The Spring Horse Shows.
At no other times, perhaps, have there been such opportunities to obtain
lessons in almost everything that concerns horses than at the three
shows, for the Shires, the Hackneys, and the hunters. For the last
quarter of a century the right roads have been taken to develop and
improve the English breeds, and in that comparatively short space of
time the effects of sensible and scientific breeding have been quite
wonderful on materials existing years, almost centuries, ago, but
neglected by past generations, and often enough nearly lost. Now it
happens again that everything is in its pristine excellence, but even
better, and presenting really a great British industry in which no
rivals can be feared, and one that might help the ever difficult problem
of what to do with young England, the over-population that want new
lands for farming, and more especially for breeding and rearing horses.
Englishmen can do it better than others, as has been seen at these
shows, but they want lands that are not over-rented, rated and taxed,
and under such conditions thousands might leave these shores with
altogether unsurpassed stock to breed horses for the mart of the world.
Will South Africa, Canada, or other territories at present belonging to
the Empire, be made available? But that is a political question;
governments must see to it. All the public has to think about is that
the English breeds are now perfection; and, to begin with, there is
nothing greater than those known far and wide as