310 NAYIX OX THE HOESE. 



To illustrate more fully these principles, suppose the mare 

 to he too fine in her limhs : to remedy this in the offspring, the 

 horse should be even heavier limbed than desirable, but not 

 clumsy. The dam and the sire should always be paired, their 

 points should be well compared, so that any defect in the one 

 may be counteracted by a contrast in the other. A breeder often 

 puts several mares to the same horse, and by so doing seldom 

 gets the kind of horses he intends to raise ; for it can not be 

 supposed that any man will be so careful in selecting his mares 

 as to have them all suitable to breed to the same stallion. 

 Farmers often pursue this course because it is more convenient 

 to have all their breeders served by the same horse. But they 

 pay dearly for their convenience when their best mares bring 

 colts of the most inferior character, and fit for any thing else 

 than the object for which they intended them. This subject 

 demands the most careful consideration by all who would per- 

 petuate a good stock or improve an inferior one. 



Another very important point to be observed in breeding is, 

 never to put a mare to a stallion of the same stock, if they are 

 nearly akin ; for the foal will be delicate, and seldom as good 

 or as large as either the dam or the sire, and never as durable 

 or as well mettled. Natural deformity may generally be traced 

 to the fact that the dam and sire were too nearly akin. A 

 distinguished author justly remarks on the subject of " hreed- 

 ing in and in,'' as it is called, that "it is a fact, however much 

 some may deny it, that strict confinement tp one breed, how- 

 ever valuable or perfect, produces gradual deterioration." In 

 Europe, where the writer practiced until within the last eight 

 years, the raiser of horses for the turf is particularly cautious 



'' this practice. No sportsman would purchase a race-horse 



he knew the sire and dam to be closely related. The farmer 

 and liveryman are equally careful on this subject. To pursue 

 successfully the system of crossing requires much judgment 

 and experience ; for the bad qualities of the cross are easily 

 ingrafted on the original stock, and, once there, are not, for 



