PROPOSED DRAUGHT-HORSE BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9129, 30 June 1908, Page 4

PROPOSED DRAUGHT-HORSE BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION.

It is not improbable that a Draughthorse Breeders' Association will be formed in Masterton shortly. Several prominent breeders of draught animals have discussed thp idea among themselves of late, with the result that an Association will most likely be formed to advance the interests of breeders of the district, and the raising of the standard of the stock bred. Obviously such an Association would have material advantages, not only to breeders themselves, but to every person who uses draught horses, and there are contractors and farmers whose annual disbariements for driught animals amounts ta no inconsiderable sum. A local breeder, speaking of the objects of an Association such as that proposed, said that when in Palmerston North he was struck with an exhibit made by the Veterinary Department at the National Dairy Show of the skulls of two draught horses. One skull was that of an animal that cost £6OO, and it was plainly apparent that the horse was far from a suitable one for breeding purposes, a-? the skull was composed of a very brittle and unhealthy bone. The other skull, shown for purposes of comparison, was that of a healthy animal, and was of a fine bright bone, resembling ivory in, its perfection. It can readily be conceived that very great mischief would be] done by a

physically unfit animal being used for stud purposes, and one of the objects which the proposed Association would aim at would be the registration of stud animals subject to veterinary certificate. The growing importance of our agricultural district fully warrants the formation of such an Association.