HORSE-BREEDING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2959, 2 July 1891, Page 2

HORSE-BREEDING.

TO THK KDITOIt. Slit,—The attention of farmers in Kngland is being directed towards horse breeding by those who wish to seo tho stamp of riding and driving horses improved ; at the same time, that the breeding of such animals is profitable to the farmer. If it pays our English brethren to breed horses, it should pay us in Now Zealand, where, if tho prices to be obtained are not so high, the cost of keop is so very much less. AVith so much room for improvement existing in our horses, as is the case in the Waikato, I think it would be worth the fanner's while to pay a little more attention to his lmr-<e-breeding. With the improving object in view, it would certainly bo a step in the right direction to tax stallions. In England, it is a sine qua mm that, a premium winner shall be free from any hereditary unsoundness, and on receiving the premium is bound to serve a limited number of mares at a certain fee. 1 f these premium-winners are securing mares at a low fee, uon winners could not possibly, with any hope of doing a big seasmi, charge a high tee, and thus the tax would be paid by the owners of stallions not securing premiums, and not by the farmer, as some seem to fear would be the case. I have heard some people argue that to improve our breed of horses, we want trash and better mares. This we cannot afford, and must do the best we can with the maies at our disposal in tho shape of good stallions. The agricultural society under whoso ntispice< the stallion parades are held shnull secure the services of the very best judges, as their opinim in placing the stallions is bound to have weight with many breeders who do not profess to be able to judge for thanHßlvea which is the best stallion. In selecting a stallion to put his mare to, the breeder should bs satisfied that any physical defects existing in tho mare do not ex is', in tho bone, otherwise the off-spring cin scare dv fail to inherit tho defeit. The maro herself should be sound and game, with strong limbs and back ; breeders should refuse to breed from their weed mares. We must remember that it is not size alono that is wanted, but sbapi and quality : this can only be obtainrd by the bre'fde- having an ileal in view and systematically b.eeding from his mare and her otf-spring. In my opinion, one »f tho most noticeable faults in our horses is that, with few exceptions, thny are so bad in front of the siddle ; 1 include head, neck and shoulders. <!ood 'quarters, legs aud feat are indispensable, but it is a good head and neck with good shoulders that gives an appearance of quality to the horse that will certainly prove attractive to the buver. With regard to size, wonders coild bi effected in that direction if breeders would give their colts .some good feed during their first winter. No feeding has such an effect upon the horse in stimulating his growth both in muscle and Heah as that given during his first winter. It appears to me that breeders hitherto in selecting a stallion for their mare, instead of carefully considering to which one she is likely to breed the most uselul animal, choose the one that is handiest to them, being totally indifferent as to his qualities, he they good or bad. Truly, a little more intelligence nwst be used if thorn is to he any visible improvement in our horses.— Yours truly, Cheval.