146 



THE HORSE 



The terra "full blood" has been an extremely in- 

 definite one, and when applied to recently formed 

 breeds is still so. The flexible rules observed when a 

 breed is being formed, instead of being a hindrance, 



rmisston of F. S. Peer 



FIG. 32. Clydesdale mare 



are, in, fact, a great help, as they give wide opportunity 

 for selecting the best animals and for making such 

 crosses and combinations as give promise of securing 

 improvement. The improvement once secured, "in- 

 breeding," to some extent, must be resorted to, or 

 the improvement is likely to disappear. (See Chapter 

 XIII). However much the historian may be interested 

 in the early history of the breed, which too often is 

 lamentably contradictory, it does not follow that the 



