,208 



will place Jamaica among the foremost places for breeding the best 

 class of stock for racing, remounts, carriage and saddle. 



Hon. W. Watson : The present animal is very durable and hardy 

 but there is an entire lack of bone. 



J. R. Williams, Esq. : The system of horse breeding in Jamaica 

 varies greatly in different dis ricts, and the standard of horses bred. 

 Again, there is the broad difference between the horse breeding of the 

 larger Fens and the horse breeling of the small settler, and while u 

 good many Fens breed a few horses just to keep up the supply of 

 accent mares for their mule breedi ig, and as a sort of minor industry, 

 a few Fens (very few in this neighbourhood) breed horses with an eye 

 mainly to the horse market. 



If we have a Stock Farm, we should consider the interests and re- 

 quirements of the larger establishments. 



If we are merely to import as hitherto a few horses, and to distri- 

 bute these over the Island so as to benefit chiefly the smaller men, who 

 most particularly need help, the consideration is somewhat different. 

 The larger establishments are, I take it, well able to judge as to what 

 type of horse they can successfully produce. And at present we have 

 to consider what type would suit the smaller men best. The com- 

 monest deficiency iu the small settlers' stock in these parts is vo. frame ; 

 they need the services of stallions calculated to get stout stock of 14 to 

 Idbanus. And not only by the small settler but over the greater 

 part of the island, I think the moderate sized horse is the one to be 

 more suitably aimed at. It is only in exceptional situations that 

 the breeding of large horses, I think, has much chance of success— and 

 these require more care and feeding than the smaller a>e usually able 

 or willing to afford. 



I think therefore that the horse now produced with most suc- 

 cess, in the largest number of places by the largest number of people, 

 is a moderate sized horse of between 14 and 15 hands— generally nearer 

 14 than 15 — aid the horses of this type now produced need improve- 

 ment specially in stoutness and frame. 



R L. Young, Esq : Excellent colts are now to be picked up iu Ja- 

 maica, especially in the Parishes of Manchester and St. Elizabeth, and 

 if they are bought young and fed up are as fine animals as can be seeii 

 in any country. I attribute this to the larger proprietors in those 

 Farishes being in a position to keep good stud horses. I see dealers 

 passing through our way often with colts and fillies from two to three- 

 year old. Most of them with a little extra care and attention would 

 be really first class. 



Some few years back it was a sight to see the fine colts ridden by 

 our Feasant Froprietors to market on Saturday in this parish. But 

 since these depressed times they can not afford to pay the high fees, 

 and the larger proprietors have given up breeding horses, and do not 

 keep studs. 



Summary by H. H. Cousins. 

 It has been brought out that 



(I) Horses have deterioraied gieatly during the pas: 12 years. 



