JUDGMENT OF THE FRENCH. 31 



first-rate blood in both stallion and mare, or else leave 

 breeding alone altogether. The market never flags 

 ( thanks to foreigners) for really good animals, and the 

 latter have become such good judges that they will not 

 only have blood and performances, but great size and 

 power in addition, for their money. 



Indeed, it appears to me that Frenchmen go more 

 for a class of animal we should think best adapted for 

 steeplechasing, if one is to judge by their stables, the 

 prominent in which has been Cosmopolite, by Lanercost 

 (who should have been left entire but for his light 

 neck), than whom we have many a worse 2000/. custo- 

 mer at the stud. 



It is far from improbable that ere long we shall have 

 reason to wish we had gone on the same principles. 



Thus it seems that size and power do represent money 

 value after all. At any sale of yearlings the great 

 upstanding furnished animals always make the most 

 money, unless there chance to be a remarkably fashion- 

 ably-bred one among the smaller division. 



There are certain defects which I should not be 

 inclined to pass over in either horse or mare, but if 

 especially partial to either a mare or stallion with a 

 serious defect, I should endeavour to counteract it to 

 the best of my ability. 



Many good horses have crooked fore legs, toes pointed 

 out or in, &c, but in either case I should pause before 

 breeding from such animals ; but if determined to do so, 

 I should look far and wide for the best and straightest 

 legged partner I could find. 



