486 THE HORSE. 



John Henry had not the trotting quality by a long and continuous 

 line of hereditary descent, and hence the disappointment of breed- 

 ers, who depended on his speed alone to give the trotting to his 

 colts. Similar cases are quite common. 



If a mare that cannot trot better than four minutes was by a 

 horse of good speed and good pedigree, such as Mambrino Chief, 

 or American Star, the probabilities of her breeding a fast colt by 

 some other good horse, as by Hambletonian, would be much greater 

 than if she had no trotting ancestor in her pedigree. Such a mare, 

 though not fast herself, might produce a fast colt from a common 

 horse ; or if she did not herself produce anything smart, some of 

 her descendants in the next generation might show speed. This 

 is called breeding back, or atavism, and all breeders are familiar 

 with it. 



In choosing a stallion to breed from for speed, the first thing to 

 be considered is his pedigree. Many breeders will differ from that 

 opinion, but it is not hastily expressed. The longer the lines of 

 trotting descent in his pedigree, and the more numerous they are, 

 the greater will be the probability that his colts will inherit the 

 desired quality. 



Next to pedigree should be considered the speed, bottom, health, 

 size, style, color, &c. If the pedigree is good and the horse sound, 

 he will beget fast colts, though he may not himself be fast; but 

 if he has the speed, too. so much the better. Many diseases are 

 hereditary, and the stallion should be sound ; it is poor policy to 

 breed from a horse with contracted feet, spavin, ringbone, sprung 

 knees, or weak eyes. 



In breeding for speed, it should be remembered that size is 

 important if the colt turns out fast, and still more if he does not. 

 If he is large enough for taking a carriage with two persons over 

 common roads at a lively gait, the breeding was not a failure, 

 though he may not be very fast. The style and color are matters 

 of taste, about which each breeder will make his own choice. It 

 is generally admitted that a good horse is always the right color, 

 but he might sometimes be equally good and a better color. If 

 the mare has any particular defect, a horse should be chosen that 

 will correct it in the progeny. 



Much speculation has been indulged in concerning the relative 

 influence of the sire and dam on the offspring. By some it has 

 been asserted that if either parent is more vigorous than the other 

 by reason of youth, health, or better care, the offspring will most 

 resemble that parent. This theory is not sustained by facts. In 

 crossing the horse and the ass, some facts of interest are elicited. 

 The mule takes size from its dam, the mare ; but takes its outward 

 form and its voice from, the sire, the ass. The ears are long, the 

 tail and mane are scantily furnished with hair, and the feet are 



