ILLUSTRATIONS DISCUSSED 149 



Perhaps it is well to use the very best animals for 

 illustration since it results in producing in the mind 

 an ideal, however difficult it may be to attain to it. On 

 the other hand, the amateur breeder, whose expectations 

 have become great by reason of such beautiful illustra- 

 tions, is sometimes greatly disappointed when his efforts 

 fall far short of his expectations, founded on illustra- 

 tions in the books. He has his animal photographed for 

 the purpose of placing a true picture at the head of his 

 handbill, but he discards it for a made-up one, which 

 the untrained eye does not detect as an impossible horse. 

 Such breeders may succeed in producing good animals; 

 but, falling far short of their ideals, they lose interest 

 and go out of the business in disgust; So it may be well 

 to warn the beginner that the top is reached only by 

 long-continued effort. The road to the summit is steep 

 and rough, and strewn with the bones of many common- 

 place horses. The horse, like other living things, is 

 responsive to environment, and changes rapidly for the 

 worse if the conditions of his life become less congenial, 

 his food less plentiful, or less nourishing, and his 

 work more difficult, than in the past. The standard of 

 excellence attained by slow, painstaking, laborious 

 effort during two centuries is so high that it requires a 

 genius even to maintain it; so the young farmer should 

 not be disappointed if he is unable to produce horses 

 that fully meet his desires or the high standard of 

 excellence. 



The illustrations should be studied closely and the 

 living animals as well; and not only should those of the 

 draft -breeds be compared, but those of the lighter 



