95 



Many entertain the idea that neither the quality nor the number of 

 horses bred in Ireland at present is up to the standard of, say, thirty 

 years ago. I do not coincide with that opinion. I think we have, on 

 the whole, as good class of hunter as ever we had ; certainly he is better 

 bred, and I think we breed as many as ever we did. 



No doubt the once great fairs of Rossallagh, Castledermot, Cahirmee, 

 Spansill Hill, Limerick, Ballinasloe, etc., are not cow what they were ; 

 but that is caused by the growth of the Dublin Horse Show. Bali's 

 Bridge has become a gigantic horse fair as well as show, and men prefer 

 holding over for it valuable animals rather than sending them to the 

 country fairs. On the other hand, while the old annual fairs have 

 retrograded, Clomnel in the south, instituted years ago by my friend 

 Mr. John Bell, as a monthly horse fair, is, I believe, as great as ever it 

 was ; while Moy in the north, for three days in every month, is a gigantic 

 market. At the latter are found often over a thousand horses, but I 

 can't say they are of high-class or likely to make good hunters. The 

 north of Ireland men do not go in for that class of horse nearly as much 

 as the southern. I daresay, however, within the next few years 

 we shall see in that respect a great improvement in Ulster through 

 means of the Government stallions. 



Seeing the magnificent hunters which are picked up in large quantities 

 in Ireland by dealers like Messrs. Daly, Widger, Morton, McDonald, 

 O'Brien, Donovan, D'Arcy, and several others, it is ridiculous to say 

 we have not still as fine hunters in abundance as ever we had. That 

 we have — and the prices realised are far higher than they were when I 

 was a boy, while the following facts'prove that our horses all round are 

 much better bred now than they were then. 



In old times the only place the Irish hunter was to be found was 

 among the farmers. To a great extent such is still the case, and long 

 may it be so. But of late years stud farms have sprung up in many 

 parts of Ireland, and although the primary object of their proprietors 

 is to produce thoroughbred racehorses, in many of them are now found 

 tip-top hunters, half-bred, thoroughbred, or with only a stain in their 

 pedigree. By means of these centres great good has accrued, inasmuch 

 as care is there taken that the 7iiares hred from are the right sort. 



Mr. Hutton and his brother, of Ligamaddy, county Down, think 

 nothing of giving l,000gs. for the brood mare they wish to breed from, 

 nor will any fee stop them from mating her with the sire they deem 

 most suitable. 



Forty years ago a thoroughbred stallion let to farmers' mares to pro- 

 duce hunters was practically unknown in Ireland. It was only since then 

 they have become plentiful, and I think I am safe in saying Mr. Briscoe 

 of Tinvane was one of the first men who introduced the system. Now 

 we have more than three hundred thoroughbred sires scattered over the 

 country, a great proportion of which are sound and free from hereditary 

 disease, while the most of them are fully qualified to beget useful 

 progeny, and the fees for service are moderate. 



