BREEDING AND TRAINING HORSES. 79 



SECOND DAY. 



The meeting was called to order at half-past nine o'clock 

 by Capt. MooEE, who introduced as the chairman for the day 

 Mr. Avery P. Slade of Somerset. The discussion opened 

 with a paper on 



THE BREEDING, TRAINING, AND MANAGEMENT OF HORSES. 



BY JOHN E. KUSSELL, OF LEICESTER. 



The gentlemen who have assigned to me a subject so broad 

 and comprehensive as the breeding, management, and train- 

 ing of horses, are well aware that its thorough treatment 

 would require volumes : they must therefore intend, in the 

 necessary limits of such a paper, that I touch it with a light 

 hand, and merely suggest points for discussion. It is gener- 

 ally conceded that horse-breeding in New England, as a busi- 

 ness, is not successful ; that it is not the legitimate occupa- 

 tion of the farmer, but only the pleasurable pursuit of those 

 who can afford to breed without regard to profit. We have 

 the testimony of breeders of all classes, who agree upon this 

 point. I may add to this conclusion, that New-England 

 horse-breeding, for twenty years past, has not only been 

 without profit, but it has been discreditable, inasmuch as 

 the great proportion of horses produced have been of poor 

 quality, neither fit for genteel service, nor for the labors of 

 the farm. Many reasons are assigned for this failure. Long 

 arguments are made to show that we neglect certain myste- 

 rious laws of selection, that, if understood, would lead us to 

 results as positive as are obtained by those who successfully 

 breed sheep, hogs, or horned cattle. 



People ignorant of their business, or careless in it, com- 

 monly fail; but it cannot be said that our horse-breeding 

 has been attempted merely by the heedless and the ignorant. 

 It has been attempted by men successful in other pursuits ; 

 it has enlisted great enthusiasm ; it has commanded large 

 capital ; it has had intelligent exposition ; and it has been the 

 theme of constant discussion. Men of high social position 

 and wide personal influence have engaged in it, and been 

 cordially supported in their sales; but the summing up is 

 financial loss, disappointment, and disgust. 



