140 THE HORSE 



are met with, possessing no peculiarity which can entitle them to be con- 

 sidered as separate breeds, and indeed being produced from working mares 

 put to stallions selected at random from those offered in the immediate 

 neighbourhood. Some of these sires are individually very perfect animals 

 in shape, and can compete with the best Suffolks or Clydesdales ; but they 

 cannot generally be depended on to the same extent for getting stock 

 as good as themselves. This is caused by their being the produce of various 

 strains ; but when the breed to which they belong has been kept pure for some 

 generations, as is the case in certain families and districts, this remark does 

 not apply to any extent. Most farmers now, however, who are particular 

 about their horses, either use the pure Suffolk or Clydesdale, or put their 

 cross-bred mares to stallions of one or other of these breeds. 



