EDUCATION OF THE HORSE 49 



advantage of this quality. The horse's quaUty arises 

 from various causes ; it depends upon good food from 

 the earhcst age, from the soil on which he has been 

 reared containing lime, and so developing bone and 

 strength of muscle ; but it depends chiefly on the 

 breeding of the horse. It is indispensable therefore 

 to secure the proper mating of the thoroughbred horse 

 with the half-bred mare to transmit the blood, and to 

 maintain the size. 



