334 MAXIMAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



thought too small to be a good breeding stallion, and 

 refused to use him as such. Sir Robert Keith Dick, Bart., 

 however, who had been long in India, was well aware of the 

 fallacy of size being an objection. He offered to keep him 

 at Prestonfield and breed from him. The first colt of his 

 produce turned out the largest that Sir Robert had ever 

 bred. It is an established axiom, that in general the 

 produce partakes of the qualities, or the mingled qualities 

 of both parents. Above all things, avoid breeding from 

 either a horse or mare which has any disease, as it is quite 

 certain that the progeny will inherit it ; and like diseases 

 in the human race, if it does not show itself in the first 

 generation, it is more than probable it will break out in the 

 second ; so that breeders should always know the history of 

 both sire and dam. And we again repeat, that however 

 perfect the form of the horse, these may be neutralized by 

 a defective mare. Wherever bad points appear in either the 

 male or female of animals the breeder is anxious to avoid, or, 

 on the other hand, keep up, from possessing some good quali- 

 ties and points, attention should be paid to put an animal of 

 the opposite sex to the other having those points in a more 

 perfect degree ; and it cannot be too strongly impressed 

 upon the mind that excellence on the part of the mare is as 

 essential as that of the horse : for it very rarely happens 

 that a good foal is produced by a sorry mare 



We see what has been effected in Yorkshire and other 

 midland counties in breeding the larger-sized cart-horses, 

 by a strict attention to have both sire and dam as perfect 

 as possible in their form. Both parents should be in full 

 possession of their health and strength ; and it is a great 

 mistake to suppose that a mare can be fit for breeding when 

 incapacitated for work. Many suppose that because a mare 

 is rendered lame by accident, that she is nevertheless useful 



