106 THE PERFECT HOKSE. 



ing horses, pedigree — that is, the character not only of 

 the parents, but also of grandparents and great-grand- 

 parents — becomes worthy of close attention ; and when 

 the pedigree of dam and sire both is known to be good, 

 and they themselves are good, it is evident that little 

 fear may be felt touching the character of the foal. 

 For if he resembles his immediate parents, or if, skip- 

 ping these, he appears stamped with the impress of some 

 ancestor, the result must, in either case, be the same. 

 This it is which gives to the pedigrees their value in the 

 eye of the breeder. It guarantees him against total 

 failure, to say the least; and insures a greater success 

 than the quality of the immediate parents would per- 

 haps make possible. But, if a horse without a pedigree 

 should never be patronized, the breeder should bear in 

 mind that a good pedigree does not make a good horse. 

 I have known animals, with a pedigree as long as your 

 arm, who were not worthy of the least attention. Find 

 the horse first ; then examine the pedigree : and if they 

 correspond, and mutually sustain each other, then pur- 

 chase ; for you have met an animal greatly to be desired. 

 Remember always, that none save the highest types of a 

 family can be expected to reproduce the valuable char- 

 acteristics of the family. Because a stallion was sired by 

 Rysdyk's Ilambletonian, it does not follow that he is 

 worthy of being bought or kept for a stock-horse ; and 

 yet, with many of our committees at agricultural fiiirs, 

 the fact that a colt was sired by a Rysdyk's Hambletonian 

 is enough to secure for him both attention and the prize. 



