THE HORSE. 747 



be incompatible with that of the draft-horse, while the latter would also be objectionable in 

 the carriage-horse, etc. ; therefore, many of the desirable qualities in different classes of horses, 

 being antagonistic, cannot be combined in a single animal, and hence the necessity of auu^- 

 ing the animal to its especial use. 



The breeding of horses is a very important subject, since it relates to the agricultural 

 interests of the country so extensively. But when we consider the lack of interest that 

 farmers generally take in this department, it is not surprising that we see so many inferior 

 horses. It is rather the occasion of surprise that the common farm-horse is as good an ani 

 mal as we find him, when so little pains are taken generally towards his improvement. 



With most farmers, the opinion is prevalent that when a mare has become useless for 

 any other purpose, having become old, or broken-down by hard work, sprained, spavined, 

 and perhaps diseased, she will do well enough for raising colts. 



How in the name of common sense a person can expect a colt worth the raising from 

 such stock is difficult to understand, and yet farmers are constantly doing this all over the 

 country. If good stock is desired, it will be necessary to secure good stock as the progenitors, 

 in order to reach the desired results. 



Disqualifications for Breeding. At the outset, to be successful in breeding 

 requires outlay and careful selection. A person cannot reasonably expect that from a dam 

 that is perhaps not worth twenty dollars, and a sire whose real value may be but little more, 

 that the progeny will be equal to a St. Julien or a Maud S. Old age alone is a sufficient 

 disqualification for breeding, and when we add to this, unsoundness and disease, the objec 

 tions become doubly intensified. The colts from such stock will lack vitality and endurance, 

 since they will inherit these tendencies from their progenitors, and such a method of breed 

 ing is not only a direct violation of all physiological law, but of all the teachings of common 

 sense and experience combined, and cannot be too strongly condemned. 



No matter how active and valuable an animal may have been in her prime, if old and 

 broken-down, the foal will inherit the infirmities of old age rather than the excellences of 

 her younger days. Therefore, never breed from a mare that is old and infirm, no matter how 

 pure her &quot; blood &quot; may be. 



Never breed from a horse that has the heaves or is spavined. The tendency to transmit 

 disease is as strong in animals as in the human family, and a horse that has any weakness 

 about the organs of respiration will be almost sure to transmit this tendency. The same 

 may be said of any of the other forms of disease. Lameness, although it may have been 

 produced by accident, will also be liable to be transmitted to the foal. Colts from such mares 

 will be apt to become lame in early life, through inherited weakness. In fact, any infirmity, 

 disease, or defect, in either sire or dam, will be very liable to be reproduced in the progeny. 



AH animal for breeding should be free from a vicious disposition and temper, as well 

 as bad habits of every kind. A cross, ill-tempered mare or stallion will be likely to perpet 

 uate this tendency in the offspring, while, if both parents possess these traits, an ill-tempered, 

 vicious colt may be expected as an absolute certainty. 



Even a tendency to cribbing is known to be inherited. The same law holds true relative 

 to temperament, form, color, size, etc. 



Always breed up, and never down ; that is, never breed a dam to a sire of inferior blood. 

 It is also highly essential that the dam possess qualities desirable to be transmitted to the 

 progeny, as her influence in this direction nearly, if not fully, equals that of the sire. 



Influence Of the Sire and Dam. The Arabs have a maxirn that &quot;the foal fol 

 lows the sire,&quot; yet at the same time they always select their dams with much care. 



Notwithstanding the Arab maxim, we believe the qualities of the dam are of as much 

 importance as those of the sire, and that the progeny will inherit the mingled characteristics 



