HORSE SENSE. 0<^ 



the same character and arc bred together, then these weaknesses are too 

 apt to be intensified in the progeny and general degeneracy as a natural 

 result will follow. 



Another essential feature th.at should never be forgotten, is that the 

 weakest point in the brood-mare or stallitm is the measure of his or her 

 power, the same as the "weakest link in the chain is the estimate of the 

 strength of the chain." In other words the back cannot do the work of 

 the legs, or vice versa. Consequently the importance of carefully exam- 

 ining both sire and dam for weaknesses before mating. The strong points 

 will take care of themselves as will the dollars, if we take care of the 

 pennies. If the stallion and mare are the counterpart of each other in 

 an\' natural defects, then you will be acting judiciously to look farther 

 before breeding. 



PREPOTENCY. 



We wish to be understood by prepotency in the brood-mare, that she 

 possesses the power through her ancestral inheritance, to transmit to her 

 progeny the strong characteristics of her family; and by her being bred to 

 a sire in the same line of breeding, her produce will be of great value in 

 the perpetuation of the qualities of the type; whereas if she is not pre- 

 potent, then you have to rely on the power of the sire altogether. 



FECUNDITY OF THE BROOD-MARE. 



By fecundity we understand that the brood-mare is fruitful, or in 

 other words, she is a regular breeder. And to determine before trial 

 what she is likely to be as a regular producer, it is very essential to in- 

 quire into the history of her family. If her dam was a regular breeder 

 and her mother before her, as well as their sires sure foal getters, and if 

 they were, then you are quite safe that she will be profitable. 



INHERITED PRE-DISPOSITION. 



Inherited pre-disposition to disease or other defects in the brood-mare 

 may not show in herself; if there has been any in her ancestors it is al- 

 most certain to be manifest in some of her offspring, without the great- 

 est care is manifest in the selection of the sire to which she is bred. 



We must stop with points of selection for fear we shall discourage 

 the young breeder with details; but we must unhesitatingly say that the 

 more experience, observation and study we have, the more we see that 

 it is by no means guess-work. Breeding has become, to a great degree, 

 a science, and the more we conform to the laws of the science, the 

 greater progress we are likely to make. While we feel that we are by 

 no means through with the matters of importance in selection, we must 

 proceed with the care of the brood-mare. 



CARE OF THE BROOD-MARE. 



The care of the brood-mare for the best results, can be summed up in 

 this: that the highest state of vigor and activity through her whole or- 

 ganization will be mainly what will be required. 



But the question will naturally be asked, how can this condition be 

 best acquired? Our answer is: feed regularly good nutritious food of not 



