BREEDING THE TROTTER 



the tracing of pedigrees and establishing of dates 

 was a tedious undertaking. 



In the announcement of the 1884 catalogue 

 Mr. Hamlin briefly outlined his " theory of breed- 

 ing," as he called it, in these words : 



MR. HAMLIN'S THEORY OF BREEDING. 



" My great aim in breeding is to combine speed 

 with size, soundness, style and elegance of form. 

 In the pursuit of this object I have weeded from 

 the list the mares which have not produced foals 

 up to the standard, and the stallions have been 

 selected with the greatest care." 



Speaking of weeding out I might mention that 

 a great deal of it was done at Village Farm. If a 

 stallion colt was not up to the standard he was 

 gelded. If a colt came crooked we knew it was 

 the mare's fault. The colt was killed and the 

 mare sold. 



Speaking of these brood-mares Mr. Hamlin, in 

 his 1884 catalogue, published the following 

 opinion : 



THE BROOD-MARE'S IMPORTANCE. 



" The brood-mares cover every branch of the 

 explored field. Every line of demonstrated worth 

 has been given a place in the collection. As I 

 wish to stamp out, instead of to perpetuate, in- 

 firmities, no mare has been purchased or retained, 

 regardless of fashionable breeding, which has a 

 blemish of a constitutional character. I believe 

 that the brood-mare is an important factor in the 



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