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HORSE BREEDING

O ^ I^ A^ 1 ) A^

Letter of Colonels Ravenhill and Phillips.

ALSO

AN ADDRESS BY COLONEL RAVENHILL TO HORSE BREEDERS.

OTTA.AVA, leth MAIiCH, INRT.

The ju'compnnying letter of Colonel EAVENnri,L, RA., Inspector
and Purchaser of R.A. hor.^cs, signed also by Colonel Phillips, and
Thomas Matthews, B. 1st Class, Koyal Horse Guards, on the sub-
ject of the conditions atforded by Canada for the supply of horses for
the Cavalry service in England, and also an address by Colonel
Baveniiill to the Horse Broedei-s of Gieat Britian, are published
by dii-ection of the Minister of Agriculture, in view of the interest
and importance of the information contained in them, in relation to
horse breeding in Canada, and particularly with a view to building
up an important export trade for the Dominion.

Department op Aoeicdlture,
Ottawa, l()tli March, ISBT.

U:iTKK RKSPKCTlxNi; HOUSES AND HORSE RREEUliNG
IN CANADA.

»-.*s^«^v>/«j

KOYAL AllTH-LKKY, RkMOUNT ESTABLISHMENT,

Woolwich, 27th Decombor, 188G.

Sill, — In coniplianco with the request contained in your depart-
mental letter of the Uth October last, I have the honour to forward
the r()ll(»\vin<^ renuirUs which have occurred to the otHcers of the
British War Ottice Commission rospectinj^ the hoi'ses in Canada.

1. The result of the horse liade of the Dominion is not an easy
matter to arrive at, for there are no advertised horse or cattle lairs,
or other organized live stock markets, whore collections of horses
and animals are to be found on sale, as is the case in all other horto
producin;^ countiies. Kven just across the border in the United
States, the horse rearing localities have their periodical court days,
when, according to the season of the year, a considerable number,
or smaller quantity of animals are ott'ei'cd on sale; and it would bo
much to the benefit of the Cantulian breeders if some similar plan
could bo introduced by co-operation tl.J-oughout districts, on fixed
market or exhibition days, as a means of bringing the producer and
purchaser together in greater numbers, with corresponding advan-
tages for both sides, thus upsetting the existing monopoly. The
whole horse and cattle trade of Canada is at present in the hands of
Americans r id a few other dealers, with some amateur horsemen in
each distrijt, who regulate the rates, rule the breeders in their
respective districts and give whatever prices they choose, which are
low, and in the case of the American dealers are so small that it
repays them to take horses across the frontier to the extent of 11,000
last year, and yet be able to pay an import duty on their entering
the States of 20 per cent, on the declared value of each animal.

2. The ignorance and innocence of the breeders and owners as to
the comparative value of their animals may here be instanced. It
is stated that in some places where local or other exhibitions of stock
were being held, the agricultural authorities had most generously
got togethei- subscriptions to help our work and ottered considerable

inoiloy pi'ixoH ut the autumn sbow-* for hoi-BOM bubt litlu<l tuc BritiHli
military purposes, when such indifferent uniinals were exhibited for
these prixeH that it woh not poiwible for uh to award any premiumH
ui' oven purchase anything : in other part« of the Hanio town where
wo had appointed, good and excellent hoi-NOH wore collijctod foi' uh to
HOC, many of which we purcha.*»od and in one or two caHos had tho
greatest difficulty to induce the owners to enter their animals so llmt
we might awaitl them a prize and thus give what amounted to a
higher price for their horses.

In tills matter the people require education, and time to undoi-
sland the system of dealing with their stock.

3. It may be dosiiable here to remark that if tho opinions gencrsblly
of thoso men in Canada who aie, at present, interested in or
connected with the hoi-sc trade, were asked, they might be lound
antagonistic to these propo«il» a> upsetting their monopoly, and it is
believed that the Canadian tamicr is so slow to act or obsoi-ve thai he
might not at fii-st appreciate what, if once introduced and carried
out, would prove to be for his? nuiteriul advantage.

4. In the present state of the horse trade of the Dominion, no
English or European dealer (where after all the great market is to bo
looked for) could att'ord the time, or expense, of moving about the
country along great distanceii, and only being able to purchase a very
limited number of good, anblemished, sound animals.

5. The price of a hoi-se all over the world is fictitious, uncertain,
and dependent on what hts maimers art) like, what he is fitted for,
his size, breeding, action, colour, appearance and power, &c., whether
he is for riding or draught, whether a good hunter or an indifferent
hack, whether he is blemished or not, and to ensure a good price
he must be sound and otherwise (ierfect, and any departui*e from
these may depreciate his value, whereas the price of a bullock is not
so regulated, it becomes a law of supply and demand, and is do-
pendent on the amount of human sustenance required, whether meat
or milk. Many of the horses of Canada are very good, and if a co-
operating market could be introduced, buyers from Europe, giving
good prices for good animaUij wouhl assemble, and the breeders would
get higher prices.

6. We think it right you shouki be intormed that during our visit
lu tho Pominiou, which occupied 167 days, we ti-avelied 14,755 miles,

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we uxuiniued 7,674 liurben, ol \vhii;li wo itjgiHlf rod, to look u( jinecoiul
Lime, 1,025, with tlie losult tluit wo wore only able to purchase lor
the Govorniiic'iit H3 horwos.

7. The prires of tho whole of these were vory icUMunable and
UHKlerate, and it was no question of money in tho n>aj(»rily of canes
which prevented our purchasing in hngcr nunihcis.

We found that tho great proportion of liorses met with of tho si/o
and sort suitable for British military purposes were unsound or
blemished, from tho tiirmors overworking their stock when too young,
thus breaking down the yv)ung ones before they have developed into
horses.

The attention ot breeders and farmers cannot be too strongly drawn
to this serious deterioration, and when the mares como to be bred
from, their ills are transmitted to their young stock.

S. The number of faulty and unsound stallions in districts is also
gicat, and creating much harm.

9. A mulfoj-mation in tho Canadian horses which might ad\:in-
tageouhly be brought to the notice of breeders is tliat their quarters
are short and very drooping, a serious defect in a military horse.
Indeed wo had to reject as unsuitable a considerable propoi-tion on
this account ; this is not only a great dissight, but whei-e a mounted
soldier has to carry a kit on his horse's back it amounts to an in-
supoi-able objection ; it has arisen from tho too extensive use of the
American trottei- for stud purposes, this defect being veiy apparent
in that horse. This is an additional reason for the more continuous
introduction of the English T. B. or such horses which are very
straight in their backs and quarters, with tail set on high.

