186 THE HORSE 



times breeds and families, show endurance and resisting 

 power to an unusual degree. 



May prepotency, or unusual power to transmit 

 qualities, be discovered in an animal from outward 

 characteristics? Not certainly. But something may be 

 prophesied of the probable prepotency, or lack of it, by 

 careful scrutiny of the animal; since there are certain 

 outward indications which almost invariably accompany 

 this unusual power. The eyes are bright, wide-open, 

 alert, fairly wide apart and somewhat protruding, or, 

 at least, the reverse of sunken. The hair is fine and 

 soft; the skin neither thick nor leathery, nor too thin 

 and papery, nor of a flabby texture, but pliable, mellow 

 and moderately thin. The bones are moderate in size 

 and have the appearance of being of fine grain and 

 strong, as indicated by head, limbs and feet. Such 

 animals are usually symmetrical, although they may not 

 be. fat. In all of their movements they are vigorous, 

 alert and powerful, and, above all, courageous; nerv}', 

 but not nervous, all the powers being under full 

 control, which gives courage and confidence and the 

 ability to direct power along efficient lines. If the 

 prepotent animal is a poor specimen of the breed ( poor 

 animals are sometimes prepotent), then it would really 

 be better if the prepotent quality were wanting, for then 

 it might chance that the offspring would take after 

 remote, instead of immediate ancestors. 



Characteristics which are much in advance of the 

 general average are likely not to be perpetuated in full 

 force through even one or two generations. "Sports," 

 that is offspring which from unknown causes have made 



