Breed with Pure Blood. 33 



ing the mare to a male of superior, not inferior blood 

 to herself; except where it is desired to breed like to 

 like, as Morgan to Morgan, for the purpose of perpet- 

 uting a pure stream of any particular variety which is 

 needful. A half-breed mare should never be put to a 

 half-breed stallion, as in that case the product in nine 

 cases out of «,on degenerates below the dam, whereas 

 if she be bred to a thorough-bred stallion, the product 

 will be superior. And the error is, to breed from mares 

 that have become noted for their speed. Some persons 

 will pick up some long-legged, rangy, broken down, 

 trotting mare, which could perhaps trot her mile in 

 2.30, thinking to produce something very fine. Nothing 

 can be more ill-judged, as in the majority of instances 

 it is sure to <end in disappointment. A mare, with 

 all the best blood in her veins, if she has not got good 

 shape and good points, is not fit for a stallion. 



And the great and common error in breeding, is to 

 cross a compact dam with a large sire, the object 

 being to increase the size of the offspring above that of 

 the dam ; the result is almost sure to end in disappoint- 

 ment. This has been attempted in England, and has 

 proved a failure. The rule deduced from experience, is, 

 the dam must be as large or larger than the sire. — 

 This is a historical fact. The history of breeding 

 shows that to improve a breed, we must select the best 

 formed, largest mares, and cross them with medium 

 sized, compact, muscular stallions. 



Size is not the measure of power. Some horses that 

 weio;h 900 lbs. will exceed in strength and endurance 

 others of 1,200 lbs., or more ; and of those horses that 

 have distinguished themselves as trotters, a large 



