440 THE HORSE HUNTERS 



ment Society appointed a special committee to " ascertain 

 whether the present system of light horse breeding in the 

 United Kingdom could be made more remunerative." Some 

 special effort was felt to be necessary, owing to " the large 

 increases in the importation of horses from foreign countries, 

 and the danger lest the breeding of light horses should in con- 

 sequence become neglected." It was elicited at the next meet- 

 ing on 8th June that " there is a great deal of improvement 

 going on " among a restricted number of high-priced animals, 

 but " a greater amount of deterioration of the brood mares 

 in the breeding districts, the retaining principle being entirely 

 ignored in the whole system of horse improvement through- 

 out the country." It was agreed that "the retaining of the 

 brood mares in the breeding districts is the turning point" of 

 success. With the object of securing " the best practical and 

 professional opinion on this national matter, ten questions 

 were drafted and sent to (i) The Royal Commission on Horse- 

 breeding ; (2) The Council of the Hunters' Improvement 

 Society ; (3) The Masters of Hounds and Secretaries of 

 Hunts ; (4) The owners and certain breeders of hunter 

 stallions and mares ; (5) The Secretaries of the Associated 

 Shows ; and (6) Selected Veterinary Surgeons. The replies 

 returned numbered 466, covering a total of 4660 re- 

 sponses." 



The Committee's Report to the Council of the Society 

 indicated that there is " an almost entire want of system and 

 scientific treatment in the production of light horses of the 

 hunter type," but " a considerable desire in certain favourable 

 localities to have the opportunity of producing suitable brood 

 mares, and also stallions of the registered hunter type " no 

 less than 256 correspondents being in favour of this class of 

 stallion. " In 1904 the Dutch Government took away 350 

 of the best young Irish mares," while this country pays the 

 foreigner over .2,000,000 a year for horses which the present 

 system of management does not supply at home. The reports 

 expressed high approval of the efforts of the " Brood Mare 

 Society," and recommended financial and other support. 

 The need for " some organised effort to retain the good 

 brood mares that are left " was strongly urged. The present 

 scheme of King's premium sires for encouraging Thorough- 

 breds of the highest quality was approved by 263 of the 



