AMERICAN CLYDESDALE ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 8

AMERICAN CLYDESDALE ASSOCIATION.

At the annual meeting of the American Clydesdale Association, held in ,Chica-£jb in December last, Mr Alexander fralbraith. Janesville. Wis., was elected president. Mr Ogilvie, the secretary and treasurer, in his report said: "Attention has, on former

occasions, been directed to the limited nun*, bers of the breed in their native country^ Those numbers are not increasing— a con* diticn that is duo to an increased demand for them from every horse-breeding nation, on the globe, which clearly entitles Clydesdales to be called the ' globe-girdling ' breed. It may be needless to reiterate that; Scotch breeders of Clydesdales are less tempted by offers of long prices for their tops than the horse-breeders of any other nation. They have less incentive to sell for exportation. We have reasons, there* fore, to congratulate our spirited and enterprising- importers for the average excellence of their annual importations to this country, in spite of the extravagant prices paid' to sicure the best. Continued success inthe showring of home-bred animals gives added significance to the fact that our breeders have established c standard of excellence equalising the best imported* types. Fiom year to year we have seen a glowing apprciation of high-class Clydes* dale geldings. To-day we see more marked than ever the ever-widening difference between the get of a hi^h-class stallion andi that of the inferior or mediocre size. This suggests the necessity for the most dis-. criminating selections, and the use of the emasculator on all but the best mares. W« have no longer a place for inferior or un-' sound stallions. No need to tell us thatf< great numbers within the breed are by no means essential to its world-wide prominence Quality, not numbers, should characterise the conduct of every stud oni this continent. Nothing of the popularity attaching to the Clydesdale gelding as tv show horse has been lost durjng the past year. The ctemand for the best specimens is knpner than it ever was, and the prices realised more remunerative, ljuyera more than ever realise that the oblique pastern so necessary to a long stride ana elastio step, admirable quality of bone, and native strength of fibre, united with the invincible? spirit to do or die in the traces, make ours the best draught geldings in the world. Iti is in our power to hasten or delay the time when the superlative merits of out| favourites will receive an unqualified en,* dorsument from an unprejudiced public.; We can hasten this much-to-be-deeired situtu tion by burying all personal and selfish; interests and petty jealousies, and stands one and all, shoulder to shoulder for an» approving recognition of the best types of the 'breed, regardles.i of their origin or, ownership. We can and will delay the admitted ntastery of Clydesdales in America" by ins'stin^ tFat mediocrity is better suited to Ameiican needs than the best to bo found in their native country or our own. A narrow policy should be avoided by us in' our effort to extend our breeding interebta on th ; i continent. We may, and crobablyf will, have differences of opinion, without differing rrsterially in our treatment ofl recognised breeding! principles. A prudteno forbearance with those who may differ from! \is in ncn-essentials will promote a good feeling in our ranks, and by our exarapla encourage a harmony of opinion which wiU tend to unite us in object and in willTnose who are eagerly pressing forward in pursuit o." truth will ever be grateful trf those who may have cleared any part of the way for them. Why should wo rot applaud ami in every way encourage those oc our public-spirited importers and breeders who import the best examples of the Clydes* dale race obtainable in Scotland, or those who are breeding showyard champions on this side of the Atlantic, with which out banne- may be>carried to the Front in thd present fierce batle of the breeds? Now, si word to those timid members in our ranks who may fear that America will in time become a veritable Percheron. breeding territory. I do not subscribe to this opinion. I am inclined to regard the Perohercn« as friends rather than the foes to» Clydesdales, in that they are serving us as a temporary expedient in the education on the public into an appreciation of the value, of a life\ht draught horse, as against the native with his utter absence of draughthorse qualities. I believe that the time is near at hand when ihe employers of draught teams will discover the wide disorepanoy ins the daily tonnage Clydesdale geldings of weight and power can handle with eas« over the limit in hauling capacity of the* French gelding. When this day comes, and come it will, the present generation ofi American farmers and breeders will find the demand for heavy Clydesdale geldings'

far In excess of the possible supply, so that instead of Peroherons retiring! Clydesdales from the etreets of our cities, they are but paving the way for their ultimate suprema«7 on tliis continent."