battered down. The erstwhile arenas of dissension, destructive 

 wars and commercialism were united into the Union of South 

 Africa in 1910. 



In the wake of the changes brought about by the war followed 

 new ideas and enterprises. There was a great back-to-the-land 

 movement. The magic spell cast over the people by the world's 

 richest gold and diamond mines was broken, and the wealth of the 

 upper inches of a rich and productive soil and all its possibilities 

 was realized with a new zest. 



Certain of the pastoral industries commanded the world's 

 markets while others needed more attention, and one at least re- 

 puired almost total rehabilitation, that is horse breeding. 



In order to do this a thorough knowledge of the past history of 

 the industry and breed is essential. 



To add to this knowledge is the purpose of this thesis. The 

 subject is perhaps beyond the scope of a work of this kind, but any 

 attempt to know more about an industry which has once been a 

 source of great national wealth but has been partly destroyed 

 through various causes, would undoubtedly be of great help in the 

 reconstruction of this branch of our farming. 



Since the war South Africa and especially the Union has 

 entered into a new era of progress and prosperity, and to expand 

 and solidify this every branch of farming industry must be placed 

 on sure and efficient foundations, and no foundation is worth more 

 attention, care and intelligence than our horse stock. 



In this thesis prominence has been given to some of the best 

 authorities on the question. Following the great historical fact 

 that similar causes will have similar effects we can take many valu- 

 able lessons from the past to guide us in the reconstruction work 

 of the future, bearing in mind that what has been done in the past 

 can be done again. 



This monograph is by no means an exhaustive work, and aims 

 at nothing more than an honest and first attempt to collect between 

 two covers some of the large amount of scattered material on a sub- 

 ject which deserves better attention in the ever-expanding pastoral 

 and agricultural activity of the Union of South Africa even of the 

 Continent of Africa. 



Yonder in the dusk lies the twilight Continent of Africa ; for 

 ages she has been claimed by selfishness, commercialism and barbar- 



