THE COLONIAL HORSE 185 



really good class of horse ; but that market is still and for some 

 time must be a limited one. Those whose means enable them 

 to insist on having the best animals that money will buy pay 

 prices equal to those which could be obtained in England. 

 Those who are in affluent circumstances, yet have no desire for 

 show, content themselves with a good useful animal, but are 

 not prepared to go beyond the market price, which, in conse- 

 quence, as I have said, of its comparatively limited capacity, is 

 much below the level of that which rules in England. 



There are horses (of a kind) still to be had throughout 

 Australasia for a sovereign or even less ; 4/. or 5/. will buy an 

 animal that has four legs and will go, go even for a good many 

 years ; what wonder then that all classes ride ? It is literally 

 only ; the beggar ' that has not yet been * put on horseback,' 

 and it would certainly not be want of national riding pluck that 

 would stop him from riding to the d 1 or anywhere else. 



For i5/. or 2o/. you can procure a really serviceable hack 

 or carriage horse, and you can add some degree of showiness 

 to his utility by shortening his tail, combing his mane, clipping 

 his coat and putting him in a stable on oats. It will probably 

 be found, however, on removing his coat that he bears a most 

 disgusting and disfiguring scar in some conspicuous part of his 

 body. 



This is his brand. When first inflicted it covered a space 

 perhaps not bigger than a crown-piece, but as the foal grew the 

 mark grew also, till now it half covers his quarter or his shoulder. 

 The best thing to do under the circumstances is to drive him 

 in double harness and accustom him to go on that side of the 

 pole which is next to his cicatriced limb. A really good, well- 

 shaped horse, fifteen- three or sixteen hands high, with plenty 

 of substance and yet not 'carty,' will at three or four years old 

 in the New Zealand breeder's hands not command more than 

 257. to 35/. ; for something really out of the common in appear- 

 ance 45/. to 507. To these prices may be added, in Australia, 

 another io/. when the horses are within reach of the cities of 

 Melbourne or Sydney. 



