CAMBRIDGE FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 973, 17 September 1878, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE FARMERS' CLUB.

Thk following is the paper on horse breeding read by Capt. Walmsley at tl-.e meeting of the Cambridge Farmers' Club, held on the 9th insc. : Thou y\\ every thingappertaining to the management and breeding of Jiorses has beeu to qic, for the last

thirty years, a source of the greatest plea-sure and interest, and during t-^vj^£kggfij|p^at period I have P2ev^^^^^^opp6|tunity pass of gaining rjracticaJl information upon the Bubje|||llf(^[;h'ow little I really know i>f mfttjer, and every day tells me My mj|hj I have to learn ;pt\the u^tjßrie^|bf the procreation of tbeeqiiine.^^e. The knowledge of tliisvinltij;nliliy makes me diffident hi reading the accompanying paper tteon brfeeding, feeliug assured that but few of my snggestions will be new to many members. of this club, though possibly to some thW may be useful; r shail attempt to show that horse breeding/ if properly and [ systematically carried out, could be bade a source of considerable profit, as it would assuredly be a source of great interest and amusement. It is an old stereotyped phrase that we cannot get suffieiemly remunerative prices ior th<? horses we. rear. My reply is /this: We do not breed from the right sort, neither do' weT&ke sufficient care of dor stock. I shall endeavor to point out what I consider is the best method of getting good stocU, and, whec got, how they should be treated to render them valuable. In breeding horsos, we have or should have two objects m view— one to increase their numbers, the other to improve their form, and qualit'es, which we do by confining the procreative act to individuals selected by ourselves. What share each parent takes m stamping the sex, the form, and the qualities ot the future progeny we are not altogether -aware of. We can however register facts, and also probably gain something by opinions. That the great work of reproduction is divided between the sexes Ye know, but the exact limits of their proportionate iiifluence we certainly at preseut are unacquainted with. Some have supposed, and I entirely agree with their opinion that the male parent is principally concerned m giving the characteristic external form, while the internal orgaisation is derived from the mother, and seeing that the food of the embryo entirely depends upon her. it may be expected, that the health of the offspring and its const' tutional powers will be more m accordance with her, state than, that of the father. With others the male influence is supposed to predominate throughout, and they regard the mother as a mere hotbed, wherein the ,seed i 8 placed with its full stamp to be simply reared, which opinion as regards horses, has probably been formed from the too common want of attention m the selectiou of the female as a parent. Any mare rendered unfit for other service is yet retained by many of us to produce colts, without raferenco to form or qualities. The very opposite system should be followed. Fortunately our breeders of thoroughbreed stock, pay as much attention to their mares as to those of -stallions. I have already remarked, that I entirely concur mi n tk e opinion of many breeders, that maleanimnl influences form and generate character. Tho female, the internal organization. We see it very strongly demonstrated m the cusas of the mule and the hinney. The former which results from connection of the mate ass with mare, has all the external points of the ass , only a sounder barrel, to give room fft'o t ' the bowels, which resemble those of the- dam. When the stallion is put to the fpmale ass, the result is a modified horse (the hinney), only the barrel is smaller m for m, resembling : that of the ass. If this idea is correct, we should be most careful, that the dam is sound m wind, and of good constitution, being most particular that the sire possesses beauty o f form. ]t is nparly always possible to find out the sire, by the strong likeness to him m his offspring, but this may be accounted for, that he is, as a general rule m the breedof ordinary animals more perfectly bred than the dam. Sires exercise influence on their offspring m proportion to the purity and lengfli of. descent, and the better and purer their quality, the more marked are their effects. The Arabs, from whose stock we are indebted for our very best stains of blood, and who at present, perhaps, are the owners of the only really thoroughbred horses m the world, hold similar views relative to the influence of the sirs, though many writers assert, that the mare is more highly prized by them than the stallion. In Baley's 'Magazine of Sport,' there m a very interesting letter, from the celebrated Ab-el-Kader to General Dumas, bearing^upou the subject. He says : — lt is true that the foal proceeds from the sire and the dara, but the experience of ages have proved that the essential parts of the body, snch as the bones, the tendons, the nerves and the veins proceed always from the sire. This is beyond all doubt. The meanest Arab knows that any malady specially belonging to the bones under which the sire may be suffering at the time of covering will be perpetuated m his produce, such as splints, bone and blood spavins, the shape of the bones, and all diseases of the vertebral column. The dam my give to her produce color, and a certain amount of resemblence m form, the foal naturally partaking of some of the qualities of the animal which has so long borne it ; but it is an incontestible fact, that it is the sire who gives strength to the bones, substance to the tendons, vigor to tin; nerves, rapidity of pace, m short, all the principal qualities. He also communicates what* may bo culled moral qualities, and if he bo unquestionably of the high blood, the foal is preserved from, vice, Our fathers have

