REPORT OF THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATION 



ON 



Horse Breeding in Ontario. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Tlie queslion of improving the quality of the horses bred in the Prov- 

 ince has been considered at different times at annual and others meetings 

 of live stock associations, as well as being a subject of concern to persons 

 individually or officially interested in the promotion of the horse indus- 

 try. No unanimous and satisfactory scheme calculated to improve cordi- 

 tions could be decided upon, and when the matter was carefully inquired 

 into, it was found that the reason, apparently, was -a lack of accurate and de- 

 tailed information as to the exact conditions throughout the Province 

 which affect the quality of the horses produced. It was therefore decided 

 by the Minister of Agriculture- that before undertaking any compre- 

 hensive plan for the improvement of horse-breeding, it would be wise to 

 procure more complete information upon which conclusions might be based. 

 It was felt that detailed and accurate information along the following 

 lines should be obtained before any comprehensive policy should be adopted 

 looking to the general improvement of the horse industry in Ontario. 



1. What conditions have affected or are affecting the quality and num- 

 ber of stallions and brood mares, in the various sections of the Province, 

 and if the effect is for good, whether or not the same conditions could be 

 applied in other sections ; and if the conditions have not a good effect what 

 could be done to remove them. 



2. What class of horses car most profitably be raised in different sec- 

 tions of the Province, under the natural conditions found in those sections. 



3. The system of syndicating, and any other plan at present adopted 

 in Ontario, other than private ownership. 



4. The views of horsemen generally as to the advisability of a Stal- 

 lion Inspection Act. 



5. Suggestions from those interested in the horse business, as to what 

 can be done to improve conditions of the horse business generally. 



For the purpose of obtaining this information, the Legislature was 

 asked to make an appropriation, which was done at the session of 1906, and 

 the following plan of work was adopted : — 



The counties of the Province were divided into eight districts, and two 

 Inspectors, one to represent light horses, and one to represent heavy horses, 

 were appointed to investigate and report on the conditions in each district. 

 The Inspectors were instructed to inspect each known stallion located in their 

 district, and to obtain from the stallion owner and others with whom they 

 came in contact, such information as might be possible regarding the 

 mares. The information obtained in this way is practically accurate, re- 



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