IIQ BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



formed in other respects, if his stifle formation and muscle attach- 

 ments prevented the proper trotting movement. 



Having selected the horse in the long line of good ones, of right 

 size and movements, good health and temper are to be considered 

 as positively necessary. If he has good health, good temper gen- 

 erally follows, but not always. If health is lacking he will not 

 be able to give good health to his progeny. Lack of robust health 

 lays aside all chances of success in performing labor requiring 

 speed or great bottom. And where the temper is bad, all other 

 qualifications being good, the animal is of little value especially in 

 trials of speed in company. While speaking of health in a sire I 

 am led to wish that I might be favored to convince you, as I have 

 been convinced, in the course of careful observation, of the absolute 

 necessity of this point. Do you, gentlemen, expect animals to 

 reproduce anything but him or her self, or both*, and the combina- 

 tions which have made up their animal organisms through the 

 generations succeeding ? Then why not demand that the animals 

 which you couple shall not only combine the antecedent qualifica- 

 tions, but also a thorough physical organism in their own bodies. 

 I would accept no sire who was not sound in every respect 

 touching his constitution, free from all affections of the blood, 

 fi'om which, — now mark, — from which nearly all the ills horse-flesh 

 is heir to, descend. Chapped heels, scratches, flat feet, thin-shelled 

 hoofs, liability to false quarter, spavins, curbs, pinched feet, 

 navicular disease, as well as very many other difficulties which I 

 need not mention, have their origin in the condition of the blood. 

 Your own experience must convince you that to drive a horse and 

 heat up his blood and then let him stand in a draft or without 

 cover until he cools, will certainly produce a feverish state of the 

 blood. In the human race it rushes to the head generally. 



In horses it goes to the feet, or its effect is felt at the feet, for 

 two reasons, — first because it is supplied more fully to the feet 

 than elsewhere. The other reason is owing to the peculiar 

 constitution of the foot inside of its horny walls, thus there is no 

 room for the swelling produced by the inflammation which must 

 follow this distorted action ; and the greater the disturbance the 

 greater the pressure, and consequently more disastrous. Now my 

 point is to assure you that a dam {the dam especially) who, 

 although possessing a naturally good organism, has had her blood 

 operated upon by these accidents (and my wonder is there are not 

 more of them) and her feet affected by this distressing fever, must 



