Reitz, Rogerson, Melek and others became the trustees for the up- 

 keep of a high standard and improvement of the breed, which 

 reached its highest point in the fifties of the last century. 



It is impossible to give a full survey of the various studs and 

 the material used ; but collectively they show that about 95 percent 

 of the sires used are Thoroughbreds. Here and there Arabs arc 

 found and also Hackneys and Clevelands, but they are only used as 

 first instalment sires in improved studs. 



In the provinces of the Orange Free State and Transvaal the 

 Government owns several excellent stud farms. 



At Groolvlei in the Orange Free State there are 17 Thorough- 

 breds, four Arabs, one Shire and one half-breed. These stallions 

 are leased out to the farmers during the breeding season. The 

 farm also possesses a well selected troop of colonial mares and year- 

 lings are sold at very low prices to farrners.^^ 



The Transvaal Province possesses an excellent stud at Stander- 

 ton, with 19 stallions of high pedigree. V/ith the exception of two 

 or three all are Thoroughbreds. They are leased to the farmers 

 during the breeding season who eagerly apply for them. The 

 manager, however, complains that there are still too many ' ' weedy ' ' 

 sires about the country. 



Referring to horse-breeding in tlie Orange Free State the Frst 

 Annual Report of the Agricultural Department of the Colony in 

 1905 remarks that "Previous to 1904 no systematic organization 

 existed, although much has been done in the development and im- 

 provement of various farm animals by importation from England 

 and elsewhere." 



' ' Several farmers and breeders have kept private records and 

 practised the introduction of fresh blood from over sea from time 

 to time, so that several really pure-bred strains were to be found 

 although not in recognized Stock Registers. All these men recog- 

 nized that the Boer Horse, Afrikander Cattle and Cape sheep were 

 indigenous and of pure type and worthy of improvement and per- 

 petuation. The wonderful ability of these breeds is characteris- 

 tically emphasized in the Afrikander ox — large, heavy, and of beau- 

 tiful conformation, rich bay color (red) maintaining good condition 

 in severest droughts and capable of just, keeping up a living and 



(23) First Annual Eeport of the Department of Agriculture of the Orange 

 Biver Colony 1904-5. 



/< 



79 



