bri-:edixg. 191 



sary to have a large, roomy mare than a large horse, 

 while, on the other hand, in order to be more cer- 

 tain of obtaining a particular shape or outline, it is 

 more important that the sire should be of the shape 

 ■which you wish to obtain than the dam ; or, to put 

 it shorter, you ought to breed from mares which are 

 the size you want, and horses which are the shape 

 and colour you want. 



Kow it costs practically no more to keep a large 

 good mare than a small one, and the only difference 

 is in the expense of first buying them. 



Again, it is very much, easier to find a well- 

 shaped symmetrical sire below the average standard 

 than above it ; and therefore there ought not to be 

 so much difficulty in breeding in this manner. 



On the contrary, it would appear to be a mistake 

 to breed from little undersized mares because you 

 cannot sell them, and then put them to oversized, 

 ill-shaped sires to bring up the size, a practice which 

 is often resorted to. 



As a rule, disposition with regard to temper, 

 tricks, and habits is derived more from the mother 

 than the father, and therefore it is more important 

 that the mare should be what is popularly called a 

 good one than that the horse should. 



As regards racing, a mare which has proved a 

 good performer herself would be more likely to breed 

 a good performer from any given horse than a mare 



