g Dec, 1907. J Examination of Stallions. 755 



to maintain and even improve on the already high standard of excellence 

 to which the Victorian draught horse stock has been brought. Conversely 

 in other districts — notably some parts of Gippsland — there is a great neces- 

 sity for the introduction of better draught stallions to replace the low-bred 

 mean type at present being largely used. 



Light Horses show a much less percentage of rejections for unsound- 

 ness, viz., 10.45. The principal unsoundness met with was Bone Spavin, 

 fourteen horses (4.70 per cent.) having been rejected on that account. 

 Curb was the next most common unsoundness, six horses having been 

 rejected for this infirmity. Ringbone was met with four times and Side- 

 bone thrice, while Bag Spavin accounted for four other rejections. 



Thoroughbred stud-book horses, grade blood horses, and trotters have 

 been included amongst light horses. There are not many of the former 

 being made available at a fee within the reach of the ordinary farmer, only 

 about half-a-dozen such have been met with throughout the camipaign. 

 It is the grade blood stallion with a decent pedigree on sire's side only that 

 is most largely used on farmers' mares ; and such being the case, the 

 deterioration in light horse stock that has been so marked in recent years 

 is not to be wondered at. 



Trotting bred sires are being gradually diffused throughout country 

 districts and many of them are of a type that cannot fail to effect 

 improvement in the matter of bone and substance and harness qualities 

 generally. 



Ponies. — It is practically the freedom of ponies from unsoundness that 

 reduces the all round percentage of hereditary unsoundness met with to 

 such favorable proportions. Only 4.82 per cent, of pony stallions 

 have been rejected for unsoundness. As with the other breeds, however, 

 many of the ponies submitted have been nondescripts and 7.74 per cent, 

 have been refused certificates on that account — about the same proportion 

 as in other breeds. 



It is refreshing to be able to record that some families of good type 

 ponies have been met with whose prepotency, and whose power for good 

 therefore on the horse stock of the countr) , is very marked. The " Tam 

 O'Shanter " and " Brigham Young" strain is still prominent in many 

 districts, and representatives of it are almost invariably good and easily 

 identified. 



Horse stock of infinitely more value to the country could be bred by 

 the use of these hardy ipony sires on farm mares than there are now being 

 thrown by the many weedy light horses that are in use. 



Evidence of Hereditary Transmission of Unsoundness. 



Some very interesting facts have been brought to light by means of 

 the examination which furnish almost incontestable proof of the hereditary 

 character of some of the unsoundnesses previously set out as warranting 

 refusal of the Government certificate. In the case of sidebone for instance, 

 which is the unsoundness that has accounted for the bulk of the refusals 

 amongst draught horses, convincing evidence of its transmissibility from 

 sire to sons and from sons to grandsons, and so on has been furnished. 



Although it was not till about one-third of the parades had been dealt 

 with that this aspect of the matter was given attention, and that pedigrees 

 were taken, at least two instances have been traced of sidebone " running 

 in families." These are so striking and eloquent as to be worthy of record. 



