146 



GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO LIGHT HORSE BREEDING. 



In 1911 the functions of the Royal Commission on Horse- 

 Breeding were transferred to the Board of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries, and a grant of 40,000 was made to them for the 

 encouragement and improvement of the Light Horse Breeding 

 Industry. The Board publish annually a report as to the adminis- 

 tration of the grants made to them but the following brief outline 

 of their operations in 1911-12 may be of interest. 



The Board are endeavouring to secure an improvement in the 

 breeding of light horses by the provision of high-class Thoroughbred 

 stallions for the service of half-bred mares at a lo w fee, and of some 

 800 selected mares free of charge. In order to encourage the 

 keeping of brood mares of substance and quality for breeding 

 purposes, the Board, through the agency of County Committees, are 

 arranging for the annual purchase of some 200 mares at an approxi- 

 mate cost of 10,000 for leasing out to suitable custodians ; and 

 with a view of placing on the road as many stallions as possible 

 that are free, from hereditary disease and suitable for breeding 

 purposes, the Board undertake to examine stallions free of charge 

 and to issue certificates of soundness to all that pass inspection. 

 In 1911, 312 Certificates were issued and in 1912, 715. (The 

 registration of stallions is not restricted to light horses.) 



Two shows of Thoroughbred stallions have been held by the 

 Board in connection with the Hunters Improvement Society during 

 the period under review, and 50 premiums averaging 180 were 

 awarded at each of them. 



At the show held in March, 1912, the stallions exhibited were 

 reported by the judges to be considerably superior in merit to those 

 paraded in 19 11, and it is a significant fact that no fewer than fifteen 

 stallions which won premiums in 1911 failed to secure awards this 

 year. Two innovations were introduced which were well received by 

 exhibitors one was the veterinary examination, prior to entry, of 

 stallions intended for exhibition, and the other was the award of an 

 additional subsidy of 100 guineas to each of the best ten stallions 

 to which premiums were awarded, and the winners of these super- 

 premiums were reported by the judges to be horses of an exception- 

 ally high standard. 



The results of the service season of 1911 were satisfactory, the 

 average number of mares served by each stallion being 65. 



Steps are also being taken to revive the breeding of some of the 

 hardy native types of horses and ponies in Wales and Scotland. 

 In Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, where the useful old Welsh 

 light cart horse, known as the pack horse or roadster, has, by cross- 

 breeding and from other causes been steadily deteriorating and dis- 

 appearing, assistance to the extent of 400 has been given to each 

 County Committee to purchase suitable mares of the old type and 

 provision made for the hiring of stallions for mating with them. 



A grant of 400 has also been made to the County Committee 

 for Inverness for the purchase of typical Highland pony mares to 

 be mated with selected stallions of the breed. 



Steps are also being taken to encourage the breeding of the old 

 type of Welsh Cob, and funds have been provided for subsidising 

 pony stallions of the Mountain and Moorland breeds (i.e., Fell, 

 Welsh, New Forest, &c., &c.). _ 



