234 



Journal of Agriculture . 



[ii April, 1910. 



experienced by owners, was in a great measure due to the pressure upon 

 stallion owners of horse breeders. The owners of mares apparently realised 

 that the scheme was for their ultimate benefit ; and, very shortly after 

 the outset, the bulk of them apparently decided to patronize certificated stal- 

 lions only. 



In the following table is set out the number of horses examined in 

 1907, the numbers of each breed, the numl^er and percentage of horses 

 rejected and certificated, and the number of horses affected with the par- 

 ticular unsoundnesses dealt with : — 



Analysis of Defects of Stallions Refused Certificates, 1907. 



In 1908, certain modifications of the scheme, dictated by experience 

 gained during the first season, were adopted. As stated, the scheme was 

 on a purely voluntary basis in 1907. There was no obligation on the part 

 of an owner to submit his hor.se, and the regulations did not provide any 

 disability in respect of horses not submitted, nor indeed of horses rejected. 

 The possession of the Government Certificate was no protection at shows 

 against competition from uncertificated horses. A nurnber of cases 

 occurred in which a rejected horse was placed first by the judges over 

 certificated animals. To overcome this anomalous state of things, it was 

 made a condition of the Government grant to agricultural societies that a 



