New Life for the Horse.

Is our old reliable standby, the horse, likely to come into his own again? There are signs of a revulsion from the motor-vehicle and the motor machine, and a return to horse-power on many of our New Zealand farms. The excessive devotion to cars and benzine is sure to lead to a reaction in many directions, and “Tangiwai” for one is glad to note the indications of the times, tending to show that economy as well as a liking for the horse is likely to bring a return of the more natural old-time conditions.

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One notes also indications in the Australian news that the horse is coming into favour again. But there always has been necessity for horseflesh in the great back country of the Commonwealth, and there is also the old-established trade in Army remounts for India. It was reported lately that a steamer in Australian waters was being fitted up for the conveyance of 800 horses to India. It is timely here to remind New Zealanders that there was at one time quite a large business here in the breeding and export of cavalry and artillery horses and polo ponies for India, a trade which has now quite vanished, though the demand still exists. The business could be revived with benefit. New Zealand can produce splendid horses in more than one class, and there is no reason why Australia should have a monopoly of this profitable department of breeding enterprise.