CHOICE OF THE MARE. 29 



' breaks-down,' may be passed over ; the latter, however, 

 only when the stock from which the mare is descended 

 are famous for standing their work without this frailty of 

 sinew and ligament. Spavins, ringbones, large splents, 

 side-bones, and, in fact, all bony enlargements, are consti- 

 tutional defects, and will be almost sure to be perpetuated, 

 more or less, according to the degree in which they exist 

 in the particular case. Curby hocks are also hereditary, 

 and should be avoided ; though many a one, much bent 

 at the junction of the os calcis and astragalus^ is not at all 

 liable to curbs. It is the defective condition of the liga- 

 ments there, not the angular junction, which leads to 

 curbs ; and the breeder should carefully investigate the 

 individual case before accepting or rejecting a mare with 

 suspicious hocks. Bad feet, whether from contraction or 

 from too flat and thin a sole, should be avoided ; but when 

 they have obviously arisen from bad shoeing, the defect 

 may be passed over. Such are the general considerations 

 bearing upon soundness of limb. 



" Broken- winded mares seldom breed, and they are 

 therefore out of the question, if for no other reason; 

 but no one would risk the recurrence, even if he could 

 get such a mare stinted. Eoaring is a much-vexed ques- 

 tion, which is by no means theoretically settled among 

 our chief veterinary authorities, nor practically by our 

 breeders. Every year, however, it becomes more and 

 more frequent and important, and the risk of reproduction 

 is too great for any person wilfully to run, by breeding 

 from a roarei-. As far as I can learn, it appears to be 

 much more hereditary on the side of the mare than on that 

 of the horse ; and not even the offer of a " Yirago" should 

 tempt me to use her as a brood-mare. There are so many 

 conditions of what is termed "roaring," that it is difficult 

 to form any opinion that shall apply to all cases. In some 



