456 



HORSE-BREEDING IN AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 



The Appendix to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the 

 Royal Commission on Horse-Breeding in Ireland [C. — 8652] 

 contains a report by Mr. M. de C. Findlay, of Her Majesty's 

 Embassy at Vienna, on the methods adopted for the im- 

 provement of horse-breeding in Austria and Hungary. 



The Austrian Government first began to take an active 

 interest in horse-breeding in the reign of the Emperor 

 Charles VI. By a decree of 1736, the provincial authorities 

 were directed to provide stallions suitable for getting 

 remounts, and the working of very young horses was for- 

 bidden. But the first great impulse to horse-breeding was 

 given by a decree of Maria Theresa in 1763, and since then 

 the State has continued to encourage the practice as far as 

 possible. The existing studs at Radautz and Fiber were 

 established in 1792 and 1798 respectively. The first to 

 systematise horse-breeding on scientific principles in 

 Austria was Count Hartegg, who became manager in 

 1 815. He imported at various times a number of thorough- 

 breds, both Arab and English, established premiums for 

 stallions and mares, and aimed especially at supplying all 

 remounts for the army from the country itself. He was a 

 great believer in Arab blood, but after his death in 1854 his 

 successors began to use English thoroughbred blood more 

 and more. In 1869 the care of the State studs and horse- 

 breeding establishments was transferred from the Ministry 

 of War to that of Agriculture. 



The Austrian Ministry of Agriculture included in its esti- 

 mates for 1897 a sum of £1 70,300 for the encouragement of 

 horse-breeding. Of this the chief expenditure was for 

 the maintenance of State studs (£33,300), and stallion 

 depots (£92,000). A provision of over £25,000 was also 

 devoted to additions to State breeding-stock by purchase 



