35 

 advisability of establishing a Society to be called 

 the Hunters' Improvement Society, to promote the 

 breeding of riding, driving and military horses ; 

 to give premiums* at shows to be held in London 

 each spring, to owners of Thoroughbred Stallions 

 at cheap service fees ; to publish a Record Book 

 of prize mares that have gained honours at shows in 

 the United Kingdom, and to endeavour to spread 

 knowledge of the principles upon which horses may 

 be bred. 



A great deal has been written as to the 

 advisability of establishing a Society for Registering 

 Hunter Mares in Stud Books. If we could intro- 

 duce Hunter Sires into the Hunter Stud Book it 

 would be the means of resuscitating the system of 

 our forefathers. The judicious use of a highly bred 

 Hunter Sire would bring us back the old style of 

 heavy-weight hunters. These put upon hunter 

 mares already highly bred would encourage breeders 

 to recommence breeding horses. 



A letter has appeared, signed "Yorkshire," 

 which ridicules the idea of forming a " Hunters' Stud 

 Book." The writer says, " The idea seems to me 

 a most extraordinary one. What is it proposed to 

 enter therein ? A mare that has bred a hunter, 

 that ought to breed one, or that has been one her- 

 self.'' Or will it be only those with a certain number 



* The premium of /loo was given to each owner on condition of the 

 Stallion serving mares at £2. is. The premium system has since been 

 adopted by the " Royal Commission on Horse Breeding " at all their shows. 



