544 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



in-doors or out, bear a puny and feeble offspring compared with 

 the young of the women who are accustomed to regular work, 

 or to the women in the Indian tribes, who know' nothing of the 

 pains of civilized and effeminate matrons. We can economize 

 in the keep of our stallions and mares, and increase the value 

 of their offspring by regular work. 



Endurance may be Increased. For the farmer or the 

 professional man, for the turfman or business man, the great 

 powers of endurance enhance the value of his horse. This power 

 will not be lessened, but rather increased, by habitual and reg- 

 ular labor of dam and sire. A few generations of breeding from 

 such animals will prove the value of it. A colt born in feeble- 

 ness, of feeble ancestry, and with light heart and thin chest, 

 may never reach a period of usefulness or value. 



Family Trait Important. The Strain of the Family 

 has more in it to tell of enduring powers than form or tempera- 

 ment, or handling or keep. To insure great endurance we must 

 select mares of power and staying qualities, and sires of rare 

 ability here. Messenger's unequaled vitality enabled him to 

 impress this valuable trait on his long line of offspring. The 

 get of Eclipse were also noted for this quality, like the noble 

 sire. 



The Effect of Short Races. Instead of reducing the 

 distances of races, to suit the enfeebled blood of track-horses, 

 let us ask that the distances be kept long, and even increased, 

 until the weaklings that are winners, perhaps, on a quarter, 

 shall be driven into exile or to the tan-yard, by an increased 

 length of the race-course. The long races will weed out the 

 families that lack staying powers. 



Since the getters of prize-winners have so great influence 

 through their get on the horses used in business and on the 

 farm, we look on this tendency to reduce the length of races as 

 a public calamity. It increases the number of second to fifth- 

 rate horses and jockeys, that can multiply indefinitely as the 

 course is shortened to meet the enfeebled condition of their 

 horses. Just that class of horses and the class of men that use 

 them for sporting purposes, degrade the business of handling trot- 



