THE HORSE. 5 



really astonishing to see farmers so constantly putting 

 their complete cart-mares to thorough-bred horses, ex- 

 pecting to have foals of a class fit for hunters, whereas 

 nine times out of ten they are fit neither for di'aught 

 nor hunting ; for though they may be up to weight, 

 which is what they expect, there is always a lamentable 

 deficiency of pluck ; and the same mare, with a three- 

 parts bred horse, would be likely to produce a very 

 valuable class of horse — the coach-horse." By the 

 practice here refen-ed to, the breeders expect to produce 

 a horse combining both strength and action ; but they 

 are very frequently treated to an animal of such a non- 

 descript form, that he is fit " neither for the land nor 

 the sea." In place of being a fair medium between the 

 su'e and dam, he will take chiefly after the one in some 

 parts, whilst in other places he will lean entu-ely to the 

 opposite side ; and he is consequently so badly balanced 

 and proportioned, that he is comparatively useless. His 

 temper, moreover, is frequently characterized by a want 

 of conformity to the purpose for which his owner might 

 think him in other respects best adapted. 



If a person is to depend upon his own judgment, 

 and wishes to become a successful breeder, he must 

 first make himself thoroughly acquainted with the pro- 

 per conformation and other peculiarities of the various 

 races, or classes, into which horses are divided. This 

 is the grand secret of success ; without this knowledge 

 he may occasionally stumble on what he wants ; but 



