44 



BREEDING. 



BREEDING. 



This very important subject is too often neglected. A common mis- 

 take in breeding is often made, that mares are bred from after they 

 become useless for work, regardless of hereditary diseases which may 

 be transmitted to their offspring. It should be remembered that one 

 of the characteristic laws of life is the reproduction in kind — " like 

 begets like." 



Both parents should be selected with reference to their individual 

 points of excellence and also so that the points of one may be adapted 

 to the points of the other, for, although both may be excellent, individu- 

 ally, the points which characterize one may actually counteract those 

 of the other ; but if defects exist the breeder should be sure that it is 

 merely accidental and not natural. 



None but sound parents should be bred from ; (accidents of course are 

 not to be regarded as unsoundness). Both parents should be free from 

 any infirmity relative to a vicious temper or bad disposition, although 

 the points of excellence in one may sometimes counteract the bad points 



