170 



nance and active step, the light heart, and resolution to go through 

 the labors required of him, upstanding carriage, and fine propor- 

 tions of form, are the characteristics of a perfect horse, of any de- 

 scription. 



It is a common error to breed from tall and long-legged mares, 

 thinking to get fine tall horses. The mare best calculated to breed 

 fine stock, is one that is short-legged, with a deep, roomy chest and 

 carcass, and sound, constitution, and powerful vital and nutritive 

 system, indicative of great powers of generation and nutrition in 

 the formation and rearing of the young. The celebrated Dr. Cline 

 has shown, that by putting a small male with a large female, an 

 offspring will be produced abounding with blood, the heart will be 

 large, the lungs expanded, and the chest capacious. But if the 

 male be large, and the female small, the offspring will be cramped 

 in utero, and the result will be entirely different. 



4th. We like a lengthy, well grown mare, on short legs, good chest 

 and carcass, good constitution, and capable of supporting and sus- 

 taining the drain upon it of suckling a hearty and healthy progeny. 

 Some farm horses will do half as much more labor, in a day, than 

 others, from superiority of their action. 



How great is the value of this property to their owners. So, in 

 travelling, drawing loads, &c., what a saving in horses able to walk 

 rapidly and cheerfully along, without being distressed by the pace. 



We often see httle light, weedy mares, of mongrel breed, putto 

 great, overgrown heavy horses, of no definite breed or description ; 

 or, reversing the arrangement, great, coarse, team mares put to a 

 well bred horse, without reference to his aptness as a cross for the 

 mare. No calculations can be formed as to the character and de- 

 scription of the produce. Mongrel horses are usually wanting in 

 courage, constitution, form, action, and every valuable property. 

 There is an old adage, that " horses go well, in all forms." But I 

 will say, that I have never seen a fine goer very ill shaped ; or the 

 converse. While I am willing to leave, to such as prefer them, 

 what a noted character (John Docray) called " three cornered, 

 impossible brutes," I will confess my own taste would lead me to 

 select the most perfect animal in form I could meet with. I have 

 not yet said anything of the color of horses. But, in spite of the 

 old adage, that " a good horse is never of a bad color," it is said 

 that light chestnuts, yellow bays, and light grays, are not only objec- 



