HC Deb 21 November 1951 vol 494 cc60-1W
Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the present population of horses; and what were the comparable figures in 1900 and 1925.

Sir T. Dugdale

The only returns collected are of horses on agricultural holdings at the date of the June census. The figures are as follow:

ENGLAND AND WALES
— 1900 1925 1951 (a)
'000 '000 '000
Horses used for agricultural purposes—
Mares (including those kept for breeding) 925.0 773.2 145.8
Geldings 102.1
Unbroken horses 1 year old and over—
Light 265.1 143.7 15.3
Heavy 8.7
Horses under 1 year old—
Light 115.4 44.9 5.6
Heavy 3.0
Stallions for service—
Light (b) 4.8 1.0
Heavy (b) 0.6
All other horses (b) 197.6 82.3
TOTAL 1,305.6 1,164.2 364.4
(a) Provisional.
(b) Not separately collected.