainly can be nothing to prevent horsebreeders in this dominion from applying themselves to the breeding of animals fit for military service; nor if they breed the right horses, would they be likely to lose by their efforts; indeed, it would assuredly be quite the other way. The matter, therefore, is one in connection with which agricultural and pastoral societies might help and encourage individuals; in fact, this is being done in Australia, for at this year's Albury show in New South Wales, there were classes for the best remount and artillery horses. Four requirements were stipulated for as essential to successful competition, namely: That teams should be well matched as to size and colour, and show quality; wheel horses must be strong, active, and carry a fair amount gf weight; height 15.2 to 15.3; as wheel horses }iaye tq ijiav? rapidly and must be powerful to pull up and stop a weight of nearly two tons in a short distance, they require to be specially powerful in the quarters and luins; lead and centre horses should be strong and active, and may be somewhat lighter than wheel horses, height 16.0 to 16.1; colour not a very light grey or white." Six teams entered the lists, but they did not come up to the required standard. It is, however, understood that the exhibitors were not disheartened, and Australian journalists have been urging that if all the leading agricultural societies gave encouragement for such competitions it would have a good effect on the type of horse bred in the country. This applies not less to New Zealand than to Australia, in vje\y qf the market that await 3 siu-h stock, it will indeed be strange if individual owners and agricultural societies do not turn their attention very seriously to the subject. The King Country especially, is a district which should not hesitate to take the lead in such an enterprise.