230 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



Ireland for a great many years has been recognized the world over 

 as the home of the hunter, the officer's charger, the troop horse and the 

 hack. It is very hard to breed a perfect type of a hunter. In Ireland they 

 have never been able to establish a Hunter Stud Book. The very best 

 hunters, that have brought enormous prices in England, France, Germany 

 and Belgium, have been by thoroughbred stallions out of common farm 

 mares. 



They have in England now what is known as the Hunters' Improved 

 Societ)', which has in view the following object: First, to give prizes 

 to breeders of hunters and horses used for riding and military purposes ; 

 second, to give premiums in shows for thoroughbred sires suitable to get 

 hunters, good riding horses and horses suitable for military purposes, 

 and also to give prizes for mares suitable to breed to thoroughbred stal- 

 lions in order to produce hunters, riding horses and horses suitable for 

 military purposes. 



A mare bred to a thoroughbred stallion to produce the above re- 

 sults should stand 15 to 15-3 hands high, with good shoulders, good 

 back and quarters, with as much length of neck as you can possibly 

 find and a good head. You need not be so very particular about the 

 neck, shoulders and head if you have a good sound, short-legged animal, 

 as the thoroughbred sire will give to his offspring the length of neck, 

 the shapely head, sloping shoulders, short back and the weight carrying 

 abilities that no other sire is capable of doing. 



In order to get a good riding horse you must first look to the 

 shoulders and back. A horse with straight shoulders will never give 

 a comfortable ride, he is greatly inclined to stumble. 



The Thoroughbred a Good Tempered Horse. — A great deal has 

 been said against the thoroughbred as a hunter and park hack, and I 

 might also add, as remounts for cavalry, on account of his hot temper. 

 It i*s a well known fact that most thoroughbreds that are used for 

 racing purposes are put in training in their yearling form. They are 

 schooled to the barrier when babies. The trainer stands behind the 

 bunch of vearlings with a big bull whi]>. and if any of them is slow in 

 getting away when the barrier is sprung, he not only feels the weight 

 of the whip, but is almost scared to death by the crack of same. In 

 this Avay their tempers are broken to a certain extent, and it is an utter 

 impossibility to expect youngsters bred like they arc to stand quietly 

 when they are lined up with other horses, as they are very seldom asked 

 to do so until they are four or five years old, and then only when they 

 are not good enough to win races, or when they have been broken 

 down. 



You must not draw your conclusions from what you have seen 



