HORSES. 373 



colts. It certainly will be beneficial to the society, as well as to 

 the raiser of stock. There will always be those who will breed 

 horses for farm and other heavy work, and also those who will 

 feel interested in the roadster. It is not possible or well that 

 both of these classes should be combined in one ; — their duties 

 are different, their temperaments and forms are unlike, and both 

 are undoubtedly very useful. For instance, the mare that 

 received the first premium, — she was only four years old, and 

 personal proof was shown two of the committee, (one of whom 

 rode six, and the other over twenty miles with her,) what care- 

 ful breeding and excellent training would do, even to so young 

 an animal. This colt, during her whole journey from New- 

 buryport to North Andover, never showed a slower gait than nine 

 miles the hour, (and that, too, without the whip or voice,) and 

 at the end of the trip was as fresh as at the commencement. As 

 another example, on the other side, a colt was presented for the 

 same premium, of as different a nature as possible, which could 

 not have performed this journey with such ease, but for the 

 ordinary work of the farmer or the hack could h'ave no superior. 

 These examples will readily show the necessity of proper classi- 

 fication in regard to premiums. 



On the subject of breeding, the first axiom is, that " like 

 begets like ;" and there is scarcely a disease which belongs to 

 the parents, that may not be transmitted. Hundreds of instances 

 are on record whore, in either the sire or the dam, marks of 

 unsoundness, such as spavins, ring-bones, curbs, roaring, &c., 

 could be seen ; these same marks were visible also in the ofif- 

 spring. . Peculiar formations and constitutions will also be 

 inherited, and oftentimes, no matter how beautifully formed or 

 how graceful the gate of the sire, the colt will take the ill-formed 

 and homely step of the dam. There should always be some good 

 points, even of a different character in both, and we shall be 

 likely to receive good stock. 



There is nothing of more importance, after the colt is fairly 

 in this world of speed, than that he should at once receive atten- 

 tion. Let him at first be kept with the dam, in a warm stable, 

 and as soon as sufficiently strong to be u})on his legs, let him 

 follow his mother about in her ordinary slow work. Exercise 

 will be better for both ; but the practice of allowing the young 

 creature to accompany its dam into our large towns or cities, 



