102 THE PERFECT HOESE. 



not supply that detailed knowledge required by the 

 breeder, nor are they sustained by such testimony of 

 fact and illustration as one might desire. 



The Arabs hold that the essential portions of the 

 body, such as the bones, tendons, nerves, and veins, pro- 

 ceed invariably from the sire ; and it is undoubtedly 

 true that the shape of the bones, and nervous dis- 

 eases, and weaknesses of the bone-structure, are derived 

 principally from that source. I would sooner breed, for 

 instance, a diseased mare to, a healthy stallion, than a 

 healthy mare to a diseased stallion. 



Certain it is that from the sire the colt commonly 

 derives his nervous vigor, and those moral qualities 

 which serve to distinguish and ennoble the well-bred 

 horse. The Arabs have this maxim, " A horse of noble 

 race has no vices ; " and also this, " The foal follows 

 the sire." 



With this estimation I do not at all agree. The 

 instances in which the foal does not follow the sire are 

 too numerous for us to allow that the Arabian maxim is 

 worthy of being regarded as a law. Even a casual 

 inspection of my own stables, or the stables of any 

 breeder, would cause a grave suspicion to arise in any 

 thoughtful mind touching the Eastern adage. I have, 

 for instance, in my stables, dams whose foals invariably 

 resemble the sire in size, shape, color, style of going, and 

 even in temperament ; and these mares are valued by 

 me as almost beyond price, because of this peculiarity. 

 / know beforehand what I shall get. On the other hand, 



