— 89- 



and, probably, deformity — almost inevitably diminutive size. 

 Men's minds were particularly called to this fact in Great Britian 

 when, during a course of years, the farmers of Yorkshire thought 

 that by breeding their mares to the very largest stallions they 

 could find, and without regard to the size of the mare, they could 

 meet the demand in London for great overgrown horses, whic-h 

 it was then the fashion to drive in coaches and other heavy 

 carriages. The result was a race of almost v/orthless creatures. 



In other points than mere size, more depends upon the select ion 

 of the mare than that of the horse. The great majority are mares 

 bred after their own stock unless the stallion is so powerful as to 

 neutralize or overcome this physiological peculiarity ; so that it 

 is necessarj' for her to be of good lineage if the best results are 

 wanted. If she has come from diseased, vicious, or in any way 

 evil ancestr}^, though she may be free from perceptible taint, the 

 bad points of her stock will very probably appear in her offspring. 

 This principle makes it necessary to have a regard for her color 

 and for the color that is know^n to have been prevalent in her line, 

 since any dirty, vari-tinted, and otherwise disagreeable colors 

 may appear in a foal of hers if her progenitors have had such a hue. 



V. The Two Methods, "In-and-in" and "Cross" 

 Breeding Considered. 



As for the two leading methods of breeding, circumstances 

 generally determine which the farmer or other breeder on a 

 moderate scale is to adopt. He is now almost alwa^'S under the 

 absolute necessity of crossing ; and the main point with him is, 

 how to cross, in order to secure the best results. The main direc- 

 tions are already laid down, wdth sufficient minuteness to enable 

 anyone of ordinary intelligence to judge as to the best means. 

 One point must not be overlooked, that really to improve the 

 stock of horses as to blood— to obtain a strain that has the power 

 of transmitting itself, and of so continuing in a steady line of 

 improvement, recourse must be had to pure blooded horses. 

 The English racer or thoroughbred is almost our sole reliance in 

 this respect : although an Arab may occasionally be found. The 



