THE HORSE. 



It is these vagaries peculiar to the animal which render horse 

 breeding a hazardous and discouraging enterprise. Buyers and users 

 of horses continually complain that the breeders do not produce 

 sufficient animals, but it is certain that were it not for the remark- 

 able fascination which the horse possesses for a very large proportion 

 of the human race, horses would very soon cease to exist. Shrewd, 

 long-headed men who would not follow up an unprofitable under- 

 taking one year after it had proved its worthlessness, have continued 

 breeding horses at a loss for twenty and thirty years at a stretch. 

 The fact is that these enthusiasts have all aimed at the ideal which 

 is to produce each year a number of horses of a high character nearly 

 equal in value. Despite the circumstance that each year results 

 prove that however even the dams may be, there will be a tremendous 

 disparity between the best horse and the worst, they still go on 

 following that up till recent years, at all events, could only be re- 

 garded as an expensive hobby. 



Undoubtedly the disappointments and losses involved in the at- 

 tractive business was beginning to tell its tale prior to the end of 

 last century, and an appreciable proportion of the landed people 

 were beginning to fight shy of horse breeding. This naturally had 

 an effect upon the supply, and presently the demand, enlarged by 

 the creation oi new cities and the extension of old ones, together 

 with the increasing requirements of the Powers who must maintain 

 standing armies, brought about a striking increase in prices. The 

 causes which led to horse values making a special bound upwards in 

 Australia are well known. What is of importance is that prices are 

 now generally acknowledged to be sound enough to justify every 

 man settled on a good bit of country in making horse breeding a 

 side line to his other operations, and, moreover, there is every pros- 

 pect that these good prices will stand practically for ever. 



The material difference which this makes to the producer of 

 horses is not so marked in respect to the very best of his stock as 

 it is in regard to the middle class and inferior sorts. When horses 

 were at their lowest, the odd superior animal still realised a satis- 

 factory value. What caused the losses of the horse breeder in those 

 days was the low figure 'for good useful sorts, and the impossibility 

 of disposing of the lower grades at the price of the grass upon which 

 they were raised. It was in those days that the ideal of the horse 

 breeder was absolutely necessary of accomplishment from a com- 

 mercial point of view. Unless he could produce a large proportion 

 of top-notchers, on which he made profits, his losses on the others 

 rendered his undertaking most disastrous. 



Now the horse breeder can rely upon profit of some kind from 

 every animal which comes of reasonably good stock, while he has 

 an excellent chance of picking up some good plums with his very 

 best. There can be no doubt that if the production of utility horses, 

 draughts, and ponies is to be raised to its highest standard of profit, 

 our breeders will need to exercise great judgment, not only in the 

 selection of mares and sires, but also in following sound lines and 

 adhering to one policy for a number of years instead of chopping 

 and changing about. Practically speaking, breeders have the choice 

 of three lines of policy. There is a strong demand for light harness 

 horses, with some speed and action, and the coming of the American 

 trotter has provided us with a means of introducing into our stock 

 the requisite characteristic? for a useful light harness horse. Crossed 

 with the thoroughbred, the trotter is very useful, and there can be 

 no doubt that our driven horses have been vastly improved in recent 

 years. Perhaps the most difficult demand of all to meet is that for 

 army remounts. Here some quality is required, bn^ tV? most es- 

 sential points are strength and activity combined with a thick-set 

 body carried on comparatively short legs. The thoroughbred gives 



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