The Conntiy Gcntlcimvis Magazine 



^hc ^tablc. 



THE BREEDING OF HUNTERS AND ROADSTERS. 



THE present deteriorated condition of 

 the breed of hunters and roadsters, 

 and the scarcity of really first-rate animals of 

 these two classes, is a subject of much specu- 

 lation and uneasiness at the present day. 

 Agricultural associations and kindred societies 

 seem in vain to lend their aid " to improve 

 the breed" in these departments of stud 

 economy, and there is no denying the fact, 

 that good animals of the right sort are yearly 

 becoming scarcer. This scarcity arises not 

 from any decrease in the demand ; nor can 

 we assign as a reason for the deficiency any 

 falling off in the number of sportsmen at the 

 present day. Although we do not now see 

 the true fox-hunter of the olden time — the 

 hard-riding, hard-drinking squire — the in- 

 creased wealth of modern times, and the zest 

 to a day's hunting which the engrossing oc- 

 cupations of this utilitarian, commercial age 

 in which we live imparts, have kept up and 

 recruited the ranks of sportsmen with a 

 phalanx of followers not one Avhit behind the 

 olden times in either pluck, mettle, or ability; 

 and there are good old family names and 

 representatives of noble blood who have be- 

 come familiar as household words at the 

 different "meets" in the various districts of 

 our hunting counties. There need, therefore, 

 be no insinuation that the falling off in the 

 breed of hunters is owing to a lack of eager 

 sportsmen and horsemen. In fact, many of 

 these gentlemen, further to evince their love 

 of the chase, and to combat with the exten- 

 sion of railway systems across the face of the 

 country (which interferes so much with hunt- 

 ing and preserving of game), are yearly plant- 

 ing covers, rearing foxes, and doing all in 

 their power to support and advance this 

 hannless, healthful, and exciting pursuit. 



The real falling off in the quality and en- 

 during capability of the hunters and roadsters 

 of the present day, as a class, is to be ac- 

 counted for on very different grounds ; and 

 the principal blame seems to lie with the 

 breeders themselves, in the apathy and utter 

 want of system they evince in their mode of 

 carrying on the enterprise. Every one now- 

 a-days 2^111 try his hand at breeding horses ; 

 the belief is general, that it is an " interesting" 

 amusement, and one not calling for special 

 knowledge or attention to minute details, or 

 regulated by general rules and laws. Usually 

 some old favourite mare is retained for the 

 purpose, regardless of whether she be at 

 all qualified for the high and important func- 

 tion of raising stock adapted for the field; 

 and without regard to the horse to which she 

 is put, and the suitability of the cross — which, 

 so far as the breeder seems to study, may or 

 may not turn out a happy one — the union is 

 formed. Very frequently the mare is during 

 her pregnancy sent to work, and nature is ex- 

 pected, under such trying circumstances, to 

 be able to nourish and mature a perfect foetus ! 

 To add to the chances of the produce being 

 " a weed'" — the dam, being regarded rather as 

 surplus or extra stock in the establishment, 

 does not receive the most careful attention, 

 or such additional nutriment as the double duty 

 imposed upon her demands, or due regard to 

 the breeder's own expectations and wishes for 

 success, would lead one to expect. In this way, 

 even before it is weaned, " a weed'' is raised, 

 and degeneracy perpetuated; and when we 

 consider the miserable stinting of artificial 

 diet and "keep" (because expensive!), to 

 which many yearlings and two-year-old colts 

 are subjected, need we wonder that the num- 

 ber of first-rate animals is few ? For if, at the 



