Sir Alfred Pease in his article "Breeds of Horses Suitable to 

 South Africa "•**' urges the breeders to make up their minds what 

 classes of liorses they desire to breed and possess. ' ' Whatever types 

 we select we require them constitutionally hardy and sound, with 

 good legs and feet, capable of resisting the variations of cold and 

 heat and of thriving on either the Low or High veld pastures." 

 There is no doubt that Sir Alfred had in mind the glories won by 

 the Cape Horse in India and the Crimea under the most oppositely 

 extreme climates when he wrote this article and continues that "it 

 appears that there are two different stamps that are specially in 

 demand. 



Firstly, a horse of handy size for riding and military purposes 

 about 15 hands high (14.2-3) high, with the greatest combination of 

 quality and strength obtainable and possessing the utmost resis- 

 tance to the attacks of Horse sickness and other diseases and equal 

 to sustained exertion on such forage as the country produces. This 

 type of horse will also be adaptable to light harness work. 



Secondly : A horse fitted for the heavy traffic of towns and 

 for agricultural purposes. This class must possess similar qual- 

 ities in regard to climate, food and resistance to disease as the first 

 mentioned type but in addition must have weight and great mus- 

 cular development. 



In producing the first type Sir Alfred covers the same ground 

 as before mentioned. The sires should be of the oldest established 

 breeds and the mares graded on lines of best conformation and 

 blood. 



He, however, gives preference to the Arab as a sire on the plea 

 that he will find a second home in South Africa and his progeny 

 will be hardier than those of the Thoroughbred. The Arab and 

 his types were used largely in the production both of the Thorough- 

 bred and the old Cape Horse, and if the right type is secured he 

 would be the best possible sire for South African conditions. 



The second type will be more difficult to produce and perhaps 

 it will be best to breed mules for heavy draft and agricultural pur- 

 poses. "Breeds like the Clydesdales, Shires and others will never 

 do in South Africa ; heavy carcasses, thick coats, hairy legs, apart 

 form other considerations, are not suitable either for rainy seasons 

 or hot climates." Percherons might do better, but something 

 (49) Transvaal Agricultural Journal Vol. II, 1904. 



103 



