HORSES WANTED.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2797, 31 May 1911, Page 3

HORSES WANTED.

AUSTRALASIA'S GREAT DE-

MAND.

The Defence Department of the Commonwealth of Australia is badly in need of horses, and it would appear that the regulation as to standard of quality has been somewhat relaxed. It is becoming increasingly difficult to pick up good sorts.

" It is evident," says the " Australasian," " that any high-falutins? ideas on the question of even heights and regular type have had to be abandoned. The horses which have arrived in Sydney lately may be described as being everything except draughts. There are still a few smartly-bred ones, but the great majority is composed of the sorts that are produced by breeders who only think of having foals, and give little

thought to the quality of the sire provided he is a cheap one. Probably the department will have to put up with some very queer customers before the buying scheme is through. Already many of those which are being handled may be described as being—just horses, and that is about all. . . . " How to meet the demand for drafts of decent light horses is being discussed every hour in the day. It is pointed out that things are likely to be even worse in the future than they are at present. Through the examination ot stallions prior to the shows -sound animals have reached very high prices, and they are also very scarce in the country districts. Substantial rises in stallion fees are confidently anticipated, and it would really seem that these will be necessary in order to make the business profitable' Owners of mares will undoubtedly shy at these high figures, and the cheap, unsound stallion is likely to be more freely patronised than ever. Under the circumstances, suggestions that the State subsidy scheme of the French and other Continental Governments be m-

troduced, is again attracting attention here. It is suggested that the totalisator should be legalised, and that the percentage received by the Government on the money going through the machine should be devoted to assisting horsebreeders."