HORSE SENSE. t)0 



The more active duties to be performed, the more nerve power is 

 needed. The coacher want? sufficient nerve force to enable him to always 

 hold his head up, and to step off. as ihough he was fully alive to all the 

 surrounding.s, but not of the character that would Midicate that there 

 was danger of running away at any instant and endangering life and 

 limb. The genuine roadster is so full of it that the end of the journey is 

 reached at any distance without apparent fatigue, and the reliable trotter 

 cannot have too much of it, if the instinct to trot is strong enough to 

 keep at the required gait. 



So much is dependent on the education of our horses that we fre- 

 quently have difficulty in determining whether the manifested vitality is 

 natural, or acquired from the manner in which the animal is, or has been 

 handled. If it is natural, it will be lasting as a never failing spring of 

 water; but if from bad handling, it will die out, or be manifest in ?arly 

 decay. Too much stress cannot be laid on the character of the nerve 

 force, or motive power. This power may be known by the prominence 

 and brightness of the eye, quick moveinents of the ears, prompt and elas- 

 tic movements in gait and action generally, as well as fully alive and 

 ready to all surroundings. 



The careful breeders of today are probably paying more attention to 

 the nerve force of their breeding stock than to any other qualification; 

 as so inuch is dependent on this, for begetting, maturing, developing and 

 maintainmg a useful career that it must not be lost sight of. 



CONFORMATION. 



The brood-mare should have a good deep, capacious body, with plenty 

 of lung room; broad across the loin and deep from loin to flank; strong, 

 short back and long under the belly; a broad, roomy pelvis (rump) to in- 

 sure easy delivery; a rather slim neck and not too close ribbed (to insure 

 her to be a good milker); a clean cut head, with upright, active ears; 

 prominent, but mild eyes; large, thin, expansive nostrils, and thin, com- 

 pressed lips; her bones should be of good size for the general makeup 

 of the animal, with smooth, clean cut joints. 



Her muscular system should be well developed in every particular; 

 especially the loin, shoulders, quarters, forearms and gaskins. The ten- 

 dons generally must be of good size, well defined and of the "whip cord" 

 order; remembering always that these will vary with the size and quality 

 of the mare, as well as the type or breed to which she belongs. 



CHARACTER OF THE BROOD-MARE. 



The character of a brood-mare, both for constitution, soundness, dis- 

 po.=ition, habits and regular breeder, together with motherly inclinations 

 and a good milker, are essential features that no one versed in the busi- 

 ness will overlook. 



PEDIGREE. 



The pedigree of the brood-mare is of far more importance, than 

 three-fourths of our breeders even imagine. Her blood lines should be 

 carefully investigated, to ascertain if there has been no impure or mongrel 



