THE BREEDING OF GOOD HORSES. 97 



It would appear that we make a serious mistake in 

 not providing greater encouragement to breeders and 

 purchasers of yearlings and two-years-old of the dif- 

 ferent descriptions. A decided advantage would, we 

 think, result from competition among these classes at 

 horse-shows, due care being necessarily given to placing 

 them in a situation specially adapted for them, and 

 where they would be free from noise and excitement. 

 Nothing would tend more to incite to the careful breeding 

 of horses among farmers than the possibility of obtain- 

 ing handsome prizes, and thereby securing the prospect 

 of early remuneration ; while the opportunity for market 

 afforded by these exhibitions would present additional 

 inducements to the rearing and purchase of young 

 animals. Having in view the encouragement of a 

 superior breed of horses, it is beginning at the wrong 

 end not to support it, in the first place, by allotting at 

 such meetings the most numerous and valuable prizes 

 to the babies. 



Fortunately the ventilation given to this important 

 subject of the deterioration in our horses, more espe- 

 cially in that particular class denominated the Irish 

 hunter, has aroused the interest of the country at large, 

 and already led to more earnest efforts on the part of 

 the landed proprietors and breeders to regain lost 

 ground. 



It ought to be borne in mind that the light weights 

 allowed by the present racing laws for Queen's plates 

 are, as examples for weighting in other races, most per- 

 nicious. These grants from the Crown were originally 

 bestowed with the view to encourage the raising of 

 strong thorough-breds, capable of carrying twelve stone 

 sometimes for four or even five mile heats ; therefore 



