136 THE HORSE. 



gree all on the one side, are sure to command the 

 custom of the district. When the produce, how- 

 ever, comes to maturity, it is found to be of such an 

 inferior class, that there is nothing but loss and disap- 

 pointment. The foals may look well when they are 

 covered with fat ; but when they come to full size they 

 are a soiTy lot. I knew an instance where two or 

 three parties praised a foal of this description. A shrewd 

 countryman who was standing by said, " Had a wee ; 

 it will get like its own sort yet ;" and so it did. The 

 unfortunate breeders who follow this plan never think of 

 la}dng the blame at the door of then- own stupidity ; 

 but at once jump to the ridiculous conclusion, that the 

 fault lies entirely in their having too much blood. 



There are so many requisites to constitute a right 

 good stallion, that he is extremely difficult to be found. 

 His blood, soundness, temper, temperament, form, size, 

 substance, action, and colour, must all be considered. 

 If he is for getting racing stock, he requu-es to run 

 close to the ground ; but if he is to be used as the 

 sire of hunters, roadsters, or harness-horses, he must 

 be a free and easy stepper, and lift tolerably high. A 

 stallion should not only have all the important points 

 well made, but he should also have them with more 

 than ordinary substance. In short, he ought to have 

 a great deal to spare. I feel pretty confident that 

 Touchstone owes a considerable part of his remarkable 



