POR THE rjLE.M, KOAD, OE FIELD. 131 



witnessed the dispei'sal bj public auction of the largest (100) 

 and best stud of hackneys in the kingxlom — that of Mr Wilson 

 of High Park, Kendal, whose success in the National and other 

 great shows througliout the country proved that no one could 

 equal him for this description of horses. He reversed the system 

 adopted by J\Ir Mil ward only in this, in choosing to have the 

 dam thoroughbred, or very nearly so, in place of the sire, 

 crossing these mares by the very best Norfolk trotting stallions 

 he could procure. The produce were certainly all that could be 

 desired in a hackney; yet with this perfection of quality and 

 action, with manners perfected by a thorough master of the art, 

 the highest prices realised for made ones were 200 and 180 

 guineas. None of those unbroken reached three fisfures. Two 

 young hunters (bred as we have described as our own practice), 

 a three-year-old gelding and hlly, both unbroken, brought at the 

 sale 185 and 125 guineas respectively. These horses Mr Wilson 

 purchased from a farmer in the neighbourhood (Mr Dixon, 

 Ualton Old Hall), and were only delivered to liim the evening 

 previous to sale. 



This conclusively proves what class of horses for "road or 

 field " are most profitable to the breeder. 



Perhaps the situation and character of the farm is more im- 

 portant to the successful breeding of horses than the nature of 

 the soil. Very hilly land is most unsuitable, as it sprains the 

 hocks and tendons in every way ; still, moderately steep, undu- 

 lating ground is of advantage, as the gallops up and down hill 

 tend to develop the muscles, and make the horses active on 

 their legs, which is of great advantage to all breeds, but more 

 particularly to the young Imnter. Pertile, rich, loamy soils, 

 containing everything in its constituent parts most calculated to 

 create bone and muscle in a growing animal, generally command 

 too high rents to admit of horses being profitably reared thereon, 

 as the violent exercise they so generally take (and which is so 

 conducive to theii^ health and w^ell-being in every way) destroys 

 as much grass as they eat. Wet cold-bottomed undrained clay 

 lands may be deemed the worst ; the damp uncomfortable lair 

 producing colds, degenerating into inliammation in the chest, 

 gummy legs, and all other ills propagated by impaired constitu- 

 tions. Fortunate] V for the horse-lovino; inhabitants of these 

 realms nearly all soils are, however, more or less suitable for the 

 breeding and rearing of this Do))le aninuU, if only rich enough to 

 uuiintain them in a growing condition. A well drained shcdtered 

 sli(.'e[) farm, where they can ])ick up a diversity of food, with n 

 go<jd mixture of lea, or liglit friable soil, and boggy, i.e., clay, or 

 a few inches of moss witli clay underneath, especially wliere 

 there is underlying limestone rock, may perhaps be deemed the 

 best. 



