THOROUGHBRED HORSES 65 



remainder had English blood within the three immediate 

 preceding generations. From the length of time America 

 has been breeding thoroughbred horses, it might have been 

 expected she could now depend upon her own resources, 

 without having further recourse to the parent stock. 



It must not, however, be overlooked that sometimes 

 England herself reaps the benefit by the readmission of 

 lines of blood which have become scarce, or even extinct 

 in this country; and which afford an excellent outcross 

 to our own blood, that is sadly in need of such in far too 

 many cases. The continued inbreeding which has been 

 pursued has resulted in a delicacy of constitution, and a 

 waywardness and irritability of temperament, that is now 

 a constant source of trouble to both owners and trainers, 

 and mars the racing career of many an animal which was 

 full of promise at the commencement. 



HUNTEES. 



If ever an illustration was required for the old adage, 

 "what is one man's meat is another man's poison," no 

 better could be found than the different type of hunter 

 which each individual considers the perfect one. On this 

 he is prepared to stake — not his reputation as a judge, for 

 that, in his own mind, he considers absolutely assured, but 

 his opinion, about which he believes there can be no mistake. 

 If other people do not agree with him, so much the worse 

 for them, it only shows what bad judges they are. It is 

 when he comes to test that opinion in public, at an auction 

 sale such as Tattersalls, or a great Show such as the Dublin 

 one, that he may find the public will not put down money 

 for his very perfect piece of horseflesh. The reason is 

 simple. People hunt with very different motives, and in 

 very different countries, and consequently can get along 

 with a type of animal in the one country which would be 

 unsuitable in the other. When, however, a real judge 

 speaks of "a high-class hunter," he has but one animal in 

 his mind — a lengthy, well-built, and well-bred horse, which, 

 if possessed of manners and docility, generous in dis- 



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