eaid, a horse of noble race has no vices. An Arab will lend his stud_horse gratuitously ;he never accepts payment lor hie eerrioes. To, hire out, a stud horse for money is, m the eyes of an Arab, an unworthy action, and i« contrary* to tlie generosity for which he is renowned, and although the law allows it, I have never known an instance of it. But though the Arab lends his horse gratuitously, he doea not do so to che first comer, nor for any mare. No, the supplicant is often obliged to make use of the intercession of persons of great interest, or even of his wives, if he would not ccc his request refused. On the other hand, ' the Arabs are very difficult m their choice of a stud horse, and if ■ they cannot find one of pure blood, they prefor leaving their mares unproductive rather than put them to a common horse. To procure a good sire, they do not hesitate to travel any distance. The preceding has already intimated to you my conclusion that the sire has more to do with the foal than 'the dam; and my opinion is identical with the universal opinion of the Arabs. They say ' the foal follows the sire.' " I think the foregoing letter deserves considerable attention, seeing that the powers of this people — being almost exclusively directed to the one object of horse-breeding — enables them to mark with precision the results of the various operations connected with the improvement of their horses with an accuracy that can hardly be expected of us, whoso observations are liable to be distracted by so many other circumstances. I would add, also, that they use the greatest precaution to avoid being deceived on the point of genealogy. The mares are served m the presence of a witness, who remains with them for twenty days to make sure they are not dishonored by a vulgar stallion. The same witness must also be present at tie accouchement, and a certificate of the legitimate birth of the colt is made out within the first seven days subsequent to that event These precautions prove how amazingly jealous they are of preserving their race of horses m the most untainted purity of descent. It is asserted by Oriental travellers that pedigree can be traced five hundred years back. The services of stallions should not be made use of until they have completed their fourth year — that is to say, when they are rising five,— and* although there are numerous instances on record of young horses having been highly successful at the stud, I must own that I myself much prefer making use of the services of an entire fully matured— that is to say, after he has completed his ninth year, as experience has taught me that the larger number of our great performers upon the turf, the field, and the road have been got by sires when over that age. No stallion should be permitted to serve more than between fifty and sixty mares m one season, and not that number if he travels. It can hardly be expected that a horse, which travels during the heat of summer frequently at a severe pace, with not always the most comfortable accommodation either during the day or night, and with the almost continuous task of teasing and serving mares, from cock crow to sunset, would procreate stock with that amount of vigour that is to be observed m the offspring of those entires who stand' m one fixed locality, and serve mares at the times most suitable to their pQW^ers. I have particulary observed that foaisibegotten at the fag end of a day's travel, ar almost allways deficient m vigour and spirit. To my mind, no horse should serve more than five (5) mares m one (3 ay . This rule, unfortunately, cannot be strictly adhered to, as the owners of some mares are excessively difficult to please, and frequently insist upon more than one jump during the visit to the horse, and constantly declare that their mares are m use, when such is not really the case. They appear to forget that it is the object of the stallion owner to get as many foals as possible, and consequently that he is, or should be, the best judge as to the number of jumps, and the fitness of the mares to receive the embrace. Stallions, generally, are far too much confined between the seasons, which makes them very susceptible of disease ; produces fever m the feet, thrush, and almost every other ailment that horse is heir to, besides engendering extreme grossness, which diminishes to a very great extent their procreative powers. The researches of physiologists having demonstrated that excessive fatness of the carcase is accompanied with deposition of fat m the tissues, and where this is the case the breeding tendencies m both sexes are seriously compromised. There is occasionally, but I am happy to cay of not very frequent occurrence, another cause of the want of the procreative powers of the horse. At the expiration of the season, he is thrown up, and frequently half-starved until the following spring, when he is forced, by immense quantities of hot food, to put on flesh rapidly. Both systems cannot be too strongly deprecated. Stallions should, after the season, be gradually cooled down, and either worked or regularly exercised during the whole winter, which would ensure health m themselves, and strength m their progeny. As a general rule, too great a difference exists m the condition of the stallion and the brood mares. The former is almost bonnding out of his Bkin with excitement consequent npon bis high keep, and his natural temperament, whereas, the very onposite may be observed m the mare wbo ttMom is fed upon anything but grass. Tbe food of stallions and mares Bhould be more nearly assimilation m order to render more certain the Btate of pregnancy, and more perfect the condition of the fcetus. Part of the food which the mare consumes is destined to afford nourishment to her embryo offspring, and like herself it will have impartial to it EOme of the properties of ihat food; it is therefore most important that the nutriment she receives should be of that kind which

