The trade for really first-rate Hackneys and harness horses appears to be unaffected by the presence of the ubiquitous motor car. Thus Mr. W. Scott’s mare Menella, the winner of two firsts, the gold medal and special prize at the last show of the Hackney Horse Society, was sold at the Thornholme sale to Messrs. Carr and Co. for 1,175 gs. The black gelding Gay Mathias was sold at the same sale to Mr. A. Gemmell for 650 gs. The average price paid for ten Mathias mares and geldings was fully £319; whilst the twenty animals sold averaged nearly £185, against £108 at last year’s sale. Since the sale Menella has been exported to the United States.
Much regret is expressed in the Hursley country at the decision of Mr. F. C. Swindell to resign the mastership. Mr. Swindell has hunted hounds since 1883, commencing with a pack of French hounds given him by the Marquis of Anglesea, with which he hunted part of Cannock Chase. From 1885 to 1894 he was Master of the Puckeridge, and from the latter year until 1898 of the Old Berks. He then went for two seasons to the Taunton Vale, taking over the Hursley in 1903.
Knowle Halma, the champion mare at the recent Hackney Horse Society’s Show, was sold to Sir Lees Knowles, Bart., at Mr. R. W. Jay’s sale, for 650 gs. At the same sale the two well-known show geldings Southport Performer and Towthorpe Performer realised 395 gs. and 250 gs. respectively, both being purchased by Mr. T. Mathieu, of Brussels. The sale was a very successful one, an average of nearly 128 gs. being obtained for twenty-four lots.
During the last month good prices have been paid at Tattersall’s on several occasions for polo ponies. Mr. U. Thynne disposed of Ariel at 150 gs., and Mr. Dennis of Toko at 110 gs., Nettle at 103 gs. and Glisten at 100 gs. Colonel Godley received 110 gs. for Black Nancy, Mr. McCreery 125 gs. for Sunset, and Mr. Dixon 105 guineas for Dolly. Major Neil Haig’s ponies sold well; Ardaghhowen made 290 gs.; Bluey, 128 gs.; Alcibiades, 90 gs.; and Mrs. O’Shea, 88 gs. The hunters and polo ponies belonging to the officers of the 14th Hussars were all sold and realised good prices. A gold medal polo pony from Captain Walker made 175 gs., and Seddington, from Captain Campbell, 165 gs.
A great loss has been sustained by the Zoological Society owing to the death of Daisy, the fine female specimen of Ward’s giraffe, obtained from Mr. C. Reiche in 1895. The loss is the more to be regretted since Daisy was in calf to the young male presented to the Society by Colonel Mahon in 1901. The immediate cause of death was tuberculosis of the lungs.