232 Among Men and Horses. 



blood and by the establishment of agricultural shows. As I 

 was asked to judge at several of these shows (Bloemfontein, 

 Colesberg, Pretoria, Petermaritzburg, etc.), I can testify to 

 their good management. 



Throughout South Africa there are an immense number 

 of horses raised in a semi-wild state on the various farms. 

 Very few of these animals would be from an English, Austra- 

 lian, or Indian point of view, worth breaking ; for the priva- 

 tions they have to undergo from want of grass, make them 

 weak and listless. Four of them harnessed to a two-wheeled 

 Cape cart or a dozen of them attached to a coach, serve their 

 purpose admirably ; for, when their work is done, they need 

 no further attention than to be turned out into the veldt to 

 cater for themselves ; though the owner may at times pamper 

 them up with a little Indian corn and some oat hay. Such 

 horses, even if they could be obtained for nothing, would not 

 be worth exporting to India or to any other country. The 

 really serviceable horses, say, those up to light cavalry re- 

 mount form, would fetch more money in South Africa than 

 in India. Consequently, we may regard the exportation of 

 horses from Africa as a thing of the past ; at least, for many 

 years to come, and until a preventive to horse sickness has 

 been discovered. 



While I was at Craddock, Mr Hilton Barber sent me over, 

 to experiment on, a five-year-old mare which had never been 

 handled, and which, from having been allowed her liberty so 

 long, had become very artful. Expecting to see the mare led 

 into the ring, I was greatly surprised to see her driven into an 

 adjoining yard in company with two or three other loose 

 horses. This was my first experience of having to tackle an 

 absolutely wild loose horse. Though she hit out all round, 

 and was cunning and quick, I put on a halter by means of a 

 long stick without much difficulty. My real trouble now 

 began ; for nothing would induce her to ' lead. 5 She fought 

 and struggled and when she found that she could not get 

 away, she threw herself so violently on the ground that I 



