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IMPORTATION OF HORSES DOES NOT PAY PAYSuch Such Is the Conclusion Reached by Dr M M Leach the Noted Authority on Horse Breeding New York September 15 In commenting on the showing made this year and last by imported horses Dr M M Leach of Lexington Ky who is anau thority on the horse of blood and has seen him in nearly every country on the globe had the following to say on acclimatization during a recent visit to New York Despite the performances of such good horses as Hourless Star Hawk Omar Khayyam Sun Briar and Johren I am of the opinion that the im ¬ portation of thoroughbreds for racing tests as now carried on does not pay though from a breeders standpoint the evidence of turf history is proof that the numerous importations of the past few years will beyond question be of material assistance in improving the standard of excellence of future gen ¬ erations of Americanbred blood stock The impor ¬ tation of horses destined for racing purposes cannot be made to pay unless certain set rules are followed The bugbear of acclimatization stands ever ready to foil the best laid plans plansOn On niy first visit to Australia in charge of some thirty head of horses I knew little of the pro ¬ cess of acclimatization Our horses on arrival in Melbourne were taken to the farm and quarantined for a period of one month as required by Australian law I thought that after a short period of rest the horses could be put into active training I was more than astonished to learn that the owners had no intention of again placing the horses in train ¬ ing for a long time I was told that two years must elapse before these horses became thoroughly acclimatized After a sojourn of nearly two years in the antipodes I found that even a longer period was necessary for a complete acclimatization acclimatizationThe The horses I took down after a certain length of time seemed to be going through some process of change resumed Dr Leach They became sleepy and a general lassitude prevailed Their less filled They lost muscle over the back and loins Their coats were staring and all this for no assignable cause so far as I could see except the process of acclimatization The change of coursa is not so marked when coming from Europe to this country We are still in the northern hemisphere and the seasons are practically the same Australian winter is our summer and vice versa Horses shipped south in November find themselves burdened by a winters coat in broiling midsummer The winters coat slips rapidly it is true A mahogany bay will shed out a cherry yellow Of course the normal coloring will return after je animal is thoroughly acclimatized acclimatizedWHY WHY IMPORTING DOES NOT PAY PAYThis This process of change is the reason why the importation of horses intended for racing does not pay Some horses it is true acclimatize more reildily than others but there is no guide and some of those sent to Australia never acclimatize at all The late Major Daingcrfield than whom there was no closer student of all things that pertain to blood stock always maintained that five years must elapse before a new arrival regained its normal status and he had a wide experience with im ¬ ported stock having had charge of the Castleton Farm w4th its imported mares maresUpon Upon being asked to define the process of accli ¬ matization Dr Leach said I take it to be an attempt on the part of nature to so rearrange physiological conditions that the body may be en ¬ abled to put forth its best efforts under changed atmospheric conditions Lung tissue must become accustomed and able to take care of air delivered at a different pressure than formerly The lungs must go to school again as it were and learn to accommodate themselves to circumstances and this requires time In talking this way said the doctor in conclusion I do not mean to discourage Ameri ¬ can breeders and sportsmen from a continuance of the good work of importation but rather to ask of them that they exercise patience and import young stock weanlings and yearlings and mares carrying foals Carry on the good work of importation Ex ¬ pect little or nothing in a racing way of those of more mature age until at least one years residence in the land of their adoption The quickest way in which the desired result may be brought about is a twelve months run at pasture If this plan be adopted the importation of blood stock for racing purposes can be made to pay and pay handsomely
