CONFORMATION 157 



point to the sire. They even suggest that the 

 proL;eny of first-chiss mares are disappointing if 

 mated with inferior-class stalHons. The stock bred 

 from winners is more Hkely to turn out well than 

 that bred from failures, however fashionably bred 

 the latter may be. 



There are several reasons for failure — inability 

 to gallop fast enough, or to stay, unsoundness and 

 lack of nervous force — which may show itself in 

 various forms. As these failings are hereditary, it 

 follows that in time the line of failures eventually 

 jjets left in the back<xround. 



The placing of the knees and hocks with refer- 

 ence to race - horses is a point which invites 



arcrument. 



Take St Simon, a horse which many people now 

 alive had the opportunity of seeing. He stood with 

 knees and hocks unusually high, and that trait is 

 marked in many of his descendants. Some experts 

 on equine excellence maintain that St Simon as a 

 race-horse never had his equal ; certainly he was 

 never beaten. Comparisons of horses running at 

 different periods, although very interesting, can 

 never be very satisfactory. The capabilities of 

 race-horses in general ought to progress with all 

 the increased care and knowledge bestowed on 

 their breeding and training. Thus it is probable 

 that St Simon would have met his match in later 



