CHAPTER V. 



THE DAM. 



I HAYE given at length my views of wliat consti- 

 tutes a good stock-horse, and the qualities which he 

 should possess, and what may be his influence on the 

 progeny. I will now take up the subject of the dam's 

 influence upon the foal, and what are the qualities 

 which should characterize her. Touching this subject, 

 I would say, to start with, that the influence of the dam 

 is much more considerable in the majority of cases, in 

 shaping the character of the future colt, than many 

 imagine. To me it seems natural that it should be so. 

 Without reiterating what I have already said in a 

 previous section of this work, I would ask the reader to 

 observe how intimately the foal is connected with the 

 dam, not only previous to its birth, but for a long 

 period afterward. From the very beginning of its life 

 it is fed by the mother's blood, and affected by her 

 moods. Before ever it has seen the light, she has had 

 the time and the power to stamp it with her vices or 

 her virtues, impart to it her weakness or her strength. 



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