Sec. 8.] HORSES AXD MULES— BREEDING. 119 



and texture of the muscular Bystom, and in the lesser tendency to form 

 flabby, useless flesh, is also in favor of blood. In addition to all this, tlie 

 general constitution of the animal is calculated to furnisii hiui with <i-reatcr 

 vitality, recuperative energy, and physical power — in proportion to size and 

 weight — and, as a consetiuence, quicker movement, greater coui-age, and 

 better powers of endurance. 



"Herbert, in his 'Hints to IIoree-Keepcrs,' gives his views upon this 

 bratich of our suliject so concisely and clearly, that wc can not refrain from 

 quoting a paragraph, as follows : ' To breed from a small horse witii the hope 

 of getting a large colt ; from a long-backed, leggy horse, -with the hope of 

 getting a short, compact, powerful one ; from a broken-winded, or l>liMd, or 

 flat-footed, or spavined, or ring-boned, or navicular-joint diseased horse, with 

 the hope of getting a sound one ; from a vicious horse, a cowardly hoi-se — 

 what is technically called a dunghill — with the hope of getting a kind-tem- 

 pered and brave one ; all or any of these M'ould be tlic higlit of fully. The 

 blood sire (and the blood should always be on the sire's side) should be, for 

 the farmer-breeder's purposes, of medium hight, say 15A hands high, short- 

 backed, well ribbed up, short in the saddle-place, long below, lie should 

 have high withers, broad loins, broail ciiest, a straight rump, the converse of 

 wiiat is often seen in trotters, and known as the yoose-rump • a high and 

 muscular, but not beefy crest ; a lean, bony, well-set-on head ; a clear, bright, 

 snuiliish, well-placed eye ; broad nostrils and small ears. His fore legs 

 should be as long and as muscular as possible above the knee, and his hind 

 legs above the hock ; and as lean, short, and bony as possible below those 

 joints. The bones can not by any means be too flat, too clear of e.xcres- 

 cences, or too lanje. The sinews should be clear, straight, fli-m, and hard to 

 the touch. From such a horse, where ^iie breeder can And one, and from a 

 well-chosen mare (she may be a little larger, more bony, more roomy, and 

 in every way coarser than the horse, to the advantage of the stock), sound, 

 healthy, and wcll-limbey, he may be certain, accidents and contingences set 

 aside, of raising an animal that will ho creditable to him as a scientilic stock- 

 breeder, and protitablc to him in a ijccuniary sense."' 



With these general remarks upon what we require in breeding, we think 

 Wc may close the section upon horses. Wc hope what wo have given in re- 

 lation to breeding horses will bo caret'uily studied and breeds compared, and 

 that what we have said will bo just sufticient to awaken an interest tliat will 

 tend to the improvement of this most faithfid beast in the service of man. 

 If we have not got the right breed, let us inquire where is the deticiency, 

 ami amend it. Above all, lot us think what purpose wo arc breeding for, 

 and not attom]>t to got an animal suitable for a lady's saddle from an English 

 cart-horse or the Xorman diligence. 



169. Horsr-Grariii?. — If a New Mexican, or oven a full-blood North Caro- 

 lina mountaiiuxT, should appear in the city of New York with his horse 

 harnessed, as we have have ot'tcn seen, it would attract much attention, as 

 the whole gearing might not have a particlo of leather or iron in its compo- 



