In passing, it might be noted that, despite all the educational work that has been 

 done and despite the various enactments that have been passed in aid of horse breeding, 

 there still is to be found in the country a rather high percentage of horses that fail to 

 pass the remount inspectors. "As you mate, so shall you breed," or, in other words, if 

 you mate sires and dams that are of poor conformation and unsound, you may be sure 

 that a high percentage of the progeny will possess these undesirable characteristics. 



Pure-Breds — The breeders of pure-breds are to-day at the parting of the ways. 

 Heretofore, the magic word "IMPORTED" has carried much weight. There is much 

 good imported stock in the country. The question arises, Is it necessary to go on 

 importing year by year and paying high prices for imported stock when the breeders, 

 by giving attention to mating and to the feeding, care and management, which is the 

 other half of successful breeding, can produce a horse as good as if not better than a high 

 percentage of the animals heretofore imported? The horsemen of Canada have an 

 opportunity now such as never hitherto came their way. There are many good pure- 

 bred mares in the country as well as good sires. Now is the time for the good horsemen, 

 who have the interests of the industry and of the country at heart, to devote their atten- 

 tion as never before to the production of more and better horses. Let them not only 

 mate carefully but feed and develop the progeny, from birth to maturity, as do the 

 breeders of the European countries. Let our importers prove title to their claim of 

 being practical horsemen by breeding and developing high class animals. 



A Pure-Bred Market — During the past year the Dominion Live Stock Branch 

 has had official inquiry from Australia regarding our horse industry. It was pointed 

 out that, after the war, Australia would be in the market for good Clydesdales with which 

 to improve the horse stock of the country. Particular attention was drawn to the fact 

 that only good stallions were wanted. The distance from Canada being much less than 

 rom Britain, it is felt that horses could be much more conveniently obtained here. 



LEGISLATION AFFECTING HORSE BREEDING 



During recent years much valuable educational work was done by the Breeders' 

 Associations and the various farmers' organizations. Ultimately this work brought 

 results. To-day in every province, except Quebec, stallion owners are compelled by 

 Act of Legislature to enroll their stallions with the local Agricultural Department 

 before standing them for service, and to publish in all advertisements a copy of the 

 Enrolment Certificate. It is now possible for all interested to learn from the stallion 

 poster whether a particular stallion is a pure-bred, grade or scrub. 



The Provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia have gone a 

 step further. In Saskatchewan any district may prevent the use of unsound horses, 

 grades and scrubs by a majority vote. In the Province of Manitoba only pure bred 

 stallions are allowed to stand for service. In the Province of Ontario all unsound grades 

 and scrubs must be retired; and in 1918 only pure bred stallions will be allowed to stand 

 for breeding purposes. In Nova Scotia, as well as the three provinces above mentioned, 

 all horses standing for service must be veterinary inspected, and all advertisements must 

 give a copy of the license granted, which states, not only to what breed the horse belongs, 

 but also whether he is sound or unsound. 



By persistent effort and the gradual process of educating the people to the necessity 

 of using better sires, and the profits to be derived therefrom, these useful and beneficial 

 laws have been secured. It will be necessary for the other provinces to immediately 

 enact similar legislation. Otherwise, they will not only find themselves out-distanced, 

 but they will also become market centres for the poorer animals. It would appear that a 

 uniform Stallion Enrolment and Inspection Act for all provinces of the Dominion would 

 be a still further step in aid of horse breeding. 



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