450 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Juz, 1900. 
HORSES FOR INDIAN AND EUROPEAN MARKETS. 
By J. L. THOMPSON, 
Late Principal, Hawkesbury Agricultural College, Richmond. 
In these days of depression and low prices for almost every product, the 
capabilities of our soil and climate for producing a horse suitable for the Indian 
and European trade commends itself to all who have the interests of this great 
continent of Australia at heart. 
Australia is already famed for its wool, beef, mutton, dairy, wine, and 
other products ; and the conditions of its food and climate are more favourable 
to the production of a serviceable horse, particularly for the great continent 0 
Europe and India, than perhaps are those of any country in the world. Here, _ 
as a rule, we have no severe winters, and horses can be produced on the natura 
pastures with little or no artificial feeding. Australia is pre-eminently a most 
desirable place for cavalry horse-breeding, as is manifest from the fact that the 
Government of India require a large annual supply of horses of a sort which 
it has been well ascertained can neither be bred in India nor purchased at any 
place nearer to it than Australia. The breeding of heavy draughts of the 
Clydesdale, Shire, Suffolk Punch, and other kindred classes is not by any means 
remunerative at the present time, and the high prices of twenty years ag? 
which then obtained for this class of horse have gone, I fear never to returns 
whereas a first-class light-lezged horse, with breeding and quality, alway 
commands a high price, either for saddle or carriage purposes. 
The iron horse and swift steamers on our rivers and seas in the intercolonial 
trade have to a great extent superseded the services of the draught horse. 
Horse-breeding for the turf is a very precarious undertaking, and only 
those of independent means can continue to prosecute this business. 
I have in my mind the case of a noted studowner in this colony who sold. 
a yearling filly for £1,400 in 1892, while in 1893 some twenty head of yearlings 
of the same breeding only realised about the price of the one filly of the previous 
year. 
The breeding of suitable horses for the Indian. and Huropean trade can be 
undertaken by the occupiers of small and medium-sized farms, and 1 know of ne 
investment that would pay better, or be more easily and pleasantly undertake: 
Moreover, the mares required to produce suitable horses for export, whe? 
mated to the proper sire, could perform the whole of the work of a mixed farm, 
and at the same time rear a valuable foal each year. It is well known that # 
mare can be worked with care almost up to the day she foals, and be all the 
better for it. 
Another advantage the small holder would have is that the youngste!s 
being accustomed to the stable, harness, drays, &c., while suckling its dal 
would be much more docile than the animal reared on a large run. 
As the Indian remount service prefer their horses unbroken, very Jittle 
handling would be necessary, as the youngster thus bred could be taught to lea 
with a few lessons. 1t could also be shipped with greater safety, and would, 4 
am sure, have a better chance of standing the sea voyage and arriving at its 
destination in good condition without knocking itself about. A little chaff am 
corn could also be given to the young stock during the winter months 0 
periods of drought, and at the present prices for farm produce | do not consider 
the feed could be put to better account. Another advantage the small holder 
would have would be that he could obtain a better selection of sires, and cou 
mate his mares with those which would be most likely to produce the mo 
suitable animal. It would certainly be a very valuable adjunct to the farm 
if only, say, five or six head, worth £80 each at five years old, could be added 
his income. ‘Taking into consideration the low price of wool, cattle, and produce 
generally, I know nothing that would pay better at the present time. 
2 Oo Beye ae Poem mooi ton en 
