THE f jilNCIPLES OF BREEDING. 31 



ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MORE ATTENTION TO THE 

 PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING — THE STALLION AND 

 THE BROOD MARE. 



To every lover of the Horse, possessed of a knowledge 

 of his fine points and capabilities, it must be lamentable 

 to perceive how miserably ignorant and careless the mass 

 of breeders of that noble animal appear to be, as to all 

 the precautions w4iich are indispensable to maintain him 

 at the point of excellence which is known to be attainable 

 — much less by well- digested and rational systems of 

 breeding and rearing throughout the country, to meliorate 

 his form and invigorate his constitution ; and on no one 

 ^oint is there, seemingly, more pernicious indifference 

 displayed than in regard to the condition of the stallions 

 they employ, as set forth in the Essay w^hich these re- 

 marks are intended to introduce. 



Well has it been said, in the introduction to the ^^An- 

 nates des Haras et de V Agriculture ^'^'^ that if the import- 

 ance of a question is to be measured by the number of 

 those who are occupied with it, that of the multiplicat* 

 and of the amelioration of the Horse ought to hold th-; 

 first rank in Political and Rural economy. The traditions 

 of antiquity — those of nations, whether barbarous or 

 enlightened — writings the most ancient as well as the 

 tiost modern — prove to us lie estimation which Man, 

 in all times, has attached to this his most noble conquesty 

 to use the expression of Buffon. The Horse, as there 

 alleged, is in truth the most fruitful source of the riches 

 of States, by his indispensable instrumentality in the 

 cultivation of the soil. He is one of the most direct 

 Hgents of their power by the use that is made of him in 

 armies, whether in peace or in war ; and has contributed 

 much moie than is generally considered, to the civiliza 



39 



