264 REMARKS ON VARIOUS BREEDS OF HORDES. 



South African Horses* — The ordinary horses of the 

 Cape Colony, Transvaal, Orange Free State, and Natal 

 show a fair amount of *' blood," with a dash of the Arab, and 

 have very good legs and feet. They are, however, for the 

 most part '' weedy." Although they are admirable ''slaves" 

 with a light weight, or with but little to draw , they are quite 

 unsuited for military purposes. Those which are up to the 

 weight of a trooper, or fit to take their place in an artillery 

 team, would, at an average price of ^35 or ^,'40, be too slow 

 for cavalry or horse artillery work. The weight-carrying 

 hunter type of horse is practically unknown in South Africa. 

 The success on the turf of locally bred horses, like Prosecutor, 

 proves that the country is capable of producing good race- 

 horses. The freedom in which stock are raised there, 

 undoubtedly accounts for the excellence of their limbs. The 

 chief native breed, the Basuto pony, is a remarkably hardy 

 animal, with capital legs and feet ; but as he is rather short 

 on the leg, he is deficient in pace. Indeed, South African 

 horses, except those that are thoroughbred, are, as a rule, 

 very slow ; a fact which is no doubt due, in many instances, 

 to their loins being weak, their gaskins poor, and their hocks 

 being too much bent. South African breeders are much 

 handicapped by outbreaks of '' horse-sickness '' and by want 

 of water. With the exception of these drawbacks, the 

 country, especially in the Colesberg district and Orange Free 

 State, is admirably suited to the production of good horses. 

 Soutn Africa is singularly wanting in smart ponies, such as 

 those fit for polo. In this respect it forms a marked contrast 

 with England, Australasia, India, and Arabia. 



South American Horses. — In the Argentine Republic 

 many good thoroughbreds are raised by Mr. Kemmis and 

 other breeders. I have no means of '' drawing a line '' 

 between them and English or Australasian horses, except the 

 fact that Camilla, the aged daughter of Ph^nix, with 32 lbs. 

 the best of the weights, beat the Australian plater. The Wild 

 Oat, and five others at Calcutta in December, 1890. Neither 