10. Then, of course, the American dealers do not take away the
worst of the horses, and pui'chase many very valuable mares, leaving
in tho Dominion the un.sound maMbrmed stock to be bre<i from,
which, put to unsuitable and in many instances unsound stallions,
transmit to their progeny their various parental ills, for unsoundness
in the horee is as surely hereditary as consumption, cancer, scrofula,
general weakness or unsoundness is among the human race.

11. It thus becomes a question whether the Canadian Government
cannot alTord some direct helj) to this very valuable industry, so
needful and remunerative in timo of peace, so i-equisite and indis-
pensable in time of war ] and it is suggested, on somewhat similar

^'luiindM iw liiiH boen HuecuHHtully uHlubliHlied in Australia, lliuro
should bo an iiiHpector of horae breeding operations in Canada.

12. It is not desirable to intorPore with free trade in horses or itt
a u}' way to place a prohihitiun or pi'ohihitive duty on the sale oi-
export of mareti, but on the otlier hand a considerable number of
I'enuinerative premiumH might bo otfored by the Govoinniont in
districts (for the next ten years) for brood nuirc^ of a certain hi/o,
weight and standard, which must be laid down, with foals at foot,
say «20 per head for the ten best, 812 per head for the 2n(i ton
mares, at each district show, with still largei' premiums for stallions,
which would have also to bo of a fixed weight, standard and ([uaiity,
thus inducing farmers to keep their best slock in the country.

13. Owing to the extended rail coniraunication in the Dominion,
farmers have not now so far to travel with their light, iinick going
horses along roads as they had twenty years ago, and the large cities
and towns springing up have created a demand for heavier hoisos ;
thus breeders have been turning their attention more to the class of
Clydesdale, Shire and larger horses, and have ceased to breed so
many as formerly of the lighter, better bred, general purpose horse
which is that required for army purposes. Again, (he ]»eople of
Canada are not a riding luce ; you never see a boy riding a horse to
plough, nor a man on the back of ati animal going to the village
forge. All travel on wheels in summer or hitch their horses to
sleighs in the winter time. The only riding horses made use of are
purely thoae for pleasure with the limited number of hunt clubs and
the still smaller quantities of people who, independent of those who
hunt, take horse exercise in and about the lai'ger towns, together
with such horses as may be used in the yeomany and other mounted
coips.

14. The consequence is that it is quite the exception when a horse
with lengthy rein and quarters, good withers and lengthy sloping
shoulders, suitable for riding, is mot with, this strain being only
procuiablo by a judicious admixture of the T. B. horse which should
be liberally subsidized by Government with extensive premiums for
all that are sound, of good size, bone, colour and action such as will
provide the requirements of the Western mai-ket.

(The importation into England alone is over 17,000 horses annually,
all I'lvm foieign sources, so that this trade is worthy of consideration.)

IS. AVluit lifts boon Mftid rewpootini; the hornoH in Cnnndn Wowt is
ii!so ap|)li(uil)lo to tlioso ln'od on tlio lanrlioH, whoro oxcollonf. inurort
olsixo, oolviUi- and quality are t/) l)0 mot with whioh re<|uire judicious
wooding out and then mating to T. B. horses with hone, power and
action.

in. In concluHion we must ho^ to express our gifttitude for the
nblu and oordial lulvico and assistance rendered us throughout our
visit from yourself and tho whole Department of Agriculture under
yoiir administration. Our thanks are also due to Mr. Frod White,
the (comptroller, to Colonel Ilerchmer, the Commissioner, together
with the officers, non-commissionod oflBcors and men of tho Xorth-
Wost Police, and the man}' gentlemen throughout Canada who have
afforded us so much help.

17. We have postponed replying to your letter in order that we
might retl'i' the matter to the War Offleo with a view to obtaining
some instiuctions tor tho future. We ai'o now directed to inform
you that, " so far as oan be soon tho horses which have been already
bought would appear to justify tho purchase of additional numbers
annually in the future."

We have the honoui to be, Sii",

Your most obedient servants,

F. G. HAVENIIILL, Colonel R.A.,

Inspector and Purchaser It. A . Horses.

G. PHILLIPS, Colonel.

TIIOS. MATTHEWS, K 1st Class,

/fo//al Horse (hiards.

To the Ibm. .John Carijno,

Minister of Agriculture,
Ottawa.

P.S. — Three hundred horsos may be bought in ('anad.M next year
if they cm be obtnined within the prices and ot the stamp required.

1^. G. RAVENHILL, Colonel RA.

TluHolldwiiiu i('|nni lijiM Ihhmi coininimicftUvl lo llu« Mini^Hlor ol
Aju;rieiilturo : —

ADDKKSS TO IKMISK HKKKDKKS.

Pollvcrwl ill tho Committeo-room of Ihe A;,'ricullnnil ITall at THliiij;-
lon, at the request of tho Council of Mie [nMtitiilo for Afjjrit'iilliiie,
on Wodnosday, 2nd Maioli, 1H87, l>y Oolonel K. (\. Kavenhill,
U.A., Inspeclor and PnicIuiKor of R. A. hoittOM, on the occasiMn
of the Htallion hIiows of tlie lIun(oi'8' Improvoniont and Hackney
Stud-Book SocifttioH.

The Dukk of VVkstminstbr, l\.(i., in tiio chaii-.

T have heon asked b}- tho Council of the Institute of Agriculture
to give a nhort address to-day on '* The Bi'oeding of Horses suitable
foi' Her Majesty's Sei-vice." The present time would appear to bo
not altogether inappropriate for this purpose, when it is i-eraembeicd
that great efforts are being made in various directions to rouse
bi'eedei's and agriculturists to the desirability of their I'ocovering for
their own pockets a great portion of the thiid of a million of money
going out of the country annually in the purchase ol' an average of
some 17,000 foieign horses imported here foi- work; all of which w«^
could doubtless i-ear far better in England. In support of this
revival, lot me refiei' j'ou to that show of thoroughbreds at Newcastle,
on the 25th of January last, and also to those shows openod in
London by the Shire Horse, the Hunters' Improvement, and Hackney
Stud Sociotios, with manj' other associations formed or foi ming all
over the country, at Lythani in Lancashire, ami al Sherborne in
Dorsetshire, &c. This matter is of great public and undoubted
military importance, and if anything I can say to-day will enablo
the British farmer in his present distress to think of anything to
improve his jtosition and brighten his prospects, or further any
sclieme iov benefiting the breed of horses, more especially those
required for military purposes, then my object will have been gained,
and I trust your valuable time may not altogether have been wasted.

