BREEDING, STOCK-RAISING, ETC. 441 



with dark half and light mane and tail. Fine, short hair 

 betokens fine blood, and coarse, long hair the reverse; yet 

 there are some breeds of horses with long hair and totally- 

 lacking any signs of fine blood, that undoubtedly possess 

 great powers of endurance. 



]^o stall) Dn should be regularly used for breeding purposes 

 until he is four years old. At the age of three, two or three 

 mares may be put to him for the purpose of testing his qual- 

 ities as a foal-getter; but not more than. this number, since 

 very few horses will pass inspection when so young. If his 

 stock is passable at this age, he will do to keep as a stallion. 

 His colts will improve until six, and then remain good until 

 he is ten, after which, in the majority of cases, he begins to 

 deteriorate as a foal-getter. A horse that has served but 

 twenty mares each season will ordinarily last until he is 

 twenty quite as well as will another, of whom treble this 

 amount of duty has been exacted, until he is ten or twelve. 

 Excessive service in this line will impair the powers of the 

 horse sooner than any other circumstances. 



It is the true policy of every large stock-raiser to have a 

 stallion of his own. If this is too expensive, let several join 

 together, and either select one of their best colts or purchase 

 one for this purpose. One or two of their best mares may 

 be put to a choice horse under favorable circumstances, and 

 the colt reared for this especial service. Such combinations 

 would greatly improve the stock in any neighborhood, in 

 the course of a few years, and do away with the impositions 

 now so common. 



In our country the stallions are generally very good. The 

 selection is usually made from the best colts, and nearly all 

 of tbem, when not abused by excessive service, produce very 

 good foals. There is no fault here, but in the ignorant and 

 destructive policy of their owners. 



Except in the way of general directions, not much can be 

 said in regard to the selection of a particular horse from 

 which to breed. The owner of an entire horse generally has 

 the pedigree and qualities of the animal published, and, in 



