248 BREEDING, CASTRATION, &.c. 



CHAPTER XI. 

 BREEDING, CASTRATION, &c. 



This may be a proper period to recur to the subject of breeding, and peculiarly 

 important when there cannot be a doubt that our breed of horses has, within the last 

 twenty years, undergone a material change. Our running-horses still maintain their 

 speed, although their endurance is, generally speaking, considerably diminished; our 

 draught and carriage horses are perhaps improved in value ; but our hunters and 

 hackneys are not what thej' used to be. 



Our observations on this will be of a general nature, and very simple. The first 

 axiom we would lay down is, that "like will produce like," and that the progeny 

 will inherit the general or mingled qualities of the parents. There is scarcely a 

 disease by which either of the parents is affected that the foal does not often inherit, 

 or at least occasionally show a predisposition to it. Even the consequences of ill 

 usage or hard work will descend to the progeny. There has been proof upon proof, 

 that blindness, roaring, thick wind, broken wind, spavins, curbs, ringbones, and 

 founder, have been bequeathed to their offspring, both by the sire and the dam. It 

 should likewise be recollected that although these blemishes may not appear in the 

 immediate progeny, they frequently do in the next, or even more distant generation. 

 Hence the necessity of some knowledge of the parentaye both of the sire and the dam. 



Peculiarity of form and constitution will also be inherited. This is a most important 

 but neglected consideration ; for, however desirable or even perfect may have been 

 the conformation of the sire, every good point may be neutralized or lost by the 

 defective structure of the mare. The essential points should be good in both parents, 

 or some minor defect in either he met, and got rid of, by excellence in that particular 

 point in the other. The unskilful or careless breeder too often so badly pairs the 

 animals, that the good points of each are almost lost: the defects of both increased, 

 and the produce is i'ar inferior to both sire and dam. 



Mr. Baker, of Reigate, places this in a striking jioint of view. He speaks of his 

 own experience : "A foal had apparentl}- clear and good ej'es, but the first day had 

 not passed, before it was evident that it was totally blind. It had gutta serena. 



"Inquiry was then made about the sire, for the mare had good eyes. His were, 

 on the slightest inspection, evidently bad, and not one of his colts had escaped the 

 direful effects of his imperfect vision. 



" A mare had been the subject of fiircial enlargements, and not being capable of 

 performing much work, a foal was produced from her. She survived ; but the foal 

 soon after birth evinced symptoms of f;ircy, and died, 



" A mare was lame from navicular disease. A foal was bred from her that at five 

 years could scarcely go across the country, and was sold for a few pounds. The 

 mare was a rank jib in single harness ; the foal was as bad." 



It is useless to multiply these examples. They occur in the experience of every 

 one, and yet they are strangely disregarded. 



The mare is sometimes put to the horse at too early an age ; or, what is of more 

 frequent occurrence, the mare is incapacitated for work bj' old age. The owner is 

 unwilling to destroy her, and lie determines that she shall bear a foal, and thus 

 remunerate him for her keep. What is the consequence? The foal exhibits an 

 unkindliness of growth, — a corresponding weakness, — and there is scarcely an organ 

 that ]iossesses its natural and proper strength. 



Of late years, these principles have been much lost sight of in the breeding of 

 horses for general use ; and the following is the explanation of it. There are nearly 

 as good stallions as then" used to be. Few but well-formed and valu;il)le horses will 

 be selected and used as stallions. They are always the very prime of the breed : but 

 the mares arc not what ihey uxcd to he. Poverty has induced manv oi the breeders to 

 part with the mares from which they used to raise their stock, and which were worth 

 their weight in gold ; and liie jade on which the farmer now rides to market, or 

 which he uses in his farm, costs him but little money, and is only retained because 

 he cannot get much money for her. It has likewise become the fashion for gentlemen 

 to ride mares, almost as frequently as geldings ; and thus the better kind are taken 



