50 



out of the country. The Cleveland mares were said 

 to be almost non-existent, but I am glad to hear 

 that there is a resuscitation of them, and that a Cleve- 

 land Society has been formed. 



The formation of that Society leads me to hope 

 that there are sufficient Cleveland mares left, and that 

 this breed may probably be re-established. It is, after 

 all, a question of demand and supply, and the 

 farmers will get the best price they can for their 

 mares. I do not know how we are to prevent good 

 mares going out of the country. 



There is one paragraph in the Paper (which 

 is an extremely able and interesting one, and shows. 

 Mr. Walter Gilbey's thorough knowledge of the 

 subject from early times) in which he says that the 

 thoroughbred horse is more weedy than he used tO' 

 be; but that, I think, hardly bears out the paragraph 

 in which Admiral Rous is quoted as having said that 

 whereas the average size of horses formerly was- 

 13.2, the average since 18 70 was 15.2. I am inclined 

 to think that you will find as many horses of size 

 and substance now as ever. 



Of course, speed is the one essential to thorough- 

 breds, because, after all, racing is the only possible- 

 test of merit, and you win by speed. The question 

 of stamina is another thing. 



I quite agree that it is unfortunate that so many 

 prizes are given to two-year-olds, and that there are 

 very few given to horses that remain on in training 

 after three years old, so that it really hardly pays. 



