THE WALKING PACE OF HORSES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1059, 25 January 1883, Page 3

THE WALKING PACE OF HORSES.

An English writer discusses the desirability of adopting the American practice of offering prizes for the best walking horses. He remarks that incalculable benefit would be reaped if the walk of ordinary horses could be accelerated a single mile per hour beyond what is now general. Horses should walk five miles per hour just as naturally and easily as three to three and a half, and rarely four, as is now the rule. All ti e farm, and much of the country road and street horse-work, is done at a walk. It costs no more to feed a smart walker than it does a slow one, and frequently not so much. Now let any one calculate the profit and advantage of using the former in preference to the latter. Let the farmer see how much more land per day he can get ploughed or harrowed ; how many more loads of hay, straw, grain, and vegetables be can take to market; and how much more rapidly ho is able to accomplish all his other work, and he will have little patience in keeping a slow walking horse any longer. It will be the same with the expressman, teamster, and truckman. Bellfoimder, got by the celebrated trotting horse of this name, out of Lady Alport, was not only a fast trotter, but had a natural easy walk of five miles per hour. All hi« stock, out of quite common mares, proved excellent walkers. This shows how easily and rapidly an increased fast walking stock may be bred by all farmers, if they will only take clue pains to select stallions to which they may hereafter nick their mares. A fast walking horse commands a considerably higher price from those who care for the pace than the slow walker, and such buyers are constantly on the increase now, and the day will come by-and-by when a slow walker will hardly get a bid. The fastest walk I have yet neon exactly timed and put on record was that of an English norse, Sloven. He made without extra effort 569 miles per hour. All agricultural societies ought to give good premiums to fast walking horses, the highest prize to be awarded to the one which walked live miles per hour ; the second to four and a half miles ; the third to four miles. This last should be the least time for which to award a prize, and all breeds should be allowed to compete,—Leader.