230 THE HORSE 



Something of the history of the horse and the con- 

 ditions in America which have tended to produce large 

 numbers of varied characteristics have been discussed. 

 It is ascertained that no native horses were found on 

 the continent and that a large number of horses of 

 varied qualities have been imported; that these have 

 been bred, in many cases, with little care and judg- 

 ment. As might have been predicted, our horses at 

 the present time have many characteristics. Few of 

 them are homogeneous, that is, little care has been 

 taken until recently to breed for special purposes and 

 for uniform characteristics; hence, most of the horses 

 are not likely to produce uniform offspring when bred 

 together. However, when coupled with pure -bred and 

 full -blood horses more uniform characteristics are 

 likely to appear. There are some compensations for 

 this unstable blood, for it can be easily molded and 

 directed into well-defined lines by the admixture of 

 well-bred horses of prepotent qualities. Happily, we 

 already have large numbers of most excellent thorough- 

 bred and full -blood sires. From these, selections can 

 easily be made. It will not be necessary to import 

 large numbers of foreign horses, to secure those worthy 

 of a place at the head of the breeding establishments. 



In selecting a stallion, the beginner should be careful 

 and not be led astray by a fragmentary pedigree with 

 one or two high-sounding names, five or six generations 

 removed. Sometimes the name of a noted horse, as 

 Flying Childers, appears at the end of a pedigree. The 

 blood of a noted horse is supposed to impart great value 

 to the animal whose pedigree in the fourth or fifth 