The subject of oui* British Honse supply has been continuously
brought to the notice of the public of late yeais, through the com-

IniMltti' (>r

lit TMliiifi-
I'icMillni'i!,
iiivonlull,
* occasion
IlivcUiicy

^riciiltiirc
>8 Huitablo
[)eni' to bu
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to I'OUHO

voi'ing for

of money

iverjijifc of

which wo

t of this

ewcHttle,

opened in

Jluckney

>r)ninjL!; all

rborno in

nidoubted

11 onubk'
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thci- any
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3n gained,
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itinuouHl}'

the com-

mittoo culled for by Lunl RoHobory in the IIouho of LoccIh, in 1873*;
by thill rtplondid proposal of Loitl Culthoipe'ti in 1875; again by
Mr. Chaplin, in the Houho of CommonH, in 187& ; Hubsoquontly by
Sir Fred. Kitzygnim. Burt., M.P. ; Mince then General Sir Fred.
Uoborts, Hart., at the Mansion House dinner ; Colonel Keith Fraser,
in the pages of the Fortni(jhtly Ikevfew; Major-Oeneral C. C. Fruser,
V.t;., M.P. ; Ci-bnel Hussell, H(»yal Dragoons, with many other
otticers und civili".ns have urged the necessity of some action being
tuken, and within the last few days (questions in both Housoh of
Parliament have again been asked. In this country the horso
(luostion is everyone's business in^, noral, and nobody's in particular ;
o\wy I'iiigli^Iitnan considois he known more on this subject than his
neighbours; beholds his own views, and pretty strong ones they
ure, whether it be tinaniially, len stakin<:; jn his favourite lor tiie
Derby, or his choice of a Siie for slut' piir})oses. Unfortunately, the
Government have no departmeni oi- otticiul to represent the h<jrse
interest in this country as Lhey have tor recruiting ; all is left to
chance, and when a crisis arises, llion irresponsible committees have
to be organized, and action hub to be hurriedly and oxpeusively
taken.

Before proceeding further, the question Datui-ally arises ta, to
" what constitutes a military horse." They are distinctly of two
different kinds, though not more " warlike " than any other good
general purpose horse between 15 hands 2 inches and 16 hands high,
in general use all over the country. The first, the most important
and most difficult now to procure in any quantity, is that required
for riding purposes, with lengthy rein, good shoulders and forehand,
good back and loins, as well bred us we can get them ; they must
walk freely and well, and at 5 years old should stand not less than
15 hands 2 inches high ; of these we should have at least three-
quarters of the whole supply of 1,800 to 2,000 required in peace time
annually foi* the army, or about 1,500 riding horses. The necessity,
therefore, will be understood for our getting as much T. B. blood for
this purpose as we can procure. The second, or draught horse, is a
compact, short-legged, quick walking, good going van horse, between
15 hands 2 inches up to 16 hands high, for Royal Artilleiy draught,
Eoyal Engineers and transpoi't purposes. These are more easily
procurable all over the world, though in looking for them we prefer
a tight, short-legged, active horse, and before all things wo look to

gciling one that can walk freely and well, such as one sees trotting
about in parcel cartu, or walking along a furrow at the rate of four
and a half miles an hour.

I will now road to you the particulars laid down for guidance
w' en wc are purchasing remounts for the Eoyal Artillery or Eoyal
Engineers : —

(1.) The age at which horses are taken is between rising four and
rising seven years old.

(2.) The height is nothing under 15 hands 2 inches, and nothing
over 16 hands ; not less than 8 inches below the knee, or 72 inches
in girth.

(3.) The proportions in which hoi'ses are requiied for the Eoyal
Aitillery at present are about half short-legged, blood horses witli
some length ; the other half useful, quick-going, deep, weighty,
strong van horses for draught purposes, and half of these must have
a turn of speed for the quicker work of Horse Artillery.

(4.) Of the blood horses about one-lifth must have the making of
a first-class riding horse with breeding, power, shoulders, action and
appearance suitable for carrying an officer, the other four-tifths
must bo well-bred, active riding horses, with shoulders, action, and
substance sufficient to cai-ry non-commissioned officers or men.

(5.) Bayc, browns, chestnuts, or blacks of hardy colour alone
taken ; no greys, roans, duns, cream coloui', or parti-coloured horses
are accepted, and no horses with any material blemish are purchased.

(6.) It is understood that during the month of probation on trial,
whilst standing at the dealer's risk, if horses on re-shoeing are found
below the standard height, with sunken soles, seedy toes, sand cracks,
&c., or are found crib-biting, wind-sucking, or if unsound in the eyes,
wind or limb, or vicious, in or out of stable, they will be returned
to the dealer, who must send in another suitable horse in exchange.

(7.) Government prefer taking horses that are undocked, but no
horses will be accepted with a very short docked tail.

The age of a horse will be reckoned from the first of May in the
year in which it was foaled, and no remount horse will be purchased
prior to the 1st October in the year in which it becomes three years
old, except under the special authority of the Adjutant-General ; or
later than the 31st December in the year in which it shall have
reached the age of six years. On and after the 1st October, thi-ee-
year-old horses will be purohased at fooi* yeai* old price.

in the
rchased
56 years
aval; or
Jl have
r, thi'ee-

The standai'd of height is fixed by the Coramisaioner-in-Chief.
The fitness of horses in point of tippoarance, strength and action
will be determined by the piiichasin<;- officer, and their soundness
will in each case be certified by an army veterinary sui-goon.

The purchase money of troop hoises on homo service will be paid
by the regimental paymaster, under the directions of the command-
ing officer, and a statement of the particulars of the payments,
sjjecifying the age of the horses, the actual price paid for each horse,
and the average price for the period of the pay list in which the
charges are made, will be inserted in the pay list. The charges will
be supported by receipts fi-om the dealers for the amount paid ; the
price at present paid is £45 per horse.

Dealers from whom hoi-ses are purchased may receive for each
horse delivered to and passed at the headquartei's of the corps, a .
commuted allowance as follows : —

In the case of corps stationed in Ireland, 16s. for each hoi*se.

In the case of corps stationed in Grroat Britain, 27s. for each horse.

In all cases the dealers will be held responsible for the risk and
expenses incurred, should the horse be injured on this journey, or
prove unfit for service on arrival at the regiment.

The following are some further instructions for our guidance : —

Examination of mouth and eyes ; measuring and examination from
near side ; cannon bone ; arms and thighs.

