THE SIRE. 105 



tioned, — the inability to reproduce themselves. The 

 second point to be observed is this, — avoid 



A LOW-BRED STALLION. 



This term "low-bred" is not a mere technical term, a 

 creation of a ring of horsemen, but represents some- 

 thing solid and tangible to the understanding. A low- 

 bred horse is faulty in his bone-structure, vicious in his 

 temper, sluggish in action, and lacking in those higher 

 qualities — such as courage, docility, and beauty — 

 which distinguish a well-bred horse. The term also 

 describes his ancestry, and links a base result with 

 base causes. I do not wish to be understood as saying 

 that a thorough-bred stallion is invariably worthy of the 

 stud; for, as I have already pointed out, only now and 

 then one is : but while the thorough-bred may be, or 

 may not be, a low-bred brute never is. Beware of nothing 

 so much as a low-bred stock-horse. His services cannot 

 be offered so cheap, that they will not, in the end, prove 

 dear ; because the colts from such a horse, when ready 

 for the market, will bring less than they have cost the 

 owner to raise them. No stallion without a good sound 

 pedigree should ever be patronized. 



The law in respect to this matter is, that the foals will, 

 in most cases, resemble the father, or some precedent 

 ancestor ; in either of which cases the result will be 

 equally unfortunate. It cannot be denied that the 

 characteristics of ancestors do continue, ever and anon, 

 to re-appear in their descendants : and hence, in breed- 



