BREEDING. 119 



that in this direction lies the secret, if secret there be, of suc- 

 cess in horse-breeding. 



A bad constitution is the worst of defects, and should, if 

 possible, be avoided ; but it may happen that an excessively 

 well-bred mare with extraordinary speed may win short-dis- 

 tance two-year-old engagements, and earn a great reputation, 

 though from her delicacy it may prove impossible later on 

 to train her for longer courses. In such a case the greatest 

 care should be taken to mate her with a sound-constitutioned 

 horse ; and there would be far more chance of obtaining 

 valuable produce by a cross with some healthy second-rate 

 stallion than with one of the fashionable high-priced yet deli- 

 cate sires. 



The malady of our climate is defective wind ; and roaring, 

 or any noise which emanates from throat or nostrils, is com- 

 monly attributed to breeding. That pulmonary diseases are 

 hereditary, whether in human or animal nature, there can be no 

 doubt, but it is just as certain that in horses contraction of 

 nerves either in the head or throat is as frequent a cause of 

 what is termed roaring or whistling as is pulmonary disease. 

 Delicate nerves may be hereditary, but not in so great a degree 

 as affections of the lungs, and both diseases may be contracted 

 by the soundest horses through violent chills, the result of 

 neglect. 



Certain formations of the head and neck are beyond 

 doubt indicative of a tendency to these disorders, and we are 

 equally sure that our climate is also calculated to engender 

 them, so that the horse-owner can hardly be over-careful in 

 the treatment of his young stock. Breeding from roarers or 

 whistlers cannot possibly be a good plan, though there have 

 been exceptions even to this rule ; but as a choice between the 

 two causes of 'noise,' there is less to fear in breeding from 

 animals where the affection arises from tightening of the larynx 

 than there is when the disease is pulmonaiy. 



