— 90 — 



true I^orman Percheron is endowed with this characteristic of 

 pure-blooded horses— he has great powers of impressing himself 

 upon his offspring, and perpetuating the strain ; but he is too 

 heavy for the ordinary run of mares in this country, and if heavy 

 draft stock rather than the lighter horse of all work is wanted, 

 the Percheron mare should also be used— or some other of equal 

 length and weight. Good mares of the common mixed breeds in 

 the United States, bred to the light Arab, Barb, or thorough-bred 

 stallions, will almost invariably produce foals partaking of their 

 own size and strength, and of the finer forms, activity, and wind 

 of the stallion. It is difficult to l?ij down an}^ specific rule for 

 crossing.. The whole matter must be left to the good sense of the 

 breeder, after the general statement of principles set forth. If 

 the breeder has in view a mere racer, and is unable to obtain 

 both thorough bred mare and stallion, let him seek the racing 

 stallion, at least, and one that will, as previously directed, sup- 

 plement his mare— suppljT" the points in which she is wanting for 

 that specific purpose. If he wishes a trotter, the same care must 

 be observed. 'J rotting horses are of late days in great demand 

 throughout the United States. 



'^ Gold Dust," was a Kentucky horse, foaled near Lexington, the 

 pr »perty of L. L. Dorsey, a few years prior to the civil war. 

 He was mixed blooded, having been sired by Vermont Morgan, 

 a great trotter, while his dam had in her both Arabian and 

 thoroughbred blood. 



It is worth}^ of consideration on the part of the breeder that 

 the colts of '•' Gold Dust " showed stronger marks of their 

 Arabian and English ancestr^^, which came by his dam's side, 

 than of the Morgan, his sire, so superior is the pure blooded horse 

 as a transmitter of his own qualities, and an improver of breed, 

 '' Gold Dust " is worth}^ of study. He was not only beautiful, 

 but a horse of the finest action — a fast walker and famous as a 

 trotter. When native American stallions such as he could be 

 found, the owner of good mares need not repine if he finds it 

 impossible to come at the much-to-be-desired pure blooded for- 

 eigner. He may rest assured of getting improved colts, and of 

 such character as will, if judiciously handled, perpetuate, to 



