207 



Messrs. T. H. Sharp & Son. : I consider the standard of the pre- 

 sent horseflesh obtainable in Jamaica to be of a high order, it is chiefly 

 descended from Arab blood, and has been kept up by the infusion of 

 English thoroughbreds. With proper feeding of the foals a first class 

 all round horse can be produced. 



J. Shore, Esq. : For honest up-and-down-hill work T find the best 

 horses are obtainable from the settlers, chiefly from the upland districts. 



The progeny of imported animals within the first two generations 

 from thoroughbred, are fine showy animals, but no use for hard collar 

 or road work unless carefully watched and only a limited amount of 

 work given (far less than the amount obtainable from the hardy moun- 

 tain horses.) 



I h ive had considerable experience in hilly districts and have been 

 very much disappointed in the want of " wind" or staying power in so 

 called well bred horses of good size. The settlers' animals seem to be 

 brought up on the Roman principl*^ — only the hardiest surviving — and 

 they are as a rule fed on corn to a great extent from 15 months old, 

 with hard, common feeding in addition. 



These horses are generally descended from good sires, but many re- 

 moves back 



B. Toole, Esq. : The present standard of horseflesh producible in 

 Jamaica is low, and this condition has been brought about by natural 

 deterioration, in breeding, bad selection, and last but not least, by bad 

 feeding, especially during the first three years. New blood, good 

 selection, and a proper regard to feeding will improve present condi- 

 tions. 



United Fruit Co. : We are of the opinion that much can be said 

 both in favour of and against our present standard of working horses. 

 .Many give satisfaction at the work they are put to do, and many prove 

 miserable failures And here we think our system of rearing stock is 

 largely responsible. Suflicient care is not bestowed on our colts, and 

 the right sort of feeding to produce stamina, bone and muscle, is sel- 

 dom or never given until the colts are actually put to do hard work, 

 and the result naturally enough is, they accomplish less and break 

 down earlier than they should. 



A. B. Ventresse, Et^Q : From my experience of over 13 years in 

 the tropics, which includes not only Jamaica tut all the other West 

 Indian Islands, and the main-land of America, there are types and 

 standards in Jamaica equal to anything else anywhere for hard work and 

 durability. I frequently drive my own horses over 50 miles in a day, 

 and many weeks they do over 200 miles for me, but unfortunately the 

 stock of this class is not large enough to draw from. 



Hon. C. B. Vickers : I think there is a deterioration in the stan- 

 dard of horseflesh in Jamaica in past 20 years or so. 



C. L. Walker, Esq. : Our Jamaica horses are not to be beaten f<»r 

 durability, but .xince gentlemen who used to race have given up the 

 sport they have ceased to import thoroughbred stallions, our mares 

 being small and being crossed with small stallions, our horses are 

 rapidly degenerating to ponies. A scheme to import stock as above 



