CONCLUDING REMARKS ON BREEDING 181 



tion when the land is suitable to their development. No one, however, 

 should turn his attention to the breeding of hacks on a large scale, since 

 they will almost inevitably cost more than they will fetch at five years old. 

 The farmer who keeps one or two " nag " mares is the only person who can 

 be said to rear hacks without loss ; and he only does so because he begins 

 to use them for his own slow work as soon as they are three years old. 

 Even in his case, however, I much doubt whether the same food which has 

 been given the colts would not have been turned to greater profit if given 

 to horned cattle ; and the only thing which can be said in favour of the 

 former is, that they eat coarse grass which the latter will refuse. To make 

 the breeding of the horse turn out profitably, the hack and inferior kind of 

 harness-horse ought to be the culls from a lot of colts intended for the 

 hunting-field, and then, the one with the other, they may be made to pay. 



CONCLUDING REMARKS ON BREEDING 



THE ANGRY DISCUSSIONS which took place in the year 1860, between 

 Lord Redesdale and Admiral Rous, indicate plainly what is the general 

 opinion on the subject of the diminution in the stoutness of our horses. 

 Breeders, therefore, should turn their attention to this point, and should be 

 doubly careful to avoid weedy or diseased sires and dams. It cannot be 

 denied that our modern thoroughbreds possess size and speed ; but they 

 certainly do not shine in staying powers, as I have already more than once 

 remarked. But there are some strains particularly free from this defect, 

 and these I have endeavoured to point out. It should not, moreover, be 

 forgotten that though the thoroughbred horse will bear more work, especi- 

 ally at high speed, than any other kind, yet he can only do this if well fed 

 and warmly housed. Being a native of a warm and dry climate, he requires 

 to be protected from the weather ; and the young stock must be well reared 

 in all respects, or they will never pay. If, therefore, the breeder is not 

 determined to put up warm hovels in every paddock, and if he is stingy of 

 his corn, he had far better let his stud of mares be composed of lower-bred 

 animals. If a thoroughbred horse and a donkey are both fed upon the 

 lowest quantity and quality of food which will keep the latter in condition, 

 the donkey would beat its high-bred antagonist over a distance of ground 

 that is to say, supposing the experiment to be continued long enough to 

 produce a permanent effect upon the two animals. A cart-horse colt, or one 

 of any kind of low blood, will do well enough if reared, till he is put to 

 work, upon grass and hay ; but a race-horse or hunter, of high breeding, 

 would show a badly-developed frame, and be comparatively worthless for 

 his particular kind of work, if he were not allowed his corn from the time 

 that he is weaned. 



