8 DR. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 



CHAPTER III. 

 BREEDING. 



The breeding of horses is a subject that is sadly neglected by 

 a great many breeders. Some men think if a mare can conceive 

 and bring a colt, no matter how old, broken-down or crippled she 

 is, she is just as good as a well-bred, sound, young mare. This is 

 a very false idea. The law of like producing like is very plainly 

 shown in breeding horses; .therefore, if you wish to raise, good 

 colts, you must breed from sound parents. It is a profitable 

 business to raise good horses, but common horses are raised at 

 a loss. This is exemplified at the- p'resent time by the cheapness 

 of the common horse, and the increasing demand and good price 

 of good driving horses. It costs just as much to raise a common, 

 scrub colt as it does a fine-blooded one; the only difference being 

 in the cost of the sire. The first will sell, when four or five years 

 old and broken to harness, probably for from $10 to $40, and the 

 other will bring from $75 to $200. 



Below is a portion of the paper prepared by Col. Henry Exall, 

 of Dallas, and read before the Livestock Association of Texas at 

 San Antonio, in March of this year. Colonel Exall is one of the 

 greatest horsemen in Texas, and a good authority on this sub- 

 ject; therefore, we think his remarks will be interesting and prof- 

 itable to all readers of this book: 



"I will simply state that in my opinion, formed after the most 

 careful investigation of the present status of the horse market, 

 and the conditions surrounding the horse-breeding industry, 

 that, at this particular time, no business offers greater returns, 

 with the same degree of certainty, than the breeding and careful 

 raising of a high class of trotting horse suitable for track and 



