is of a high class. It is a very hopeful sign that horses, not im- 

 ported heavies, but quick, strong light-bred horses are becoming 

 more common in agriculture. With better methods of management 

 and breeding the Cape Horse will soon be a strong economical fac- 

 tor in the ever-widening agricultural development which is only just 

 beginning. With our cattle bred for beef, the ass discarded for his 

 slowness, and the heavy draft animal for his expense and unsuit- 

 ability, the strong, shortlegged, bigbarreled and well-bred Cape 

 Horse has every chance to become the foundation of our agriculture. 



The economic value of the Cape Horse as a factor in war has 

 been established beyond doubt. We are already familiar with his 

 achievement in India, the Crimea, the many Kaffir wars, the Herero 

 war and last but not least the Anglo-Boer War. His hardiness, 

 surefootedness, willingness and capability of doing much work on 

 scanty rations have gained for him a world-wide fame. 



Sir Walter Gilbey in his "Small horses in Warfare" that was 

 written during the Anglo-Boer War seems to have been inspired 

 mainly by the experiences gained in that campaign where even with 

 double teams of remounts, picked from every available spot on 

 earth, the British forces could not overtake the Boers on their 

 ' ' ponies. " " Their rapidity of movement has given us an important 

 lesson in the military value of horses of that useful type which is 

 suitable for light cavalry and mounted infantry. It was then 

 proved beyond dispute that these small horses are both hardy and 

 enduring, while owing to their possession like our English Thor- 

 oughbreds of a strong strain of Arab blood, they were speedy enough 

 for light cavalry purposes. "^^ The only objection to the Cape re- 

 mount previously to the war was his size. He was judged by Euro- 

 pean standards and those standards were reached by artificial 

 measures. In breeding for increased height, however plausible in 

 certain breeds, the great importance of other valuable qualities are 

 lost sight of. This fact was brought home in a very disastrous way 

 and very soon the leggy or artificially increased horse was a hopeless 

 failure against the smaller, speedier and hardier Cape Horse. 



In this relentless prejudice of size lies the defeat of the British 

 cavalry in South Africa. The larger horse of light breeds owes his 

 increased size to artificial methods of production and under war 

 conditions he cannot keep up with horses bred under natural con- 

 ditions. 



(12) "Cape Morses" in "Small Horses in Warfare"- Sir Walter Gilbey 1900. 



115 



