IMPROVING THE BREED OF HORSES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9548, 21 July 1909, Page 4

IMPROVING THE BREED OF HORSES.

Mr E. D. O'Rorke, the weil-known horse judge, of Hawera, has written to Mr J. M. Johnston, of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, propounding a scheme for improving the breed of horses in the Dominion. He suggests that £2,000 per annum be set aside by the Government out of totalisator revenue, and given as premiums for privately-owned light

and draught sires, two premiums in each class to be given in each provincial district, the awards to be made by boards consisting of practical horsebreeders and a veterinary surgeon. The horses are to be passed for soundness, and to be at the service of farmers at a reduced fee in a limitM number of cases. Mr. O'liorke continues: "For England, America, Germany, France, Japan and Australia, the value of careful breeding has late!y been brought prominently forward, and I think it is high time our country (so magnificently adapted for ' should wake up and recognise the urgency of breeding good, sound stock. Ido not believe the time has arrived for compulsory registration, but I firmly believe that, with a premium scheme well carried out, breeders would, iti nine cases out of ten, prefer to breed from the known sound animal than from an unknown quantity." Mr O'Rorke says that at many shows he has seen sires that should never have been used.