AUSTRALIAN HORSE MARKET

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8355, 15 February 1913, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN HORSE MARKET

THIS YEAR’S PROSPECTS,. A Victorian visitor when discussing the prospects of the Australian horse (market with a representative of the “Otago Daily Times” said that, for really good-quality colts, mares, and fillies there would bo a strong ■ demand, but for other stuff —well, the market has been so otef-stocked- with this dining the past year or so. that bo didn’t'bhink they Would bo able to give it away this year. In his opinion Australia in horse-breeding was only in the experimental stage now, which Now Zealand had passed tmough some years ago, and that was why the. Shire stallions were Uncling buyers there. The,climatic conditions' are unquestionably against the development of draught horses, and for this reasbn the . Shires might help Australian breeders if put to good Clydesdale, mares, all the male progeny' of this class to bo gelded, and the females put to .Clydesdale stallions again. In this way a certain amount of weight alight be maintained, which is so necessary in the Australian market. Goodquality young mares in foal are sure ;o be in big demand, and provided the quality is unquestionable, shippers will find the market a satisfactory one. Regarding colts, be reminded ns that last year ho saw colts sold at the sale which were gelded immediately after the sale, and came through the same yards again in a couple of mouths and sold at £lO and £l6 advanced prices. There was plenty of only medium-qua-lity stock owned in yictoria already, and the owners of this class of stocic are looking out for something better to put with it, and thus improve the stock. Australia is never so short of colts as she is of. good mares and fillies too. In conclusion, this visitor said there were many reasons why the season should bo a good one for highclass stock, and not the least was tno splendid harvest they had secured. Australia would have 47,000,000 bushels of grain for export this year, and his experience had taught him that when fodder was cheap people were mere inclined to buy horses. At the time of last July sales oaten chaff cost £7 10s per ton, and oat hay £5 per ton. To-day the prices were 97s Mi and 60s respectively, with falling markets, and it would not cost anything like as much to keep a horse in Melbourne this year as it did last.