HORSES AND SHOWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 144, 11 February 1916, Page 4

HORSES AND SHOWS.

A contributor to the "Mark Lane Express" remarks that if ever there was need of rigid measures against the use ot unsound stallions it is to-day. liut matters like that aie jast those that are b.ing allowed to go in abeyance, lie suggests that a little fatrurly iotetest by the ' Shire Horse Socicty*s council in thesj thugs and a guiding hand in general policy fiom time to time would be useful. There is he asserts, a somnolent slackness about the council that is not good. If ever the soundness of tha breed needed looking after it u now. Th're are many times when judges cannot agree as to which horse should to below ai;d which go up. At pny rate, however, good-looking" and breed-lika a horse may br, if he is not "ail right" and above suspicion, whila the other animal is plainer and not as good generally, if all were well with the other, then the judge should never hesitate to put the plainer torse up. This crux often occurs between second and third and third and fourth, and indeed among the three when real issues become this: la the hoise that looks best and is the most to typ: to be second, if not he must go down to fourth, for the other' two horses, though not so gay, "are" scur.d without a doubt. Many judges will know what is meant by the latter comment. The same cootributor adds: "Horses may be vetted ere they come in. 1 d.) not reckon mucb of that, especially if the vets are local, because I think it unfair to ask tbcm to officiate. Show vets should be got fn m a distance, and well paid. A local vet should not be asked to otfend his own patrons, pel haps, As for a judge, if he have a suspicion of a "knot" or any other defect, despita the passing of the animals prior to judging, he will be in the test interests of the breed he loves, it he acts on the upnion, and have nothing to do wall the suspicious one. A judge ran oily satisfy his conrcience and t/o his duty if he sticks to the hard and fast rule. Afterwards he may keep his own cou se. Another rula that must ba rigidly obeyed is, luver to take any notice of public opinion as expressei at the ringsi.'e. Above all, it is undesirable that judges "at wor'i" should converse with stewards or exhibitorssave to give orders and tinalily a judge stould never come to the ringsida and talk t) an acquaintance there. Am I not right in saying tbat b all classic rings there has been a elight slackne?B of manners in these respects gradually growing'.' Neither tha Shire Horse King nor the Koyal Show Ring are as awfully rem'.te and as unpassably segregated from the mere outsiders as ttnv were. 1 give thn warniog tecausi it is so easy to deteriorate. I am not hypercritical, but I have noticed what I r.fer to, and could give phc3s, names and dates."