1906 ON HORSE BREEDING IN ONTARIO. 113 



SPECIAL REPORT OF INSPECTORS. 



The meetings were fairly well attended, but in many cases the bad 

 weather and distance kept those who were interested from attending. At 

 every meeting there was a strong feeling that something should be done; 

 most of the breeders of good horses favored licensing stallions. "None but 

 sound registered animals up to a certain standard of excellence to be li- 

 censed," was the idea of the majority. We have seen horses in nearly all 

 the Counties in Ontario and conversed with horsemen in those counties. 

 Some districts have a better class of horses than others, but all over On- 

 tario something requires to be done. In our conversation with horsemen 

 met at Institutes during the last five years, many have favored licensing" 

 stallions. It is our opinion that now is the time to go on; the people ex- 

 pect that something more is to be done ; the best thing to do is a matter of 

 opinion and there will be great differences in ideas. 



There are two points that must be kept in view, viz., enough stallions 

 to serve mares, and how much regulation will the people tolerate. The idea 

 of only having pure-bred stallions licensed is out of the question, because 

 there are not nearly sufficient of them, and many imported ouvs :.' e n t 

 deserving of a license. There must for several years be some grades per- 

 mitted to travel, until there are enough pure-breds to take their place. 

 After hearing many opinions, we think the following suggestion would 

 find favor with a large majority of the horsemen : The cost of the license 

 or permit, to be nominal, sufficient to cover the expense of inspection, etc. 

 All horses to be free from hereditary UD soundness. Grant a first-class li- 

 cense to registered stallions of good conformation and good action; a second- 

 class license to registered stallions of fair conformation and fair action, and 

 a third-class license to the grade stallions, types of some breeds, producers 

 of useful colts (if old enough to have colts). 



We do not think it would be just to give the good and medium reg- 

 istered horse the same class of license. There would be no education in 

 doing so. These three grades of permits, or licenses will certainly take in 

 every horse that any horseman would be justified in using. 



We are not in favor of second-class registered or grade horses, but the 

 license would be for one year only, and the standard could be raised the 

 second year, gradually getting rid of the most undesirable. 



Anything less than the above appears to us, not likely to give favor- 

 able results. In some parts of Ontario the stallion fee is so much for the 

 season. This is not fair to the owner of the mare too one-sided a bargain. 

 Let the owner of the mare pay half at time of service and the other half 

 when the mare proves to be with foal. This method would prevent iriany 

 barren or worn-out mares being bred, and would also prevent the stallion 

 taking more mares than is reasonable for a fair percentage of foals. 



We would suggest that prizes for stallions and mares be offered at the 

 Winter Fair at Guelph. Farmers are there from all over Ontario, and we 

 consider it would be a grand opportunity for the Government to educate 

 those who are anxious to learn about horses. We would also suggest that 

 spring stallion shows be encouraged by giving liberal prizes at one show 

 in each county (not in the same place each year), horses receiving Govern- 

 ment money prizes at said shows must travel part of the season where the 

 prizes were awarded. None to compete unless they will travel in said 

 county, if they receive a prize. 



(Signed) W. F. KYDD. 

 GEORGE GHAT. 



8 H.B. 



