282 RIDING FOR LADIES. 



the blindness of buyers and the ticklishness of the 

 times. 



Without going into any unnecessary preliminaries, I may 

 continue my subject and say, that it will be well, when 

 selecting a mare to breed from with a view to the production 

 of high-class hunters, to choose one if possible that has 

 herself been a good performer to hounds, — but remember 

 that this is not an indispensable quality, although it may 

 be, and is, an important one. The breeding of the animal 

 chosen to represent maternity ought to be a point much 

 dwelt upon ; it cannot indeed be over estimated — as coarse- 

 bred mares are, even when well mated, certain to perpetuate 

 unsatisfying stock. I am of opinion that compactness of 

 form, robustness of frame, and capability of endurance, 

 fatigue, and exertion, are far before actual beauty in the 

 brood mare. I like to see short stout legs, thick and bulg- 

 ing in the upper portion, denoting plenty of strength and 

 muscle — good, fleshy, sloping shoulders, a deep chest, high 

 withers, a strong well-ribbed frame, big broad loins, hips 

 wide apart, substantial quarters, a high arched crest, a good 

 sound mouth, nostrils wide and healthy, and, most im- 

 portant of all, a sound and well-formed foot. This last 

 point should be rigorously observed, for my experience has 

 taught me that no outward defect is more surely hereditary 

 than small, narrow, ill-shapen, or unhealthy feet. 



The same precautions may in great degree be applied 

 to the sire — and as he is supposed to supply the locomotive 

 power to his progeny, an animal should be chosen that has 

 good hunter-like action, and not one whose paces are like 



