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. -- CONSERVING ENGLANDS HORSE SUPPLY. A few days ago the Dally Telegraph suggested to the war office that whenever and wherever possible mares commandeered for army remount purposes should not be allowed to go abroad, but be retained for home defence work and the training at their depots of the mounted troops of the new reserve army. The motive for the suggestion was made perfectly clear. It was to safeguard the vital interests of light horse breeding in the United Kingdom, for by neglecting a precaution of the kind, the country would be so denuded of marcs as to plncc a great industry in jeopardy, which obviously would mean a serious blow to the army. It needs no emphasizing at this time of day that horses for the army cavalry, artillery, mounted infantry, ami transport are acquired solely from private breeds ers. There is no such thing as a government stud for the breeding of remounts, as in other countries of Europe. It is some satisfaction, less than, a fortnight after the publication of our suggestion, to be assured that it has not been allowed to pass unnoticed, and that already it has been put into operation. It is indeed, not improbable that Earl Kitchener has taken some official notice. From a remount officer a note to this effect: "Permission has been given to the commanding officers in the Household Cavalry Brigade by the Director of Remounts to leave behiud all good mares at -depots, with orders that they are never, to "leave the country. This is the first step in the right direction, and if generally adopted should prevent the country being entirely denuded of its best stock. Out of the 400. horses which have passed through my hands during the past fortnight, less , than 7 per cent of them are mares." Hunting, polo, racing, indeed all breeders of light horses, will be extremely grateful .to the Director of Remounts for his ".. Intervention on behalf of the mares. The example set where the Household Cavalry is concerned Is of high importance. It suggests that it will he adopted generally, and that is all that horse-lovirig patriots are asking. They want to see the principle of "spare the mares" adopted, together with discrimination in purchasing generally on the part of the agents of the Remount Department. My personal knowledge of the light horse has not been concerned only with the racing .and thoroughbred. It has beph gained in the hunting and polo fields, at, home and abroad. At home I have watched for years past the scouring of Ireland by the agents of Germany and other countries for mares for breeding remounts on the continent. Who have been the. , most, active, energetic, and alert buyers during a Dublin Horse Show week. The .Germans, of course.. How often have: I heard an Irish dealer remark to an English hunting man: "Youre too late, sir. The horse is sold. Hes going to the Germans. You see they gave me ray -price." Or, again, the resigned comment of the buyer from England: "I rode the mare in the ring, and liked her awfully. I offered what I thought a fair price, but the foreigners went over me." How often have we seen oh a nice course the winner of a Hat, hurdle, or steeplechase race sold to Baron von Trutzschler, the agent of Germany! There was not mnch hq would not be able to communicate to the intelligence department of his country about our resources in horses. He was included in the German ambassadors party on withdrawal and I doubt whether we shall see him again, at any rate, for a long time to come; Since the publication of my first article I have received many letters on the subject. They show how deeply breeders are moved at the prospect of the work of dozens of years being wrecked. Let the country understand that the men who arc accept-ing the governments check for 00 or 50 for 00 or ,000 hunters are giving a great deal more than the difference respreseiited by the margin in the two valuations. They are giving with their horses the results of their discrimination and judgment in breeding, their schooling and "making" of the animal for saddle purposes. Dealers in horses are being hard hit far more so than, say, the community of piano dealers, ana it is due to them that a practical suggestion, which it is possible to put into effect, should be made generally operative. In my opinion, no mare under 9 years of age should be so much as looked at. Older mares must be subjected to the necessities of the occasion. An Irishman who signs hiinsclf "Galtce More," writes: "The Geramn agent will allow no obstacle to stand in his path provided he secures his requirements, and I know from experience that from the time a good looking foal .makes its advent it. is marked down by the local agent or watcher of the foreign buyer. I suggest, tlutf all mares captured from the enemy by our Expeditionary Force be retained and sent to England, and Ireland If not wanted on the spot,, for breeding purposes, these mares to. be used for mounting our new army for home defense oulv. During next spring they should, be mated with suitable thoroughbred sires, procured by the government for this specific purpose, .after which they could still earn their corn by continuing as remounts for our home cavalry for a further period of six months. After they are of no further use , to the army I would place them with Irish farmers, on conditions which would not be unfavorable to the latter.. Another important matter which .should have immediate attention is that arrangements ought to be niade with farmers in Ireland to enable them to retain present three-year:old.s which in the ordinarv way are disposed of during September and October in order to meet rents, due in November. Failing such an arrangement this year, could the government purchase all suitable animals of tliis age anil place them on farms in the South, where forage is plentiful and easily procured, at reasonable costV" May I add in conclusion that every effort should be made to preserve the continuity of racing an-J bunting, for the solid reason tliat they represent the sources from which the light horse Is drawn. It is possible to eliminate the sporting element and still carry on both in our national interests. They are absolutely es?ontiaI. And in this connection, so far as fox-hunting is concerned, I am supported by the feeling entertained by some notable masters. Furthermore, the Irish masters of foxhounds held a meeting in Dublin some days ago. and they decided that fox-hunting should lie carried on throughout the country as far as practicable under the circumstances during the coming winter. As one of their reasons for continuing, the masters say, most properly: "A great number of farmers throughout Ireland, who are in possession i f young, unbroken hor.sos, would find no other means of breaking and traiuing these horses if fox-hunting were allowed to drop, and it need liardlv b pointed out what a valuable asset these horses were to the government at the outbreak of the war, and will le in the future?" The masters wish it to be known that In offering the above suggestion, they do not regard the upholding of hunting this year from the point of view of pleasure, but hold that it would be most prejiidical to the country in general if it were allowed to lapse altogether. Hotspur in London Daily Telegraph.
