156 Cross-Breeding in Horses. 



a colt that has cost 200/. to rear is sold for less than 10/., and 

 perhaps is dear at the price. The majority thus sold are colts 

 and fillies that have never raced, many have given way in the 

 joints or sinews, whilst some are rejected for their shortcomings 

 in the actual race as two-year-olds, although many a horse which 

 was unsuccessful at that age has proved a prize-winner after- 

 wards. It is difficult to say how many of those foaled actually 

 make their appearance on the race-course, but the difference in 

 numbers between the entries and the starters for the Derby will 

 afford some slight criterion. At all events, a little reflection will 

 satisfy us that the number of first-class, or even second-class, 

 horses annually brought to maturity is very small, and justify 

 our assertion that the blanks far outnumber the prizes. 



How can we explain such a falling off, that the offspring pro- 

 bably to the extent of 70 per cent., should prove inferior to both 

 the sire and dam ? The answer may be found in the fact that 

 although our first-class race-horses are large and powerful 

 animals, yet they are descended from ancestors considerably 

 smaller than themselves, and Nature makes a constant effort to 

 return to the original type. But for this natural law there is no 

 telling what size our thorough-bred horses might reach, for the 

 constant effort of the breeder is to raise large colts, and it is 

 almost an axiom with many men that although a good little horse 

 is all very well, a good big horse is a great deal better. In fact, 

 the little horses, which are sometimes greater winners, are rather 

 low than small, and usually have considerable length of muscle 

 as well as depth of chest and substance, to compensate for their 

 want of height. When, therefore, there are such constant efforts 

 to outstep Nature, we cannot wonder that failure should be so 

 frequent a result. 



There is a striking contrast between Derby horses and their 

 numerous relations who figure at country races, and when 

 the short racing-career of these large colts is over and they 

 are devoted to the stud it is astonishing how large they become 

 and how much they girth.* They look the very incarna- 



* Although as a rule half-bred and threeparts-bred horses have more bone, and 



are larger iu the girth than thorough-breils, yet the latter increase surprisingly 

 in girth when thrown out of training and devoted to the stud. My friend 

 Mr. Barrow, Veterinary Surgeon, of Newmarket, has kindly furnished me with 

 the measurements of a number of lirst-class stud-horses now under his care at 

 Newmarket. Amongst others "Longbow," " Toxopholite," Thunderbolt," and 

 "Muscovite," all of whom were upwards of 16 hands, and exceeded 6 feet 

 in girth, and measured ou the average 8 inches round between the knee and 

 the fetlock. The chest of the thorough-bred is always comparatively deep and 

 capacious, Mr. Barrow considers that the capacitj- of the chest increases after 

 serving mares and from wearing no rollers, or anything to interfere with the 

 proper expansion of the chest. It must be borne in mind that the horses here 

 mentioned are peers of their order. 