Every horse about to be examined should be taken under a shed,
archway, or to the stable door, where the light is suitable The
veterinary surgeon first examines the mouth in order to determine
the animal's age, and at the same tiine he sees that there is no defect
in the jaw or teeth. The eyes should then be carefully inspected,
and, if they are found .o be sound, the horse may be led out for
examination by the purchasing offlcor, care being taken that no
"gingering" is practised. Any goodlooking five or six year old
horse submitted at troop p''ie« should be treated with suspicion.
The purchasing officer will measure the horse, note the colour, and
observe from his near side how he stands all round on his feet and
legs ; whether he looks small or tied in below and at the back of the
knee. Every troop horse ought, if possible, to measure not much
less than eight inches round the leg close under the knee, and the
bigger and flatter he is here the bettei-, for it is at this point that
strength is specially required. The cannon bone should be short

and, together with the tendoiiB, distinctly defined; the arms and thighs
long and muscular, and the joints n*, small, but clean and well
developed.

Knees, Elbows, Hind Legs, Hocks, Pasterns, Fetlocks.

The knees should not be back like those of a calf, nor too much
bent over like those of an old cab horse — though of the two evils it
is preferable that a horse should stand a little over at the knee ralher
than back ; the elbows should be free ; the hind legs must be well
placed under the body ; the hocks not too straight, yet not sickled
or bent ; they should be clean, well cut, and free from any enlarge-
ment inside or out, or from any tendency to curb or thoroughpin ;
the pasterns must neither be too short or upright, nor too long and
sloping ; the fetlocks should not show signs of work, too much play
either in these joints or in the pasterns produces overshooting, which
is a decided weakness. There are occasional swellings on these parts,
especially in young stock, arising from sickness, debility, or con-
tusions, which are sometimes mistaken for unsoundness.

Feet.

The feet should be of the same size, round in shape at the soles,
with good open heels, not small, contracted or flat ; the hoofs should
Btand as ueai-ly as possible at an angle of 50*, and they must not be
brittle, blocky, or ring.

Head.

In considering the shape of the head, it is important to note the
position of the eye, which should not be too low down, too far forward,
or too small ; the last named defect is called " pig-eyed." The fore-
head should be broad and the countenance kind. Long big ears,
provided they are not lopped or drooping, are preferable to such as
are small, cui'ved, or pointed, though these latter are no doubt
pi-ettier. The head should be well set on to the neck at an angle not
too oblique or acute, and there should be sufficient room under the
jowl. The nostrils should be large and open. The lips not drooping
or relaxed, The jaws and teeth evenly placed above one another.

Neck — Shoulders.
The neck should be convex and not concave, which latter is a
structural defect indicating weakness and is called " ewe-neck." It
should be well set into the shoulders, and these Bhonld bo clearly
defined, sloping well back from the points to the wKIk;; s. The points
of the shoulders ought not to be heavy. I^no high withers area

great attraction, and enable the saddle to retain its proper poflition.
It is true that liorsos with thick or flat withers, or short, upright
shoulders, may be suitable f'oi- draught, pi-ovided they have good
action.

Barrel.
The barrel should bo deep and arched behind the elbows, thus
affording space for the development of all vital organs. Every trooji
horse should girth as much over 70 inches as may be procurable.

Back and Loins.
A long hollow back should be avoided. A *' roach back " — though
ugly— is strong. The loins should be as broad and deep as possible.

Tail.
The tail should be set on high eriough to be symmeti'ical. Fine
hair in the mane and tail shows bree<ling. The greater the length
fi-om nose to withers and from hip to croup the better. Care should
be taken that the withers, shoulders, back and chin are free from
material blemishes.

Examination op Chest and Forelegs, &c.. prom Front.
While the horse remains standing, the position of the purchasing
officer may be changed from the near side to the front, so as to note
how he looks from this point of view, and to see how he stands,
whether he has sufficient breadth of cheat. There should be no
blemishes about the knees, no enlargements or scars from brushing
insiito the fetlocks, no marks from speed y-cu' ting under the knees,
and the situation of splints, if there be any, should be particularly
noticed.

Shank Bone.
The shank bone should be straight and square under the body,
not bandieil or twisted, but suppoi-ting properly the weight of the
body. The toes should ncilher be in nor out. One foot turned out
or in is unsutisfactoiy, because it indicates uneven action with an
uneven bearing of weight of the body either at rest or in motion.

EX^\MINAT10N OF OfF SiDE AND ReAR.

The off side must be examined in detail in the manner already
specified foi- the near side. The purchaser should then walk round
to the rear of the hoi-se, and notice if the hocks are very much in or
bowed out — of the two the former is preferable. A horse ought to
be broad across the hips, and these must be even and level, the fork
should not be too much split up.

Walkino.

Tlie horso must now be lod off at ft walk ; the purchaser should
keep behind him and note as he goes from him if he turns his toes
out or in, or whether thei*e is too much play outwai^ds or inwards in
the hocks. If he crosses his hind or forefeet or legs he should be
I'ejected, As the horse turns, he should be narrowly watched, and
as he walks past it should be seen that he puts his feet down even
and fair. The action of his fetlocks and pasterns must also be noted.
If there be decided knuckling or overshooting here, he must not be
taken. The walk should be free, the stride long and clear, the hocks
not bent, no dragging or catching of the hind or fore toes along the
ground, no " forging " from over reaching. When the toes are out,
the elbows are in, and the latter being tied, the fore action is often
cramped and contracted.

Trotting.

The animal can now be trotted, and as he goes from you it must
be noted if he ci'osses his fore or hind legs, which is dangerous ; if he
dishes or turns one or both feet in or out, it is objectionable. Should
he roll in his stride, this may denote damage in the loins or hocks,
and the attention of the veterinary surgeon, who is responsible for
soundness, would naturally be called to these points. If there is any
catching in the action of the hind legs, he should be run sharply
backwards to ascertain that there is no paralysis; as the horsa passes
it should be seen that he has good knee and hock action .

Speedy-Cutting.

Speedy-cutting arises from faulty conformation of the fore legs, and
also from a peculiar kind of high action in front. It is the act of
striking one fore leg just below the knee with the inner quarter of the
other fore foot, a most acutely painful and dangerous thing, for which
a horse should be at once rejected.

EeJECT for any one WEAK OR BAD POINT.

