154 THE HORSE. 
stock ; and if only it is joined to sufficient size, both of bone and frame, is 
almost always produces a hunter. The temper, constitution, action, and 
heart are all good in this strain, and nothing is wanted but the above- 
named element. Defence is the progenitor of a great number of good 
hunters, both directly, and through Safeguard and Bath, his sons. Chat- 
ham, Cotherstone, Annandale, Weathergage, Newminster, John o’ Gaunt, 
Theon, The Hero, Chanticleer, Harkaway, Connaught Ranger, Footstool, 
Fugleman, Idle Boy, Newcourt, Ravensbone, and Russborough, are of the 
very best blood for getting hunters, with the chance of an occasional race- 
horse among them, if put to stout, thoroughbred mares of a sort which is 
usually large- boned, and of good- size. Small-boned horses are not to be 
thought of for this purpose ; and hence the Epirus strain is objectionable 
on that score, they being smaller in the bone even than the Waxys, and, 
in addition, less lasting. All the sons of Venison are suitable, but espe- 
cially those crossed with the Orville or Whisker blood—as, for instance, 
the Fallow Buck and Red Hart; also Vatican, but that I believe his 
temper is somewhat ungovernable; and they generally make good hunters, 
but not with very high action. The Lottery and Tramp strains I have 
also already mentioned as being valuable for the purpose of getting hunters 
and steeplechasers; and the following stallions descended from them 
should be prized when within reach, especially such as are also crossed 
with Waxy or his descendants—.as Birkenhead, Sir Peter Laurie, Foot- 
stool, Meteor, Sweetmeat, Tearaway, and his son Kingstown. These also 
are almost all likely to get good hacks ; but the Buzzard and Whalebone 
blood scems to suit in this way better than most others, except in the case 
of the Touchstones, which are by no means good in this respect. Defence, 
on the other hand, who is similarly bred, but without the Orville cross, is 
famous for getting good hacks, and many of his stock have been very fast 
and fine trotters—as, for instance, Safeguard and Rector. The former of 
these horses, though blind, could, when in his prime, bend himself and 
trot with any thoroughbred horse in the world ; and the latter could do 
his sixteen miles an hour, carrying twelve stone.” 
I would strongly advise the breeder to select, for the purpose of getting 
hunters, those horses, whether thoroughbred or otherwise, whose action 
before is unexceptionable. So many of our race-horses now are full of 
Touchstone blood, that they are defective in this respect, and are totally 
unfit for any other purpose. 
Wuen Carrtace Horsss are bred for the special purpose to which 
they are afterwards devoted, a particular class of stallions is used which 
is generally only to be met with in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. These 
are put to large mares of the same breed, or the latter are sometimes 
crossed with the thoroughbred. Hacks and light harness horses are bred 
in small numbers only by farmers, and are generally the result of a cross 
between small chance mares and second or third rate thoroughbred 
stallions, or they are the weeds culled from racing or hunting studs, being 
too small and light for either one or the other purpose. 
THE KIND OF HORSE MOST PROFITABLE FOR THE 
BREEDER TO CHOOSE. 
WHEN A PERSON makes up his mind to bestow his attention on the 
breeding of horses as a speculation, it behoves him to consider what kind 
is best suited to the nature of his land and the length of his purse, as well 
as to his own knowledge of horses. Unless he has plenty of fine upland 
