THE COLONIAL HORSE 1 87 



stone districts of which there are still large areas in the hands 

 of the Maories, can produce a strong serviceable animal ; but 

 the common horse of the country is fast degenerating into a 

 weedy little animal, which may be called the hobbledehoy of 

 the equine species, something between a horse and a pony. 



That horses of a superior class were commonly produced 

 thirty or forty years ago than now is certain, for the 'Walers ' 

 then sent to India and Ceylon were quite up to the necessary 

 standard. 



Horse-breeders in New South Wales have chiefly devoted 

 their attention with great success to two classes of horse only 

 racehorses and heavy draught horses ; but the roadster, the 

 carriage horse, the cavalry horse, and the weight-carrying hunter 

 have met with little care. 



It is in Victoria that breeders seem to have thought it 

 worth while to devote themselves solely to the production of 

 such animals. Those who have done so appear to find the best 

 cross to be a thoroughbred horse of sufficient height and 

 quality put either to a Cleveland mare or a good upstanding 

 three-fourths-bred mare, the former producing greater bulk and 

 strength, and the latter more quality and activity. 



Others, again, breed horses likely to suit the Indian market 

 by having recourse to an active, well-built draught stallion with 

 a half or three-fourths-bred mare. 



In 1873 the Indian Government offered by public notice to 

 buy in three years 2,850 horses between four and seven years 

 of age, giving preference to mares, at a maximum price of 500 

 rupees for cavalry and 600 rupees for artillery horses. They 

 also offered good prizes for sets of six brood mares the property 

 of one importer, and for stallions, with the right of pre-emption 

 at the exhibitor's price fixed before the judging. They an- 

 nounced that special value would be attached to good measure- 

 ment of girth and leg, and to blood combined with power. 

 This step was the result of a Committee of Inquiry on the 

 Government studs, which up to then had been maintained in 

 India, and which pronounced that system to have been a failure. 



