58 THE HORSE 



Like the Clydesdale and the Shire the breeds are alhed 

 in nearly every feature and of good constitution, which is 

 not always the case with the heavy horses, and the intro- 

 duction of another breed strengthens any tendency in 

 this direction. The initial outlay in all horse-breeding 

 operations do not necessarily represent either future 

 success as regards sale or the production of high-class 

 animals. Pedigree goes a long way, but it is no good 

 unless the animal can carry it on its back. Some of the 

 poorest horses ever bred have had a right royal pedigree, 

 but they have been as useless animals as one could possibly 

 conceive. To be a successful breeder of horses it is essen- 

 tial that a man should know a good horse when he sees 

 one, be able to find a better, and lastly purchase one that 

 is better still. This constitutes prospective judginent, 

 and it is the initial to success. It seems almost absurd to 

 say that the sire and dam should be sound — theoretically 

 and practically sound — under which circumstances they 

 may be expected to reproduce these features in their 

 offspring. A practical man will probably feel amused at 

 this statement and suggest that the author ought to 

 belong to a Horse Breeding Commission. There is no 

 answer, silence being golden. A keen eye and a tactful 

 hand can detect most of the good and bad points in a 

 horse, and unless these senses are well developed it is 

 better to leave horse breeding alone. 



