LONGEVITY IN HORSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 28 July 1928, Page 25

LONGEVITY IN HORSES

AUTHENTICATED RECORDS According to an English authority, the following - are well-authenticated records of old age in equines:— “Alderman,” carriage horse, property of Mrs. Ashley, Lincoln, was alive and doing regular work just before the war at the age of 41. A Towcester commercial traveller drove the same pony for nearly 40 years on his rounds. “Tommy,” a Welsh cob, was last year living in retirement near Conway, after working regularly for 38 years. Owned by Mr. Wm. Rowlands, he never needed a vet. Philip Ashley’s first circus horse lived to be 42. An Arab stallion was destroyed in Kenya Colony in 1927 at the age of 35. “Old Peter,” which went from England to the Argentine, died there in 1915, aged 47. Pie sired 17 foals the year he died. • Old Bill," the property of Mr. Petrie, of Edinburgh, lived to be 60. Professor Owen Williams vouched for his age, his father having attended him. ••Jolly,” owned by Sir BellingliamGraham. at Norton Conyers, near Ripon, lived to be 62. Major PI. E. Baker hunted a gre. till it was over 30. This gallant hunter fell dead with Major Baker when out with the Sinnington. Other records of remarkable equine longevity might be added, including that of “Clover,” which died at the age of 53 in 1924. His age wasparticularly interesting in that he retained his teeth to the end. The skeleton and skull have been placed on view at the American Exhibition of Natural History, New York.