152 



not hesitate as to whicla of the two to expend his surplus food upon ; an 

 eight-mile-an-hour drudge, that will cost 880 at four years old, and sell 

 for the same ; or a horse bred on scientific principles, worth at four 

 years of age, 8200 to 81000, according to the stock he springs from. 

 One farmer in the vicinity of Milwaukee, raised several fast horses, and 

 from their sale, realized a far greater profit than he realized from ten 

 years of wheat farming ; yet the number was only five. These facts 

 are worthy of the attention of breeders of horses. 



To enter minutely into the details of rearing, breaking, <fec., would 

 require more space than we can devote to the subject in an essay like the 

 present, but a few remarks on each head may be of service. In breeding, 

 let the sire and dam possess as many desirable points as possible, and as 

 not one in ten thousand is unexceptionable in every respect, it is desirable 

 that the two should not be deficient in the same particular point. If 

 either has a little failing in one part, let the other be remarkably good in 

 that point, if possible. In this way, the undesirable or exceptionable 

 points may in part be obviated, and if they are not, you will in all proba- 

 bility breed an animal not less valuable than the sire or dam. The fastest 

 trotting horse now living west of the Lakes, was bred from a mare and 

 horse, each of them extremely bad in some points, and each remarkably 

 good in others. The strong and fast points were united in the progeny, 

 although without beauty — the colt* inheriting the vicious disposition of 

 the dam. This happy arrangement of the best points is not at all cer- 

 tain ; therefore the judicious breeder will commence with an animal for 

 sire or dam, with as few imperfections as possible, and his success will be 

 certain, in proportion as his parents are perfect. The foal should be 

 kept during the first winter in a warm yard, with a dry, warm stable, 

 and no floor but the ground, and should have room to exercise and walk 

 about in. Carrots, or a little bran, should be given daily, with what hay 

 and water it wants, but without grain of any kind. When fed on grain, 

 the animal becomes much like a vegetable highly manured, larger than 

 Le would otherwise be, and not so tough. Grain is too stimulating for 

 the powers of digestion in a young horse, and often settles in the feet, 

 ITature, the best guide in all things, does not furnish the wild horse with 

 threshed and clean oats, but simply grass and water ; and although not 



* This colt was brei by the writer of this, and -rras sold a few days after the State Fair 

 for $800, and taken to New York. He could trot a mile in 2 m. 32 s. The dam, on. 

 account of her vicious disposition, was sold for §25. 



I 