is calculated to establish a vigorous constitution. Mr Redwood, certainly one of the most successful breeders of blood stock m New Zealand, on one occasion remarked to me, " 1 always commence to feed my foals three months before they are born" and I have no doubt that his great success upon the turf may be attributed iv a g r eat measure to this judicious treatment of his mares. 1 canno advocate the constant change of sires that prevails m this country being firmly impressed with the opinion that quadrupeds, like ourselves, have their likes and dislikes (numerous instances of which have come under my own observation). It is a well-known fact, and one to -which the very greatest importance should be attached, that the first impregnation has an extraordinary influence upon the future progeny, and it therefore behoves every breeder to be most careful m. his selection of a sire when he first puts a mare to the stud. It has been asserted, and I believe with a great deal of truth, that, when a pure-bred, animal once becomes pregnant by a vulgar breed, she is herself a cross ever after. I feel very strongly that this hypothesis is correct, for we know that a mare that has once produced a mule, though subsequently allied with a male of her own species, invariably throws stock which possesses aßinine properties m form — by elongated ears, a heavy head, stinpes about the legs and body, contracted feet, and is more or loss asinine m temper and character. The suoee.'B of breeding will bo influenced to a very considerable extent by the judgment displayed m. the selection of mares. It is a great and too common mistake to suppose that very large mares are the mo.-t suitable to breed, from. On some

occasions they will produce foals equallj large, or larger than themselves; ai others, they will give birth to those whicl are undersized, and, m most cases, theii stock is puny and weak, and seldom como up the anticipation of thoir owner. The ', same rule applies to oversized stallions. To commence breeding from an old worn-out mare is a fallacy — vigorous, powerful, sound and hardy progeny cannot be expected, and disapi pointment will certainly follow, dome breeders like very young mares, but, for my own part, I should nev.er think of placing a mare to the stud until her sixth year, when she would be nearly fully developed. She would then, if not overworked and well fed, bear foals until she was twenty, or to a greater age. Some of our very best race horses have been dropped from mares considerably orer a score, and I, myself, when m Victoria, some few months since, saw the celebrated " Marchioness," winner of the , Oaks m 1855, and "consequently now m her twenty-seventh (27th) year, not only heavy m foal, but looking remarkably fresh and well. The old established rule of putting very old mares to young horses, and very old horses to young mares, is, I think, always advisable. As the dam is supposed to give the internal organisation to her offspring, the most important quali-

