110 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



hardy, strong, clever horse is the ideal in the Canadian eye. A 

 fusion and a diffusion of ideas on both sides of the Atlantic will do 

 much to raise still further the merit and usefulness of the Clydesdale. 

 It was much too apparent, however, that a great deal of harm is 

 being done to the fame of the breed by the importation of " Scrub " 

 and unsound animals. A system of inspection for soundness and 

 apparent freedom from hereditary disease is much needed. Leading 

 breeders deplore the mischief that is being done to, what may be 

 termed, the initial stage of draught horse-breeding by the intro- 

 duction of blemishes which will take many generations to eliminate. 

 Steps are already being taken to get the Government to adopt a 

 measure which would protect horses against this, and on the same 

 lines as are already in force protecting cattle against imported 

 tuberculosis. Horse-Breeding Societies, of which there are a great 

 many in Canada, have also another grievance. That is, the using 

 of unsound and unsuitable stallions of all breeds throughout the 

 provinces. Space does not permit reference to what is being done 

 in every province, but Ontario may be taken as an example. In 

 Ontario, the Society of Horse Breeders appointed an Investigation 

 Committee in 190(3 to procure detailed and accurate information of 

 the whole industry in that province, and to report. The province 

 was divided into eight sections, and eight sets of highly qualified 

 inspectors were appointed. These men went into the matter very 

 carefully and thoroughly. Their report shows that, out of a total 

 of 2687 stallions bred to 161,663 mares, 332 stallions bred to 18,352 

 mares were serviceably unsound. They unanimously reported that 

 the breeders were in favour of a Government inspection for sound- 

 ness, and the granting of a licence for qualified sires. A novel and 

 useful proposal was made, if it could only be put in practice. It 

 was recommended that only horses, free from hereditary unsound- 

 ness, be allowed to breed ; that a first-class licence be granted to 

 registered horses of good conformation and good action ; that a 

 second-class licence be granted to registered horses of fair conforma- 

 tion and fair action ; that a third-class licence be granted to grade 

 stallions. (One-fourth of the stallions reported were grade or non- 

 pedigree stallions.) The Committee further reported that much 

 harm was being done by the " Syndicating " system. Under this 

 plan, unscrupulous dealers foisted second-rate stallions on a syndi- 

 cate of men arranged for the purpose of buying animals beyond 

 their value. 



From the way these difficulties are being handled it is clear that 

 horse-breeding in Canada is in a very healthy condition, and many 

 breeders have laid the foundation of a stud on good lines though 

 chiefly with imported animals. One notable exception was met 

 with at Mr Russell H. Taber's farm of Hillcrest, Regina. Everyone 

 of his mares is Canadian bred, and few in Scotland can show a 

 better stud of Clydesdale females than he has got. Six of them 

 were got by the " Baron's Pride " horse — " Baron's Gem " (10974), 

 These mares are well-known prize-winners all over the west of 

 Canada, and are another great object lesson of what can be done 

 by careful selection and breeding. 