Although a horse is a good coloui-ed, well topped, good going, taking
animal, yet, if he have one decidedly weak or bad point he must be
refused; but here the veterinaiy officer's opinion will be most valu-
able, as many horses may be quite serviceable, though not absolutely
sound and may " in times of need " be fully equal to the requirements
of a campaign, and do much hard worlc. ,

, EeSTRICT PURCHASING TO 25 A DAY,

Pm-chasing horses is laborious work, and by the time that 25 or 30

act of
■ of the
which

taking
uat bo
t valii-
olutely
sments

have been examined, passed, and registered, the officora employed
will have exhausted much power, both of eye and brain. W lion
continued daily, purchasing should be restricted to 25 a day; lion
woiking for a special object, seventy a day have often been examined,
but it is not practicable to do justice to such a number. Very good
and very bad animals are soon disposed of j it is the middling and
iloubtful horses which take up the time : further it may be accepted
as a general rule that the first impressions of a horse are the most
correct and lasting.

Examination on beino received into Dei'ot, and

EETDRNED IF UnFIT.

On remounts being received into depots they ahoukl be lunged at
once — if fit for it — to try their wind, unless this has been done
l)reviously, and they should also be generally re-examined under the
direction of the veterinary surgeon. Their shoes should be taken otf
and the feet examined for sand cracks, seedy toes, sunken soles, &c.
They should be carefully re-meusured and registered, and if, on being
le-shod, they are found below the necessary height, or if any un-
soundness is detected in eyes, feet, wind, or limbs, or if they are
found vicious in or out of the stable, they should be returned. On
the othei- hand, if fit, they should be branded on the hoof, in accord-
ance with the regulations on that subject.

Horses in general fall natui-ally into two great divisions — riding
and di-aught — according to the particular way in which their physical
formaiion and breeding enables them most advantageously to apply
their force. A man who has a knowledge and appreciation of horses
can tell to which of those divisions any given animal belongs ; but it
may be laid down as a general rule that a riding horse should be
better bred and should have a more sloping shoulder, a longer fore-
hand, with more flexible and lighter action than a draught horse.
Again, these two divisions are conveniently subdvided, the first into
two, the second into six classes, making altogether eight classes,
which would stand as follows : —

1. Ist class riding horses for officers, staff sergeants, trumpeters,
and the riding establishment.

2. 2nd class riding horses for detachments of Horse Ai'tillery and
Non-Commissioned Officers of Field Artillery.

3. Horse Artillery lead and centi'e horses.

4. Horse Ai'tillery wheelers.

6. Light Field Artillery lead and centre horses.

6. Light Field Artillery wheelers.

7. Heavy Field Artillery lead and centre hoi'sos.

8. Heavy Field Artillery wheelers.

The difference between Ist and 2nd class riding horses is one
moroly of breeding, appearance and degree ; the same may be said in
comparing classes 3 and 5, and classes 4 and 6 respectively. Heavy
lead and wheel horses (classes 7 and 8) differ from light lead wheel
horses (classes 5 and 6) in having more weight and power. As
regards lead and wheel horses whether for Horse or Field Artillery,
the low size, thick sot horses should be selected for wheelers, those
which are higlior being told off as centre or lead hoi'scs, thus ensur-
ing a regulai- and upwani lino of draughf. Where practicable the
hand horse of a paii- should be higher than the near side one.
Excess of EiniNO Horses Necessary.

From the days of Wellington onward mde the " Wellington
Despatches " 22-()-1809 —27-li-1809,— 25-8-1809,— 5-2-1811,— 10-2-
1813), there has always been a difficulty in obtaining suflBcient rid-
ing horses, and when purchasing for the service, a surplus of Officeis'
and other riding horses may advantageously be taken, for if properly
selected, it would be impossible to utilize them for draught purposes.

Excess of Wheelers.

Again, if every draught horse which is bought be powei-ful enough
to be used, when necessary, as a wheeler, the service would be
thoroughly efficient.

Having detailed the class of horse required for the Royal Artillery
and Eoyal Engineers, I now submit directions drawn up for the
guidance of Cavalry officers in the purchase of horses lor their branch
of the service.

Of course it is not as easy to judge of the future make and shape of
a young horse as it is to judge of an aged one, whose conformation is
fully developped. Still, there are certain defects which are as easily
seen in young horses as older horses ; and these faults, at least, may
be avoided by a fair amount of care, practice, and judgment.

Especial care, indeed suspicion, is also needed, when a good-looking
horse of 5 or 6 years old is offei-ed at the troop price. The chances
are that there is some fault, which others have already found out.

A horse should be rejected for any one really bad fault. The
greatest strength of a horae is limited by his worst poict. Hoi'sos

1 iw one
) said in
Heavy
1 wheel
er. As
.rtillery,
■8, those
iH ensur-
ablo the

ellington
1,-10-2-
ient rid-
Officeis'
properly
)urp0flcs.

enough
^ould be

Artillery
for the
branch

shape of
nation is
as easily
ast, may

i-looking
chances
1 out.
lit. The
Hoi'se?

are ollon bought beo,auHe they ])OS8e88 one or more very good poinlo.
This is u wiong principle in buying. The selection of horses should
begin by rejection for bad points. Bad points are, of coui-se, in a
gloat ineiiHuio, a <|uostion of degree. Discretioii is needed in reject-
ing as well as in buying,

I. 8i/A'. Fouryoai-olds, i.e., three olfuftor Octoboi" 1st, should not
bo less tliaii 15 liaiidis 0^ inch luyy excuod 15 1^ I'ur light cavalry.

For niedinni they should not bo loss than 15- 1 nor over 15*2.

For heavy cavalry not less than 15 "2 nor over 15 3^.

N.B. — Jn nieasui'iiig a horse oi- judging ot his height and siiio by
sight, take care that he stands on a level with yourself. Dealers
generally stand a hoi'sc, if uudersi/-od, on higher ground, or if over
size, on lovvei- ground than the intending purchaser.

2 Want of a fair amount of breeding should be an absolute bai-.

3. llejoct a hoj'so with a big coarse head.

4. lleject a hoi-so with a small sunken eye. They are goueially
obstinate and sulky.

5. lieject a horse of a colour light of the sort.

G. lleject a hoi'se with a long slack back. It will not cany weight.
t. lleject a horse with a hollow back. The foi-mation is weak.

8. llojoct a hoise with flat sides. They will not do work or look
well.

9. lleject a horse with a slack loin, i.e., undue length between the
last ribs and hind quarters (sacrum). They are often bad feeders,
and will run up light with work.

10. lleject a horse with a light loin, i.e., want of breadth over the
loins. They run up light with work.

II. Reject ahorse with scraggy hips. Th«y never do credit to
ieeding, particularly if also slack in the loins.

12. lleject a horse with a bad girth, i.e., " light through the heart."
This formation will always cause trouble in saddling.

13. Reject a horse with a thick or short neck .

14. Reject a horse unless it has a good rein. With a clumsy neck
the head is in consequence badly set on. ^Vithout a good rein a horse
will never break well.