fieation m a brood mare is perfect soundness of constitution. Whether we are breeding for the turf, road, or plough, the broodmare should possess the following attributes : Great width over the hips, deep, slanting shoulders, short cannons, large knees, sound feet, and well-defined hoofs. Mares should never be heated at the time of service. As to the time of day, it is probably immaterial, though — m a very interesting and instructive article upon horse breeding that appeared m the 'Herald' on the 27th of July last — mid day was mentioned as the most favorable time for the embrace. If I have a choice at all, I should say from eight to ten o'clock m the forenoon. Some mares are not stinted at the first, second, third, or fourth jump, and indeed many require almost double that number. Such animals are a fearful drain upon the stalilon, and it is another conclusive proof, I think, .that entires should be restricted to a limited number of mares. I have known instances of mares continuing to accept the services of the horse throughout the whole of the season, and yet have conceived to the first service. All these matters are worthy of note, and if data were kept would prove highly valuable, and interesting to those engaged m horsebieediog. Stinted mares should be kept separate from other mares, also from geldings, at any rate during the summer months, as with the former a sympathy appears to exist during the period of horseing which operates prejudicially to females lately impregnated, and the latter frequently tease and worry a mate to such an extent as to cause her to cast her foetus. It is better perhaps never to permit pregnant mares to be pastured with geldings. Sometimes, it is difficult to determine whether a mare is m. foal or not, bat if attention is paid to the appearance of the animal at about four and a half months from the date of service, a very visible enlargement below the off flank is generally to be noticed if ehe is stinted. The greatest care shoul 1 be exercised at I this particular period, as if the mare is overworked, overgallopped or overexcited, she is very liable to miscarry. This event takes place, mucti mure frequently than is generally supposed, and if -e'dom discovered, as the foetus at tbi> •teriod is so small that it is dropped without been noticed. It should be recollected that a mare that has once miscarried is very liable to the same occurrence. I have had a mare that has done so for five years The only remedy that I have found to answer successfully has been to keep the mare from the horse two years, before again putting her to the stud. Mares that have miscarried, should be at

once removed from other mares, as the sympathy existing between pregnant animals frequently induces others to slip their foals. It is very probable, I think, that some descriptions of food may be injurious to the mare during the period of gestation, a note on which subject I purpose reading at the end of this paper, m the hope that discussion may throw some light upon the matter. The period ef gestation of mares ranges between eleven and twelve months. 1 reckon 344 to 345 days as the average time Instances have "been known of a mare carrying her foal 400 days, and one of our pure bred mares last year carried hers 367 days. The premonitory symptoms of foaling are a sudden enlargement of the udder and the appearance of a small waxy matter at the end of teats. When this latter occurs, you . may he assured that the period of parturition is very near, and the animal should be frequently j visited, but not with too much officiousness, as mares, beyond most animals, dislike observation at that time. Their labour, as a rule, is of very short duration (I have seen a mare foal under five minutes), and they luckily seldom "require assistance Th-:y do not come to their full milk until the fourth day, and should they not yield a sufficient quantity, cow's milk, with sugar dissolved m hot water, may be given to the foal with great advantage— remembering that as the stomach is very small it only requires the smallest quantity at one time. Very many firstclass horses of every description have been reared entirely upon cows' milk.

and bad I a mare m a week state at her foaling I should prefer bringing up her ' offspring m that manner. I consider the tenth day after foaling »8 the beat to again introduce the mare to the horse ; yet, if symptoms of horsing be observed, as is frequently the case on the 6th or 7th day, it would be wise to take her to the horse on the 9th day. Catching a mare m her first pride ib a great desideratum, and should always be secured if practicable. Last year Beven or eight mares who visited the entires at Broad Meadows, that had unfortunately missed their fit.-t period, could no 1 ; be persuaded to accept an embrace during the whole season. I always find it more difficult to stint mares if the first opportunity has been permitted to pass. Breeders should remember that a brood mare missing one season, is predisposed to do likewise the following year, entailing both a monetary loss and considerable annoyance to her owner. Prom what I have seen of this district, I should consider the last week m September quite early enough for mares to commence foaling (or, perhaps, the first week m October), as the temperature is pretty uniform at that period of the year, and the sun — that great invigorator of all young stock — lias considerable power. Moreover, spring may be said to have fully set m, and. the grasses are then full of the richest milk-producing proper- . perties so essential to the development of the foal. Most of the ailments incident to the foal during suckling may be attributed to the dam, and can be usually rectified by an entire change m her food. Weaning may take place any time after five and a half months, and should never be delayed after six months if the mare is again stinted. Castration is generally performed at twelve months, but, should the colt prove deficient m crest at that period, it is as well to defer the operation for another year. As a rule, sufficient care is not exercised m this operation, and scores of good-looking colts are annually ruined m consequence of the slovenly manner m which it is performed. Foals m this country suffer fearfully from worms, Avhich may be expelled by giving them small dosea of salt m their foid or a drench of Ifnseed oil given upon 1 1 empty

