94 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



the colt will be smaller at birth ; and the tendency would be, 

 perhaps, to produce horses not over fifteen hands high ; but I 

 am confident that they would have speed, spirit, endurance, 

 and strength, beyond all fancy breeding we have ever seen. 

 Neither a large nor small dam or sire will perpetuate their 

 likeness, unless descended from a breed or family of like 

 characteristics. Using tall stallions or mares for that reason, 

 if neither is exceptionally so, will lead to disappointment. 

 Moderately small mares, if from families of good-sized 

 animals, have generally better constitutions, and are often 

 better for breeding-purposes. 



As I said before, the fault with our breeders seems to be in 

 the treatment of the mare. They run at will in rich pas- 

 tures, not exercising over one mile each day. They are, 

 consequently, very fat and soft, no hardened muscles, no 

 strength, and apparently without spirit. During the whole 

 winter they are kept in close stables, and throughout the 

 whole period of gestation are kept in this miserable and 

 unnatural condition. If horsemen will look at this matter, 

 and give it study and attention, I am sure that they will 

 agree with me that it is a serious error, and very largely the 

 cause of so many failures in breeding this class of horses. 



In determining what blood should contribute in selecting 

 animals to breed from, the ascertained facts determine : 1st, 

 that imported Messenger is the great source of the American 

 trotting horse, and, further, that long-continued and thorough 

 training of his descendants make them now immeasurably 

 the most reliable stock to breed from for all the qualities 

 desired ; 2d, that Abdallah, son of Mambrino, son of Mes- 

 senger, was the greatest sire of trotting and gentlemen's 

 driving horses that ever had lived up to his time ; 3d, that 

 Rysdyk's Hambletonian was the greatest son of Abdallah, 

 and immeasurably superior to him. No horse that has ever 

 lived has approached him in the excellence of his get. They 

 are not excelled by any other family in size, form, color, 

 courage, docility, or intelligence. 



The blood of the running horse is, in certain proportions, 

 indispensable in the speedy trotter ; but one-fourth or half 

 blood is sufficient. In proof of these statements, suppose we 

 take the American trotter, from Flora Temple down to the 

 present time. We shall find George M. Patchen, Lucy, Lady 