15. Reject a horse with very low withei's. The saddle will be apt
to work torwards, and the " rein " will probably be deticient, and the
leverage for the muscles of the forehand is defective.

16. Reject a horse if very short. There is not room enough for
the kit.

K.B. — To set) the aSjove poiiite (1 — 16) stand on the side and ibiin
your opinion before the horse moves ott".

17. Reject a hoite with a narrow or shallow chest. There is not
sutiicietit cai>acity tor the lungb.

18. iifjt'ct a lioisc with fore lef^s very close together. This and
the former defect genei-ally go togelhei-. To see these points stand
in front.

19. Kejecl a lioise wh'j>«' fore ifgs arc not straight. They will not
stand wear. Slarul tjehini liie liorse as ho walks away from you,
anil you wdl he able to noliec t!ie>e defects, if they exist.

20. Eejoct a lMM>e whicli i> light below the knee, especially if
iiniiie<liatoly below the knee. The conformation is essenthdly weak.

lil. lieject a hi>r>e with long. <»r with short, or with upright pastoins.
Long piistcrns are subject to >trains. Short or upright pasterns make
a horse unpleaacnt tu riiic. and, on account of extra concussion, are
apt to cause ossilie dej>»*^it.».

22. Keject a hoise with Ux:,< turned in or out. The twist generally
occurs at the ietlock. Tl-k^ turned "out" are more objectionable
than Iocs tui-neil •• in." When toes a;e turned out, the fetlocks are
generally tui-ned in, and animals so foi-med are very apt to cut or
brush. Both, howeNer, a:-e weak formations.

23. Reject a horse wh'*se hind legs are too far behind. Good pro-
polling power willbewiinting, and disease as a result may bo expected
in the hocks.

24. Reject a hoi-se which goe,^ either very wide or very close behind.

25. Reject a horse with very straight or very beat hocks. The
Ibriner cause undue concu-ssion, the latter are apt to give way.

26. Reject a hoi-se which ii *' split up," i.e., shows much daylight
between his thighs. Propelling power comes from behind, and must
be deficient in horses without due muscular development between
the thighs.

27. Reject a horse with flat feet or over-largo feet, also with very
small feet. Medium size are the best.

28. Reject a horse with one fo<)t smaller than another.

Action must be light, ea»y, iree, and straight. Reject a horse that
Glosses his legs in walking or trolling. Ho will be unsafe. Freedom,
power to move easily rlong, vi the great point in a young horse.
Knee-action is not ese>ential ; it will come with the bit and breaking.

A good walk ib abeolatelj eebeatial. Beject a hortse that does not

•

;h very

60 that
eedom,
horse,
making,
oes not

walk well ; he is never pleasant to ride. If a hoi-HC walks well, ho will
probabl}' trot well; b)it a horso mny trot well without wullcinij well.

To ascertjiin whether the action in true and Hfruight, slairl licliind
the hoi-se as he walks and trots away from you. Ynii ciinnot iiHcerlain
this important point by standinj^ on the side.

Never omit to stand behiiul a horse as he walkn away.

A good sloping shouldtn- is unimportant item in a riding horse,
but bad action may co-exist with a good; and uii'e ocrsd, good, free
action may co-exist with a somowhat sti-aight shouldcM-.

Eeject a horse which is straight in the -.houldei- and long from the
point of the shoulder to the uppi^:' part of the forearm. This for-
mation places the fore logs too much under the horse, and makes
him unsafe to ride.

You may have a plain horse, even if all the above veiy apparent
defects are absent, but you will, at least, have a serviceable one.

Having first of all kept clear of all absolute defects such as the
above, then select 3'our horses foi- the presence of good, serviceable,
and handsome points, and easy, free, graceful carriage.

But, I repeat, begin by rejection for any one positively bad defect.
The greatest strength of a chain is limited by the strength of its
weakest link.

In purchasing horses, it is a gieat point not to lose time. If you
see any one radical defect, i-eject the horse at. once. The dealoi- will,
of course, try and persuade you to do othei'wise, and will call your
attention to some very good point oi* points in the i-oally defective
animal.

Don't lose time. If you do, you may get pressed for time, may
be obliged to make only cursory inspection of animals presented late
in the day, and may end by buying inforior horses, which you would
have rejected in the morning.

It should be noticed that only a few gieys are required (viz., about
50 a year for the 2nd Jioyal Dragoons.

Mares ai-e purchased as well as geldings, but no stallions. Horses
which are broken are preferred, but a troop horse purchased cheap,
when young, is not necessarily a pertectly broken animal with
manners and accomplishments, so long as they are halter broken and
appear kind and temperate.

No horse is ever taken with a blemish of a m;iterial nature.

It has been represented to me on several occasions, and_ people

hnvo boon writing to tho papers on the Hiibjoct, thnt Govornmont
oiiifljt, to pay more foi- thoii* Iioi-noh; indcod, thoro is u proposal in one
of tho woeixly n^ricnltiirnl papers of tho weok hcfore lant HU^t^eHtin^
thai tho price for horni's should oo intM-oasod to £M) per head. The
whole qiiOMtion \h one of wiipply and demand, and isdopyndoiiton the
state of the market.

I have, therefore, drawn out tho following ttfble, giving womo flgurefl
on the subject : —

Rkturn showing the niimbei's of horses in Groat Britian rot employed
in agriculture, &c., during the past few years, taken from the
agricultural returns ; also the number of horses imported into
England, tho number of horses in possession, and the prices paid
per head, during a soiies of years, by the General Omnibus
Company, also the prices paid by Government for thoir horses
during the same period.

M'^'.HEU OV HOKHKM.

Years fiKlinjj^ :UHt
Dfcomber.

i IiniKirlcil

Into (jlri'iii

I'.rltiiln

IS7)1
1H77

IK7.S.
•IS7i>

ISSl

ISSU
ISHl
1SK5
ISSti.

In llio

\Vll()l(! 1)1

(ireiii
lii-lliiln.

The (innoriil Oninl-
bus i.'omi'any.

Id Posses,
ston.

II, IIS

;jii,.ai

It.JIU

i»,!ir)(i

.s,,S27
!l,flJ7

ll,0'27

l.OKo.om)
l,iiitii,'^7.;
I, -j;! 1,1100

1,4I.V)".S
l,llii,.')!l(i
I. ill, ••{77
l,40r),78i)

7,071

0,!)| I
0,ll:i.-»
",2ill

7,r.,ii

7,li'.i.'.
7.0-1I
H.12I

PrIceH
por lieiul.

C s (I.

