2t> REPORT OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATION No. 65 



DISTRICT NO. 2. 



Counties. Halton, Wentworth, Brant, Oxford, Norfolk, Haldiruand, 

 AVelland and Lincoln. 



Inspectors. John Gardhouse, Highfield; Wm. Cain, Y.S., Perth. 



HALTON. 



In the township of Esquesing the majority of the sires are of the lighter 

 breeds, but two Clydesdales are kept for service. The different breeds re- 

 presented are Roadsters, four (two being grades), Carriage, two (one a grade), 

 and Clydesdales, two. In one instance the stallion was not seen owing to his 

 owner being away from home. The average of soundness is low, only about 

 one-half, while conformation also averages only fair. The service fees are 

 correspondingly low, from $6 to flO, with one of $15. The Carriage stal- 

 lions are among the best of those seen. Mares number but 262, of an aver- 

 age weight of 1,050 Ibs. and average age 9 years; they are poor in type, and 

 average quality is very poor. In commenting on this township the Inspec- 

 tors say : "A large percentage of the stallions in this township should never 

 be used for breeding purposes. Your committee are of the opinion that tht> 

 horse industry would be very much improved in this ,township by the intro- 

 duction of a few good stallions, as well as a large number of mares." 



In Nassagaweya township there are four stallions, and only one pure- 

 bred among them, a Percherpn. The rest are grades of Percheron, Read- 

 ier, and the French-Canadian type, respectively. All are sound, 'and their 

 conformation is generally good, the pure-bred being reported as of good 

 ;ype. flO is the fee generally charged for service. There are 358 mares in 

 the township, poor in type and average quality, average weight being 1,100 

 bs. and age 9 years. Most of the mares in the township are bred. There 

 are a few very good mares, but most are of no breeding, and not of good qua- 

 lity. One of the stallions would have made a good gelding. 



Trafalgar township has long been noted as a breeding ground for light 

 horses, of which some good specimens have been bred in the past. The lean- 

 .ng is still towards light horses, as is seen by the list of sires, among which 

 are three Thoroughbreds, two Carriage horses (one a grade), two Hackneys, 

 a German Coach, a Standard-bred, 'two Percherons (one a grade), two Clydes- 

 dales (one a grade), and a Shire grade. Eleven out of the list are sound and 

 with the exception of four are of a good or fairly good type. Service fees are 

 irom $10 to $15, but in the case of a Thoroughbred the fee is given as $50. 

 'ares number 784, and are of fair type and quality, averaging in weight 

 1,150 Ibs. The Inspectors state : "Farmers in this township appear to be 

 Baying a little more attention to breeding, and also to the selection of sires, 

 though, perhaps using more light sires than is in the best interests of the 

 horse industry in. a township like Trafalgar. A few young pure-bred mares 

 have been purchased by farmers in this township for breeding purposes." 



Nelson township TUBS a little more to heavy horses than Trafalgar. 

 There are four Clydesdales and a Shire, all pure-bred, standing for service 

 here 'as against two Standard-breds and a Roadster. Of the eight sires, six 

 ;ire sound or serviceably sound, and their type and conformation is mostly 

 trood. Two are 16 years old. There are a few very good registered mares 

 in the township, but the type and quality of the majority, of the mares are 

 '^oor. They average in weight, 1,100 Ibs., and in age 7 years. More atten- 

 tion is paid to the breeding of heavy houses in Nelson township than in any 

 of the other townships in Halton county. 



