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Breeding and Raising Horses. 



I. Importance of the Subject. 



No subject connected with. the rearing and use of stock can be 

 of more importance to the farmer and stock-grower, the intelli- 

 gent, practical business man, than that of breeding. That it is 

 in every way more profitable to any one who rears and trains a 

 single colt to have that colt of the very best rather than of any 

 indifferent quality is almost too palpable to need a moment's con- 

 sideration. That it is possible for every man of observation and 

 good judgment to improve his stock is equally obvious. There 

 is no line of work which horses are called upon to perform that 

 has not its peculiar requirements, that can be better met by some 

 specific kind of animal than by one chosen at haphazard. It is a 

 matter, then, of the plainest common sense that every one who 

 means to rear a horse for his own use should consider before- 

 hand to what purposes he will most probably devote it. If it is 

 designed for market, he needs no less to consult his interests by 

 determining what markets are accessible to him, and what de- 

 scription of animal will be apt to find most ready sale therein, 

 at most remunerative prices. 



For the farmer who wants to breed and rear horses of all 

 work, it would be manifestly foolish to seek a high-priced pure- 

 blooded race, for his mares, unless the mares themselves were 

 of such type as to render it necessary to breed to high and ele- 

 gant stallions in order to obtain those medium-sized, but com- 

 pact, and moderately quick-paced animals that are so well 

 adapted to all the wants of the farmer. 



On the other hand, one wanting a light and fleet animal 

 would show his lack of judgment in a striking mauner who 

 should so disregard all the dictates of sound sense as to hope to 

 succeed by any chance selection of either mares or stallions. 



