75- 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[9 Dec, 1907, 



Rejections for Unsoundness. 



Of all horses examined 1.5.17 have been refused certificates on the 

 ground of hereditary unsoundness solely. This percentage is small and 

 shows that our horses compare favorably with those of other countries 

 in respect of hereditary unsoundness. But it must be remembered that 

 in deciding as to rejections the examining officers have been the opposite 

 of drastic in their determinations For instance no horse has been 

 fejected for "founder" (laminitis) although it might be contended 

 that this bane of draught stallions is predisposed to by hereditary influence. 

 Neither have there been any refusals in respect of the first two unsound- 

 nesses on the above list (broken wind and roaring) for the reason that 

 under the circumstances that examination is conducted at Parades there is 

 no opportunity for carrying out the necessary tests. 



Of the 889 stallions examined 684 have been given certificates, and 

 205 have been refused. The percentage of refusals is thus 23.05. Of 

 these 70, or 7.88 per cent, were refused on the ground of their being 

 defective in conformation, nondescript in type, or below a reasonable 

 standard for Government approval — scrubbers in fact of which, it is 

 regrettable to state, a far larger proportion are, in my opinion, not worthy 

 to be certificated. The officers concerned, however, have preferred not to 

 arrogate to themselves the function of judging type, merit and excellence 

 except in the case of those stallions in respect of which it would have 

 been, for them, a matter of shame to have signed a certificate in favour 

 of. The remaining refusals, viz. : — 135, or 15.17 per cent., were made on 

 the ground of hereditary unsoundness solely. 



As a preliminary to comment on the unsoundne'sses met with, it will be 

 instructive to submit the following: — 



Analysis of Defects op Horses Refused Certificates. 



1 also " Shiverer ; " 1 also Bog-spavin, f 2 also "Shiverers." ; 5 also aflfected with Ringbone ; 4 with 

 Bog-spavin ; 1 with Bog-spa-sin, Ringbone, and Thorou^^lipin ; .ind 1 with Curb. % \ also having Curb. 

 ^ 1 havmg Bog-snavin, || 1 having Curb. H 1 having Bog-spavin. ** 1 having Curb. 



