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 pm-pose 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 cv3n degenerates below the dam, whereas 

 if she be bred to a thorough-bred stalUon, 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 dowm, 

 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 breedmg, is to 

 cross a compact dam with a large sire, the object 

 being to increase the size of the ofisj^ring 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 fi'om experience, is, 

 the dam must be as laro;e or larq;er 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 staUions. 



Size is not the measure of power. Some horses that 

 weisrh 900 lbs. will exceed in strenoth and endurance 

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

 have • distinguished themselves as trotters, a large 



