all the required bone, substance and size that the majority of Cape 

 mares lack. 



Clydesdales, Shires, Percherons and their type of heavy breeds 

 should not be used indiscriminately as a crossing on light Cape 

 mares as has unluckily and unwisely been done in the past, in order 

 to improve the size in the Cape Horse. It is breeding with a ven- 

 geance ; there should be at least some aiSnity in sire and dam and 

 extreme unions should be approached gradually. 



Once the choice of a stallion for a particular troop of brood 

 mares is decided upon; the stallion, when owned by the breeder, 

 should receive, besides good food and grooming also good exercise; 

 he will beget better stock and the possibility of becoming impotent 

 will be avoided, which is a misfortune that may result if a stallion 

 becomes too fat owing to a lack of proper exercise — one of the 

 famous Hambletonians being a case in point. 



A private stud book used giving full particulars of every mare 

 and its offspring and the stallions they were served to will be of 

 very great help and elucidate matters when breeding for a partic- 

 ular purpose when selecting or grading mares for a certain sire. 



It is encouraging to know that most of these methods are prac- 

 tised by some breeders scattered over the various Provinces ; but 

 we cannot impress too much their general adoption on every farmer 

 who keeps a few brood mares — and very few there are who do not. 



Once things are done with better method on a system that is 

 seasoned with experience and intelligent observation and formers 

 breed with a definite purpose there is no doubt but that horse- 

 breeding can grow into a great and profitable industry and a source 

 of wealth to the country at large, even if we do not export a single 

 one. 



"A prosperous community" — and the average South African 

 farmer in comparison with his average brother on the Continent, 

 Great Britain and America is certainly very prosperous — ' ' requires 

 good horses, so that the demand for good horses will always in- 



(27) Dr. Sutcheon, Chief Veterinary Surgeon to the Cape Government in Se- 

 port of Select Committee on Horse Breeding in the Colony Archives 1891. 



83 



