HORSES: THEIR POINTS AND MANAGEMENT 



adapted to your soil and climate. I could refer to several 

 other breeds and crosses of less importance ; but I believe I 

 have mentioned all the most important. 



But you will expect me, I presume, to refer to the modern 

 hackney. I reply by stating that no one can admire the best 

 of them more than I do. Excellent results are secured by the 

 introduction of high class hackney sires in the counties of 

 Anglesey, Flint, (jlamorgan, Pembroke, and portions of ^lont- 

 gomery, Carmarthen, Denbigh ; and even in some few localities 

 of your own county Cardigan, where the soil and climate suits 

 them. Most valuable animals have been bred from the cross of 

 the useful native brood mare. But even in the districts and 

 counties named, the establishment of a pure bred hackney stud 

 would be a mistake. Such is the ambition to be identified 

 with hackney breeding that England is over-supplied in some 

 districts with hackney studs, kept up by gentlemen who keep 

 them as a hobby. You cannot compete with them ; and even 

 their own efforts have resulted in the congestion of secondary 

 animals, the breeding of which is more a hobby than a practical 

 business. The supply has outgrown the demand, except for 

 the very best. These often realise very high prices ; but the 

 correct commercial value of any breed is the average realised 

 at a sale rather than exceptionally high prices. If you cross 

 one of your best native mares with a high class hackney stallion, 

 you would, in a series of years, average for your selling stock 

 quite up to the general average of at least a secondary quality, 

 pure bred hackne}^ sale. In conclusion, I anticipate that you 

 are ready to ask me : What class of horses do I suggest that 

 you should breed in this almost altogether hilly district ? I 

 advise you and all others who breed in smular districts in \\'ales : 



132 



