Breeding Hunters 49 



With such a selection for the sire, with such a treatment 

 of the dam, with such liberal feeding of the colt through 

 the dam, it will not be the breeder's fault, to say the least, 

 if the colt is lacking in either size or quality. 



The next thing of importance is — after the colt is 

 born — to feed the mare with the one idea of producing a 

 bountiful supply of milk. Although the colt at birth may 

 have latent the qualities one desires, one must remember it 

 still remains for the breeder to see that it has the food neces- 

 sary to develope that inheritance. 



There is one other point I must not fail to mention 

 concerning the selection of a stallion. No sire, no matter 

 what his breeding may be, is worthy of serious considera- 

 tion unless he is thoroughly and throughout masculine. 

 I have little or no faith in these effeminate stallions which, 

 especially among our standard breds, are so much seen. 

 I should look with suspicion on any stallion " as quiet as a 

 mare," though this, in the estimation of some men, seems 

 to be the sum total of excellence. A stallion, to my mind, 

 should be of such a disposition and strength and courage as 

 would naturally place him at the head of a herd or drove 

 of wild horses. In the breeding of all domestic animals, 

 we should strive to seek such sires as would come to the 

 front by natural selection, that we may work in harmony 

 with nature's law, i.e., " the survival of the fittest." 



We shall not attempt now to follow this most interesting 

 question of breeding further. We have only attempted to 

 touch upon such points as practical experience and observa- 

 tion have found running contrary to generally accepted 

 theories, or which are omitted by other writers. 



