1 June, 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 481 
Colonel Williams, of the Indian remount service, paid a visit to these 
Colonies some few years ago in order to ascertain how far the breeders 
here could supply the demand for the Indian service ; and after visiting several 
of the studs in Australia he expressed himself as simply astounded at. the 
capabilities of the herbage, climate. and economic conditions for producing 
the class of horse wanted in India. Jt is now generally admitted by 
Anglo-Indians and dwellers in the Mauritius that the soundest and most 
durable horses for a hot climate are those bred in Australia. The class of 
horse in greatest demand in India for remounts, Colonel Williams says, is a 
Stout animal, between 15:2 and 16 hands high, with as much breeding as 
possible. The British soldier and his accoutrements weigh from 16 to 18 stone, 
and a weak and weedy animal is simply useless. For a suitable horse the 
Government are prepared to pay £46 for a five-year-old learned to lead only. 
Tt costs £11 sterling per head to land a horse in Calcutta, thus leaving £35 
| Sterling for the breeder. (his animal would represent the medium cavalry 
horse mentioned by Major-General Hutton as being worth, to a European 
military power, £75 sterling as a five-year-old or at the commencement of its 
military life.. Now. the question may be fairly asked, with the material at 
present in these colonies, how are the four descriptions of horses required for 
military purposes, as mentioned by the major-general, to be produced? After 
Consultation with some of the most experienced horse-breeders in this colony, I 
am of opinion that the first and second descriptions might be produced from 
the same source, as they will, no doubt, vary in size and quality :— 
1. The heavy cavalry horse, of bone, quality, and power, standing 16 
hands high. 
2. The light cavalry horse, of good body and good quality, standing 
15:2. 
I think it will be recognised that there are fewer of the above classes of 
horses in Australia at the present time than there were twenty years ago. It is 
unfortunately too true, as the major-general says, that, owing to insufficient 
attention being paid to the breeding of horses for domestic purposes, they are 
generally deteriorating. It cannot, therefore, be expected that large numbers 
of suitable horses can be produced for some time to come; still, the sooner 
reeders commence operations on the proper lines the better it will be for all 
concerned, ; 
Now, as to the production of the above :—Ist, the heavy cavalry horse, of 
bone, quality, and power, and the light cavalry horse, of good body and quality, 
Standing from 15-2 to 16 hands in height, as already mentioned, in my opinion, 
an be produced from one common source, as they will, of course, vary in size 
and quality as already indicated. 
THE SELECTION OF THE DAM. 
There is at the present time in this colony, in my opinion, a large number 
of clean-legged, medium-sized, handsome mares with good bone and heads, good 
action and tempers, and standing from 15 to 15:2 hands high. They should 
ave as much breeding as possible, good constitutions, and capacity for work. 
Greys must be discarded, as they are not in favour for army purposes. No 
doubt most of the above would prove, on inquiry, to be the product of a thorough- 
red stallion from a clean-legged draught mare. 
THE SELECTION OF THE SIRE. 
| It is well known that the Arab sire has given the best results in India, but 
_ they cannot be obtained here in sufficient numbers. The English thoroughbred 
as not been successful in India in getting the class of stock required, as many 
of the produce are spindle-shanked and Jight-barrelled. The Norfolk trotter, 
orkshire roadster or hackney (synonymous terms), in my opinion, mated 
_ With mares as described above, will get the stamp of horse required. Some, 
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