6 PREFACE. 



such parts of it as are not derived from a knowledge 

 bought with my own personal experiences have, for their 

 foundation, the teachings of others who are regarded as 

 eminent authorities in the specialties upon which I have 

 quoted them. To the introductory chapters, wherein 

 the general principles of breeding are discussed, I have 

 given much thought; and I am confident they may be 

 studied with profit, not only by horse-breeders, but by 

 all who are disposed to investigate the laws which govern 

 the transmission of hereditary qualities from parent to 

 offspring, whether it be in the human species or in the 

 lower orders of animal life. In the descriptions of breeds 

 I have endeavored to be judicially candid and fair; to 

 "nothing extenuate nor set down aught in malice 11 ; and 

 where controverted points have been touched upon, 

 while I have endeavored to state my views plainly, and 

 to sustain them by such arguments and facts as to my 

 mind are conclusive, yet I have tried to do so in a man- 

 ner that would not prove .offensive to those whose opin- 

 ions and conclusions may differ from my own. 



Aside from the introductory chapters on the general 

 principles of breeding, which are applicable alike to all 

 breeds and all varieties of live stock, I have endeavored 

 to make the work a practical guide to the management 

 of the breeding stud a book which any farmer or 

 farmers boy, or any novice in the business of horse- 

 breeding, may read and study with profit. In the course 

 of my long experience as editor of a live-stock paper, 

 covering a period of about sixteen years, the constantly 

 recurring questions that have been sent in for answer 

 have served to direct my attention especially to the 

 points upon which information is most frequently 



