306 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



attended with bad results. However good both sire 

 and dam may be, if too closely allied, the progeny will 

 in all probability turn out weak, and become liable to 

 all those diseases to which delicate constitutions are 

 subject ; but where parties have a predilection to a 

 particular stock, these evil consequences may be 

 obviated by occasionally introducing fresh blood, 

 either by crossing with the sire or dam. 



A good brood-mare should be selected with a rather 

 long carcase, so as to give sufficient room for the 

 growth of the foetus ; at the same time she should be 

 compact in the make, and rather short than otherwise 

 in the leg ; while the stallion should be somewhat 

 opposite in his form, which ought invariably to be 

 short, with as many of the good points which we have 

 before enumerated contained within a small compass. 

 The inclination of the shoulder is also an essential 

 point to be attended to. A large stallion with upright 

 shoulders never got a good hunter or hackney ; but 

 for a draught-horse, this form to a limited extent is 

 desirable. 



To secure a good and healthy progeny, youth on 

 the side of both sexes is very essential. Both ought 

 to be in the prime of life, and in full health. From 

 three to four years of age is a proper time to commence 

 breeding from a mare, but to begin sooner (unless the 

 animal is large and well fed), before their form has 

 assumed its full strength and vigour, cannot fail to 

 limit the growth of the mother and her progeny. 

 Mares that are little worked may be safely bred from 

 until they attain the age of eighteen or twenty, and 

 instances have occurred where they produced splendid 

 foals at twenty-seven years. But, on the contrary, if 

 hard worked, there is little chance of the progeny 

 being good. 



