114 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



their sires — which are now being offered as stock- 

 horses to the pubhc will go to the string-team or to the 

 dogs, where they belong : and it makes no difference 

 to which ; for they are absolutely worthless for the pur- 

 poses of the stud. 



Concerning the proper age of service, authorities 

 differ, and men disagree. Every one has a right to his 

 own views ; but I am disposed to think, that, the ex- 

 tremes of age and youth being avoided, no difference 

 exists in the value of the get. Many are strongly 

 prejudiced against breeding to young stallions before 

 they have reached full maturity, and become '' thoroughly 

 seasoned," as they say ; but the facts show that some of 

 the best horses ever foaled were sired by mere colts. 

 As a matter of interest, and as a case in point, we give 

 below the ages at which Hambletonian got his best 

 foals : — 



Alexander's Abdallah was got when Hambletonian 

 was two years old. Volunteer when he was four, 

 Edward Everett when he was five. Dexter when he was 

 eight, Bruno when he was eleven, Sentinel when he 

 was twelve. Jay Gould when he was fourteen, Gazelle 

 and Aberdeen when he was sixteen, and Startle when 

 he was seventeen. 



Here are horses sired all the way from tivo years to 

 seventeen ; and certainly none would say that the old 

 horse ever got a better stallion-colt, or one that has 

 reflected, in the main, more honor upon the sire, than 

 Alexander's Abdallah. Aberdeen is a noble horse, but 



