62 ORANGE COUNTY 



coupled horse. The next thing to be observed by the 

 horse-breeder, in raising stock of any kind, after the 

 blood and form of the mare and the qualities of the stal- 

 lion, is the temper and condition of the dam. The former, 

 because nothing is more decidedly transmissible in the 

 blood than temper ; the second, because, unless she is 

 in good health and vigor, it is impossible that she can 

 produce vigorous and healthy offspring. 



The first time a mare is to be covered, it is of the 

 utmost importance that the stallion should be the best 

 that can be procured, as instances have been known 

 where the stallion, having possessed Home striking 

 points, the colts of the mare have shown those points 

 for several colts after, though a different stallion was 

 used. 



Under no possible circumstances breed from a stal- 

 lion which has any affection of any kind of the respi- 

 ratory organs, whether seated in the lungs or in the 

 windpipe ; or from one which has any affection of the 

 eyes, unless it be the direct result of an accident, such 

 as a blow, or a puncture, nor even then if the accident, 



