The Report of the Iloijal Commission on Horse-Breeding. 295 
these premiums have been given .... I get inquiries now 
from farmers and different people about stallions which we 
never used to hear of before. If you get a sound, good-looking 
horse, there are plenty of people who will come to see him with 
the object of purchasing." 19 And he replies in the affirmative 
to a question as to whether the work of the Commission keeps 
stallions in the country instead of their being bought to go 
abroad. 20 
Captain Fife says much the same : " I consider that all 
people who are keeping stallions are encouraged to keep a very 
much better class of stallion than they otherwise would. I come 
across a great many people at Newmarket looking for stallions, 
and they always try, to begin with, to buy a sound horse and 
one they think good-looking enough to win a premium, whereas 
before these premiums existed it was not a matter of how good 
the horse was, it was a matter of how cheap they could get 
him." 21 And Mr. Matthew Dawson, after pointing out the foreign 
demand we have to contend with, says (speaking of high 
premiums stimulating the home demand), " The more you give 
[in premiums] the more they will strive to find the animal." 22 
There was a general consensus as to the minimum age at 
which a stallion subsidised by Government money should begin. 
Some preferred five, and one witness greatly fancied nine. Three 
was generally held to be too young, and four is probably a wise 
decision. As to the maximum, there was less agreement; but 
the practical men's ideas are summed up by Lord Combermere : 
" I would let him (the stallion) go on as long as he can get his 
mares in foal. The farmers will very soon tell you when he 
does not do that." 23 
We have strong evidence in favour of stallions travelling by 
road instead of being located or going by train, although Captain 
Fife sends his own stallions by rail and finds it answer. Mr. 
Porter says that travelling keeps a horse in good health, and 
that he might walk twenty miles a day with advantage. Mr. 
Dawson thinks exercise is " a fine thing " for a horse ; Mr. 
Cooper and Mr. Cookson consider a horse is far more likely to 
leave foals by travelling. General Thornhill suggests that the 
Queen's premium stallions should be required to travel occa- 
sionally, as a farmer would sooner use a stallion passing his 
gate at ten shillings than be at the trouble of sending to a 
premium horse at a distance. The stallion leader, and the 
inclination to treat the stallion leader — always a popular and 
often a thirsty individual — are, however, admitted difficulties. 
1535-G. ■ 1538. » 1C95. * 2092. » 3381. 