stomach. ' < arrots are likewise veryeffijv ciouß m dislodging these internal pests. Foals should be handled and taught to lead us early as possible. At two and a half (2i) years eld they ahou'd be lightly worked or ridden but not over-fatigued T f their education is postponed until they are four years, they, are seldom of very much value. The effects of f.;bd upon the form and character of horses are are very great. ! J he form of a colt that auffeifc deprivation either in;the quantity or quality of its food never becomes perfectly developed either m its bulk or proportion. The integuments of such a one never presents' the gloss of health, neither ie the constitution at large often fr»e from disease. In proportiou as the supply of food within prudent limits is iiberal, so is the growth extended, and the form reaches to the standard of the part n\ lc often also exceeds the parent stock, from the excess of nutrive stimulas applied as We frequently see m horses brought up iv low, marshy lands where the herbage is luxuriant. The object of the breader Bhould be bo to treat bis young animals as ' to develop as I

much as possible bone and muscle, and this can only be done by giving them food containing these constituents, and allowing of sufficient exercise to develop and strengthen the frame arid constitution. In this very imperfect paper (being a stallion owner) I have omitted to point out my own views m regard to the points that should be sought after m an entire, but will simply mention one or two that should always be taken into consideration m the selection of a horse. His head is the index to -his character, hia action to his perfect formation, and his barrel to his constitution. IShort on his legs, broad between his eyes and cars, covering a lot of ground, and yet with a short back, broad across the loins, with great depth of back rib, and thick through' at his heart, constitute qualities which, combined with purity of blood, make him,next to woman, the grandest creature m the universe • And yet, it has: been.truly said by one of our leading writers upon the horse, that, "To determine by the external -appearance of a horse, on the qualifications he -may possess, or what he may be able i to perform, ,i is .--an.- exercise of judgement with which the most experienced are not endowed. Appearances' are so fallacious, that the most skilful will find themselves mistaken. This applies both to racing,: and breeding;therefore, much must be left to future development. If breeding . horses could be reduced to a system like, a sum m arithmetic or an operation m chemistry, there would be an end to speculation, and the exciting interest with which it is. accompanied would be wanting. It is not to be inferred from this that chance presides ; unreservediy over its destinies — f ar from it. There may be, arid are,' some extraordinary incidents which occasionally embellish it with something akin to that character, but they are the exceptions and not the rule. Those who take the most pains to investigate causes and effects will be the most . successful m the enterprise of breeding hordes. Temper is a qualification of- great importance, and this expression must be accepted with a coinprebiensive meaning : .not simply to convey the idea of docility, but the combined attributes of courage and good- will to exert the physical powers to the utmost extent; and, m proportion as a horse is gifted with physical capabilities and the will to exert them, so will he maintain a position among his class. There are instances of horses being endowed with perfect symmetry, great power, and the most exquisite action — all of which are of no avaii if they do not also possess the energy to give effect to those good qualities. Again, there are some having the will but not the power. Stepping frem the race-course to the hunting-field, we often see a moderately-sized, but highlybred, horse going fresh and well at the end of the day, with a heavy weight upon his back, while another of nearly twice his bulk, but wanting aristocratic lineage, carrying only a light weight, is beaten before the day is half over. It is evident m this latter case that the energetic disposition is deficient. This energy is influenced by the degree of nervous excitability of the brain and the nervous system, which influences the nucleus of locomotion, and it shows how much more thoroughbred horses are gifted with the relative proportions of nervous excitability than mongrels. This subject affords a very expansive field for observation, although it is one which breeders seldom take into consideration, and would take up more time than I have at my disposal to thoroughly elucidate. In conclusion, I would remark that the soil m this diserict being of a sandy nature ie especially well adapted for rearing horsesTherefore, do not despair of seeing it become the breeding nursery of the Northern Island for horses of all classes, and 1 firmly believe that if proper care is exercised m the selection of parents, jadicious management; of the mare during pregnancy, and sufficient attention is bestowed upon the young stock we should obtain prices that would prove highly remunerative to all who enter upon this exceedingly interesting occupation.