208 THE HORSE 



brood-mare that is a little open -ribbed is preferable to 

 one that is too close -ribbed. Such a structure usually 

 accompanies a symmetrically set tail, a broad pelvis 

 and well -developed mammary glands. Symmetrical, 

 clean, well-knit legs, a little short rather than a 

 little too long, according to breed, placed rather well 

 under the body, instead of on the "corners" of the 

 horse, should, if provided with good feet and nerve 

 power, carry the dam safely through ten to fifteen 

 years of strenuous life, while imparting to her off- 

 spring her own characteristics. 



Some horses have feet too large, some too small. Some 

 have feet that are too low, flat and open at the heel. 

 Others have too high feet with too narrow heels. 

 If a happy medium can be secured, and the feet are 

 dark colored, tough and close of texture, they will not 

 only be good, but will indicate that the balance of the 

 body structure is also tough and fine-grained. The 

 color, as has already been said, should, when possible, 

 be of some shade of bay or brown, while the hair 

 should be thick, short and soft. 



Having good mares, it is cornparativ3ly easy to 

 select the male to which they are to be bred. The male 

 should be masculine in appearance, fine, and larger 

 and smoother than the female; for this is natural and 

 logical if the reasoning which has already been given 

 in Chapter XIII is correct. In any case, whether the 

 purpose is to enlarge the progeny as compared with 

 its smallest parent or to reduce size as compared with 

 the largest ancestor, the change should be gradual. 

 Full success may not be secured from breeding large 



