258 CtCLOttiDlA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOB. 



them ranging as under-sized. Colts from a "horse of good form and 

 action," on proper mares, staunch, handsome and well-bred, will turn 

 out to be the animals desired. 



Such a horse will have a great stride, fine leaping powers, and the 

 bottom to carry weight at high speed. It must be admitted, also, that 

 such a stallion, when found, would cost a rather large sum of money ; but 

 the colts would sell correspondingly well. 



"Why should not every well-to-do farmer, who breeds horses, breed 

 good ones, and for a particular purpose? 



There is no reason why he should not have a well-trained and well-bred 

 saddle horse to sell, when called for. 



There is no finer country for training than the "West and the South- 

 west, and the training could easily go on during the use of the colt. It 

 the reader has given close attention to the chapter on training, the abil- 

 ity to succeed will come with practice. But do not try to make a good 

 saddle horse out of a "plug." It cannot be done I 



XIII. Buying for Blood. 



A person who l)uys blooded horses with a vie^v to breeding must not 

 only understand the form and the various other qualities that go to make 

 a good horse, as we have described them, but he must also understand 

 pedigrees, or else depend upon some friend who does. There are about 

 as many chances of raising a crack colt from the ordinary thoroughbred, 

 even of unstained lineage, as there are of drawing a prize in a lottery. 

 The sire and dam must not only be of perfect lineage, but the descent 

 must be direct through a line of winning horses. Such sires are not 

 numerous, and are in the hands of but few breeders. The well-to-do 

 farmer cannot expect to compete with them, but he can secure blood that 

 will improve his stock yearly, and give him many fine saddle-horses ; 

 and, those likely to fail as saddle nags will make handsome and fast-sell- 

 ing horses for general work on the road. 



XIV. Choosing the Brood-Mare. 



In buying a brood-mare the first thing to be considered is her blood ; 

 next her development ; next her freedom from disability and disease, 

 which latter is called soundness. Last, but not least, her temper must 

 be carefully looked to. A fretful, ill-tempered mare is totally unfit to 

 breed from ; and yet, undoubtedly, a majority of farmers consider a 

 mare good enough to breed from, even when worn out with work. A 

 well-bred mare of this kind is certainly more fit than one of ill breeding 

 and badly developed, or one balky from bad temper, or suffering froni 

 hereditary disease. A sensible breeder will reject all mares of this kind. 



