BREEDING. 109 



tlie good points of eacli are .almost lost, the defects of both increased, and 

 the produce far inferior to both sire and dam. 



That the constitution and endurance of the horse are inlierited, no 

 sporting man ever doubted. The qualities of the sire or the dam descend 

 from generation to generation, and the excellences or defects of certain 

 horses are often traced, and justly so, to some peculiarity in a far-distant 

 ancestor. 



It may, perhaps, be justly affirmed, that there is more difficulty in se- 

 lecting a good mare to breed from than a good horse, because she should 

 possess somewhat opposite qualities. Her carcase should be long, in 

 order to give room for the growth of the foetus ; and yet with this there 

 should be compactness of form and shortness of leg. VHiat can they 

 expect whose practice it is to purchase wom-out, spavined, foundered 

 mares, about whom they fancy there have been some good points, and 

 send them far in the country to breed from, and, Avith all their variety 

 of shape, to be covered by the same horse ? In a lottery like this there 

 may be now and then a prize, but there must be many blanks. If horse- 

 breeders, possessed of good judgment, would pay the same attention to 

 breed and shape as Mr. Bakewell did with his sheep, they would pro- 

 bably attain their wishes in an equal degree, and greatly to their advantage, 

 whether for racing or hunting, for the collar, or the road. 



As to the shape of the stallion, little satisfactory can be said. It must 

 depend on that of the mare, and the kind of horse wished to be bred ; but 

 if there is one point absolutely essential, it is ' compactness ' — as much 

 goodness and strength as possible condensed into a Httle space. 



On the subject of breeding in and in, that is, persevering in the same 

 breed, and selectrng the best on either side, much has been said. The 

 system of crossing requires more judgment and experience than breeders 

 usiially possess. The bad qualities of the cross are too soon engrafted on 

 the original stock, and, once engrafted there, are not, for many generations, 

 eradicated. The good qualities of both are occasionally neutralised to a 

 ruost mortifying degree. On the other hand, it is the fact, however some 

 may deny it, that strict confinement to one breed, however valuable or 

 perfect, produces gradual deterioration. Crossing should be attempted, but 

 >vith great caution. The valuable points of the old treed should be re- 

 tained, but varied or improved by the introduction of some new and 

 valuable quality, with reference to beauty, strength, or speed. This is the 

 secret of the turf. The pure south-eastern blood is never left, but the 

 stock is often changed with manifest advantage. 



Considerable discussion has recently taken place with regard to the 

 influence of weight and the distance required to be run, upon the breed 

 of our race-horses. It has been said that the present system of placing 

 light weights on animals, and allowing them to run but short distances, 

 has already much diminished the capabilities and endiu-ance of our race- 

 horses. The following, amongst other remarks upon the subject, con- 

 tained in a letter to the Times newspaper, June 29th, 1864, by one so 

 thoroughly acquainted -with it as Admiral Rous, Avill sufficiently indicate 

 our views on the point. He says, ' There can be but one opinion among 

 all persons who are interested in the turf, that the gi-and object in breed- 

 ing is to combine good size, great strength, and power of endurance with 

 superior speed. This has never been lost sight of. Our motto is " Fortes 

 creantur fortibus et bonis." We have succeeded in establishing a breed 

 with one-fifth more speed and strength than the original stock — an in- 

 creased average stature from foiirteen hands to fifteen and a half — in 

 thirteen generations, from the first imported stallions, Darley Arabian, 

 Bryerley Turk, without a drop of mixed blood, and we have a fii"mcon\nc- 



