22 HOW TO BREED A HORSE. 



The great point then to be aimed at is, the combining in 

 the same animal the maximum of speed compatible with 

 sufficient size, bone, strength, and solid power to carry 

 heavy weights or draw large loads, and at the same time 

 to secure the stock from the probability, if not certainty, 

 of inheriting structural deformity or constitutional disease 

 from either of the parents. The first point is only to be 

 attained, first, by breeding as much as possible to pure 

 blood of the right kind ; and, second, by breeding what is 

 technically called among sportsmen and breeders, up^ not 

 dotvn : that is to say, by breeding the mare to a male of 

 superior (not inferior) blood to herself, — except where it is 

 desired to breed like to like, as Canadian to Canadian, or 

 Norman to Norman, for the purpose of perpetuating a pure 

 strain of any particular variety, which may be useful for 

 the production of brood mares. 



By superior bloOd we mean that which approaches 

 nearer to thorough blood. Thus, a half-bred mare should 

 never be put to a half-bred stallion, as in that case the pro- 

 duce will, in nine cases out of ten, degenerate below the 

 dam ; whereas, if she be bred to a thorough-bred the pro- 

 duce will be superior, and will continually improve ad in- 

 finitum^ by adhering to the same process of breeding up. 

 In the second place, a reasonable probability of raising 

 sound and healthy stock can only be attained by carefully 

 selecting parents free from disease, which is either heredi- 

 tary, or apt to become so. 



It is idle for persons at this time of .the world, to sneer 

 at the idea of disease or other qualities being hereditary, 

 or transmissible in the blood : it is known, both medically 

 and physiologically, that they are so. All diseases of the 

 lungs and windpipe, known as the heaves, as broken wind, 

 as roaring, whistling, thick wind, and the like, are, incon- 