I iilil by
(Joviii'iinirut.
tor troopi'i'.s.

X H.

;;'.) s 10

X) 1 4

:ri 7 2

.ij li ;!

.'.') 1

.'M 1-1 It

;!» .-, s

;W 17 5

ID to IS 10

:io
W
10
40
40
40
40
40

IS 10

In II

■l.">

4.)

4.-1

* 111 thib year tho .supply of Jiuglish horijos waei noted as much
improved.

Fi'om this it will be 8een that between IST^ and 1886, although
the nnmbei' of horses estimated as in Great Britian has been steadily
increjising, j'ot the average number imported during those years has
been more or less decreasing, that whilst the numbers in possosaion
of the largest employei-8 of horses in the kingdom next to the Gtovem-
ment, the General Omnibus Company, has been steadily rising owing
to increased traflBc, yet the prices that have been paid dining this
course of years has as steadily decreased from j£39 bs. lOd. in June,

MTitnont

il in one
^i^OHtin^
(1. The
it on the

figui-en

m ployed
Prom the
ted into
ices piiid
3mnibus
r hoi'HOs

•

1 iild by

viM'iinii

III

■ 1 roopi'

I'S.

X X

Vi 10

iilp "

IS 10

ID "

l,S III

10 "

i:> (1

to "

1.1

M "

r< u

1(1 "

1.)

II) "

^■'i

„, •'

4.'i IP

as much

although
steadily
ears has
ossotwion
I Qovem-
ip owin£^
ring this
in June,

lS7n, to £3.1 17s. 5(1. per head diiiini,' the year ended Decomhor, ISSfi,
whiht the prices ])aid hy tJovci'iiment lor .-i simila:' pcMiod have alsit
d('( reasod, hut stand in a hii^hi^- riitio than th><e purchased H)r
|>rivate use.

It is overlooked that the '2,(){)0 remounts aniuially !'oi|uii*ed to keep
up the present Government supply are hut a vcr}' Hinall proportion
of the rcfiuirements of the piihlic; the question ot' value then, and
prices to be paid is one of public demand, and not one in which the
Government would bo oxpci^ted to pay a largoi- price than the
market value decides on.

Wo have to congratulate ourselves that we are producing more
hoi-ses in this country, doubtless, owing to the inci-easing interest
taken in the matter, the action of the different societies, and the
deliclency which has become apparent; without doubt the population
has increased and the public wants must be supplied, but the pojiu-
lation cannot have increased in proportion to the extent that the
number of horses have as gathered from this return.

The question now presents itself, are the numbers of horses we are
l)rodu(ing of the right sort (or general and military purposes? I
think not.

What the army requires, what the public needs, and what ©very
man uses who can atford it, whether for hunting or driving, is a largo
supply of the up-standing, throe parts bred, gencial purpose horse,
of good substance and colour, between 15.2 and 10 hands high, such
as used to be bred ;n numbers by our fathers for gonei-al work in the
stage coaches all over England, and which the i-ailways have caused
to disappear.

Such a hoise can only be produced by the continuous and more
general use of T.15. sires all over the country, ai;d wo must do some-
thing to produce these within I'each of farmers in bi'eeding districts,
at as Iowa fee as can possibly be arranged for; the Royal Agricultural
Society of England, also the Hunters' Improvement Society, is doing
much in this dii'oction, but the need for good is so widespread that it
should go further, and the money now given in Queen's I'latcs
annually for racing, which was originally given '' to improve the
Jireed of Horses in England," should be diverted for this purpose,
and as it comes out of the pockets of the ratepayers, it lies with you
all to see that it is thus properly applied.

My own idea is that the money now given for Queen't) Plates would

bo more henoficiiilly iHcd in fho Mhape of subsidioH by apportinnint? it
oiitto tho Royal Aj,'ii:'ultu!'al, flio HilKMiiiaii.C'ali'doMinii, iIk* llimfor's
Tmprovomont, and other kindred Hocieties. to ho !xivt'i\ away in \)\'i'-
TniimiM for ^ood wtallinn^*, pi'ovidod thoy (!oniO up lo ucoi-tain Ktandai'd
op oxcelhMicd. a?H( sound and will ho uvnilable in fixed distiiflH in
ftioat Britian, and Irehmd during tho erjHuini? houhoii at sniall Tooh.

A regular Ifst of thoHo hordes and tho diiHtricts thoy will bo in
Hhould be ro/rJHtorod in the offices of the sociotios, vvhoio, on appli-
cation by the owners of mar»s, thoro would ho no difficulty in loarn-
ing t!.d nenroHt available Hire.

In the choice of districts, select th()so near large railway junctions
or stations to t-nahlo mon with mares to send thoin in from suironndint;
villages, such as Aberdeen, Ballinasloc, Bovorloy, Mridu'owatcr,
Cardigan, Oai-raarthon, Chester, Clonmol, ('ockor mouth, (Jornwall,
Denbigh, Dumfries, Doncaster, Kxetei, Glouee-ter, Hereford, hlt)wden.
Kendal, Lincoln, Lytham, LimericU, M.oy, Co. Tyiono, Mullingar,
Northallerton, Northampton, Penrith or Kirhy, Stophon, UipiKi,
^horborne, Wai-wick, Wigton, York.

If this money is not to be given for premiums thi'ough tho lar;;o
societies, as has been suggested, I feel sure, if a capable man woio
banded over that £5,000 now given for Queen's Plates oacb year, ho
would arrange to spend it more profitably for tho count ly than it
now is. Lot him raalce a commencement by —

Purchasing 4 thorougbbred stallions at £500 each £2,00(1

do 4 roadsters 3()0 do 1,200

Hire 4 thoroughbi od stallions at £200 for each season ^00

do 4 roadsters 100 do 400

£4,400
Expenses, say (100

£.'),00(»

Any district that can guarantee 70 serviceable useful ma; e^ for tho
eight tboroughbi'cds nt a fee of £2 each, and of CO good maies ftr
tho eight roadsters at £1 10s. each, the managei' \v()id<l arrani^c lo
send the mares, realising on account of foes, £1,120 for thoroughbreds,
and £720 tor the roadsters; total, £1.840, which should well cover all
expenses, as follows : —

Groom niid uttoiwlivnt Hi uiich dlntion, £120 X ^ C HO

Kuoj) of lb hoi'HOH, contiri^oiilM, rcritnl £1 pot* wttuk S32

Total Jtl.;i>2

TIhwo liy;ui'CH might pusnibly vvoi-k out moro luvourtiltly.

