DRAUGHT HORSE – BREEDING.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 11, 10 June 1893, Page 11

DRAUGHT HORSE - BREEDING.

The breeding of draught horses, especially Clydesdales, has greatly declined of late years throughout the Australian colonies, but there .are still a large number of farmers who take a keen interest in all that concerns their favourite breed. Scotchmen in this country (remarks the Argus) will perhaps be surprised to hear that the Americans have begun to ■question the recognised type or stamp of the model Clydesdale as he is bred in Scotland. The Americans claim that the Scottish breeders have devoted, too much attention to the feet and legs of their animals, to the neglect of the other parts of the body, the result being (they say), that the Clydesdale breed is degenerating, instead of being improved, for every day use or hard work. For show purposes, gun-metal bone in the legs, fine silken hair or “ feather,” long pasterns, and moderately wide feet, which they, can handle cleverly, with a comparatively light body, make them very attractive in the showring ; but this sort of animals, it seems, does not quite suit the American taste. A most interesting correspondence is now going on between the American and Scottish breeders on the subject. It should be remembered, however, that the Clydesdale farmers have always aimed at producing a class of draught horses that could stand heavy pulling over hard “causey staues ” on the streets of Glasgow and other large towns; while in America, where the roads, as a rule, were soft and muddy, weight and strength of body are considered more essential in the horses employed than sound feet and legs. At the horse shows in Scotland, the judges examine the feet and limbs first, and unless these points are perfect, no matter how good the animal may be in other parts, it is passed over. In England, on the other hand, the judges commence at the top,” and place most importance on the body of the horse. This is why the shire breed of horses have generally such grandly-developed bodies and bad limbs and feet. Common sense would suggest that the medium course should be pursued in breeding draught horses, so as to fit good legs to a good body, but fashion and “fads” in these matters are often difficult to alter.