BREEDINa OF HORSES. 117 



surely qualify her progeny, and especially if she is suffering- its 

 pain while in foal. This affection of the blood was feverishness 

 from outside influences, and is equally applicable to like difficulties 

 induced more readily when the blood is rendered turbid by strong 

 feed without exercise enough to throw off the feverish state or 

 element in the blood. 



To return again to the subject, I want to refer you, those of you 

 who have examined the stock of American Star, a horse nicely 

 bred so far as pedigree is concerned, yet with so light muscle 

 attachments that few of his progeny pull through without trouble. 

 And I might mention many other horses known to you, which 

 have constitutional defects that have been bred to the great 

 damage of the breeder. 



I wish I was able to impress upon the minds of all present the 

 importance of thorough health and constitutional perfection. I 

 believe I speak from experience and with reflection when I urge 

 this point. 



Since I have been engaged in breeding, I have had opportunity 

 to observe these points in the get of many stallions of my own and 

 others, and I have made a point of recording for a number of years 

 a description of all mares stinted at my stables, their points, 

 defects, &c., and comparing as far as practicable this record with 

 their produce. 



This record some years amounted to 200 mares, — thus we were 

 drawn to conclusions which have materially changed our opinions 

 upon many points. Many sound horses which have gone through 

 many hard trials safely, have produced colts which were proverbi- 

 ally unsound when placed at work. And I have been unfortunate 

 enough to have purchased very fine animals of approved stock at 

 large prices, whose stock was of little value. If by acknowledging 

 these mistakes and pointing them out it shall be of advantage to 

 any, it will be well. 



Before passing from this subject, I wish to remark that the form 

 and structure of a horse indicate to what extent he can perform 

 what may be required of him. 



If great speed and prolonged action, he must be supplied with 

 sufficient bone and muscle, and the processes must be prominent. 

 To use the words of another : " Considered mechanically the bones 

 form the frame work of the animal machine ; in the limbs they are 

 hollow cylinders admirably fitted by their shape and texture to 

 resist violence and support weight." The character of the sub- 