I hero in no tlouht n grout sciircity ot' tit rnaroB tor broe<ling from
throughout tho country, but thoro ih uIho u groutoi- Hiiurcity of good
roUiibh' HtuUioriH; and rogai'diiig (ho doticioru-y of muros. I behovo if
good wound Iioihoh wore torlheoming ^irmorfi would soon got and
k('t'|) iiiiii'OM, j»rovidod th(!y conld get a sale for thoii" young ntock,
wliicii 1 will toiirli on |>i'e-<onlly.

(ionllonutn liavo been in conununii-alion wilii nu' on the Hubjecl of
' tijiing liuniei s to [)ro(:uro nitiios. Fi'ani< Ijovell, K-^ii-, of Hint'liosloa
(^a rare hoi'soman), writes : -

" Individual brooding in h(/|)oless, but associations might do niiu'h;
no amount of pri/.es lo stalhi)ns will incroaso tlio brood, which is
what wo want; what wo ought lo have is some tons of thousands of
Horse Artillery mares, to add to tho bone and power of our too often
woody half-mile T.B.'s, or before long wo shall all huvo to walk. A
county organization always reiuly to take good uiai'os and always
having at command the services of one or more aj)proved stallions
would bo an invaluable resource ; for all gentlomon having mares to
part with, as well as for the breeding farmers who now are at their
wits' end to know whore to look for good stallions ; if well managed
ami supported the business ought to pay, but if only 2nd or 3rd chws
horses are provided, numbers of animals are p'oduced ; whilst every
farmer, horse dealer, and tradesman in England is benetited."

This gentleman submits for our consideration the following
proposals : —

" (1.) Every county to support its own horse-breeding establish-
ment (some moro than one).

" (2.) Loi-d Lieutenants au<l principal gentlomon be asked to start
and support it.

'* (3. > All cast mares from the seivice suitable (oi- stud to be offered
to it; and artillery and other government mares purchased.

" (4.) Annual, biennial or triennial sales without reserve.

" (5.) Details and establishment of expenditure and system to be
carefully prepared.

'* (6.) Government to be invited to assist in all ways possible.

** (T.) The propoBilion, wheu placed boforo the public, tx) have all
the best names attached to it.
" (8, ) Annual Hubscriptions of county gentlemen £10 to £1 each."
Then I have another suggestion from a gentleman wlio hunts in
the sliires, and who is getting together a local society to ])urchase in
at a moderate I'ate, any sound, fit mares procurable, to retail 1o
Ijieede/vs iu their hunting countries. Ho also suggests that mhuc
urj-ungemojit should be made by which the Governmeut should jiur-
mit ti'oop mares, after a f'ev^ years in the service, to be resold to
liirmerts and breedej's at a reduced rate ; then other societies in some
of our large hoi-se-produciug countries have been in correspondence
with mo, ill their endeavour to get Government sanction that Local
Agricultural Committees should bo permitted to conic, select and
purchase the best of the troop mates annually for bi-eeding pujjc'su; .

Gentlemen, in the interests of the service, seeing that a large pro-
porlioji of ti-oop animals are mares, 1 do not consider this could be
done ; but I have suggested somewhat the following — when troop
mares are being casO for certain causes rendering them unlit for the
service, but still no lujreditary or otiier breeding defect about them,
that such sale should be notified to any local societies who choose to
be constituted in a responsible way, and every facility should be given
for members to 2)reviously inspect them, on the day of public auction
sale thev could bid for the animals. After this has been done for a
term of years, say tive, such societies would be in a position, through
the lloyal Agricultural or other Societies, to go to Governmeut and
represent that during the past term of years, a certain number of.
horses have been purchased at an average price, and then ask what
rates Governmeut could permit mares a lew years younger to be
purchased. Possibly some arrangement could be arrived at in this
way, as then Government and the public would have certain figures
before them as valuation data to go en.

If any farmer oi" breeder requires a mare and will pay for it, will
communicate with me al G4, The Common, Woolwich, telling what
ho requires, and the price he wants to give for it, i will see what can
be done towards procui-ing the mare for him.

We must now consider what is to be done as to the disposal of the
produce, my idea being you should only breed for the best ; there
will be plenty of misfits, it is no use trying to breed a good horse on
soil and climate that Li auduiiablo, or on paatiu'e that will not carry

bavo all

1 each."
lunts in
■chase in
retiiil 1o
lat M>mo
uuld pel-
resold to
j in Homo
pondenco
jat Local
elect iind

pUJ'lt'^SC: .

iu-ge pfu-
[ could be
lien troop
itit foi' the
out them,

choose to
d be given

ic auction

lone foi' a
|u, through

imcnt and

number of .
ask what

[ger to be
at in this

lain tiguretj

:i h(»rse ; do not onchnivoi- to breeil a troop horse, try and prmiucean
animal that will grow into the best hunter, if ho niissi-s that mark,
and has not; th.G appearance antl action for a tirst-chiss liarncss horse,
lie will miilcc a trooper, yon h.-'vu, tliereforo, two tir-t-class markets
lo tliiiik of wlicre high prices can be realized, before you hope to sell
to the Government.

I'ln-i'e is a proposal circulated by Mi'. Gilhcv in a lettor to the
•papers a Tow ilays since, that Government should purchase two-yeai--
»I<U, gi-aze tliem themselves on their own grassland-- until old enough
lo issue out to the trooj)s; anothei member of tiie House. »f Commons
just litely asked if (lOverntnciit could not ai'raug thai their pur-
•hasers should advertise their dates of purdii'sing in diti'erent
listiicts? I foresee noditficulty in carrying out these arrangements,
orovided the Government think it desirable to d.> -o. at,d doubtless
some such plan in the existing state of things would do much to help
ihe farmer in his struggle for t xistence, without mueli, if any. addi-
tional cost to the country.,

I should recommend breeders putting a three |)arts b;ed, or even
half bred, stiengthy, long, low wide, good col^uri-d. good eonslilu-
tioru'd, heredit;uy sound mare, of from 15.1 to l;'.:} in height, not too
old, with good limbs and lengthy Ibi'chand, to good eoloure 1, good
limbed sound T.B. stallions.

If any mtm has by him a lighter, better bred, active, good coloured,
well dispositioned mare on short legs, put her to a ])edigiee roadster
or hackney stallion of undoul)ted tiunily, colour and soundness.

Shoulil you not know where to tind stallions in your particular
district, apply for information to the secretaries of either the Hunter's
Improvementor Hackney Horse Societies, who will, doubtless, be able
10 att'ord you the necessary directions of owners of hoi'si's win) possess
sires.

for it, will

lling what

what can

jaal of the
[est; there
horse on
not carry