48 HOW TO BREED A HORSE. 



according to the rules heretofore laid down, it is evident 

 that this is an end most devoutly to be wished. 



It would seem that, after the first importation of the 

 ISTorman horse by the early French settlers, there were 

 few importations of fresh strains of Norman blood from 

 the mother country, in which continual systematic im- 

 provements have been made ; and that, certainl}-, from 

 the date of the English conquest of Canada, no efforts 

 whatever have been made to procure the breed in its 

 purity, or to raise its standard in height, to lighten its 

 heavier and worse points, or to increase its speed and 

 beauty, all of which might unquestionably be effected by 

 judicious management. The effect of this continued breed- 

 ing into the same exact strain, generation ofter generation, 

 has been the same as it was with the Virginia race-horse 

 prior to the recommencement of the importation of tho- 

 rough blood, subsequent to the American Revolution. 

 The strength, the courage, the hlood^ in a word, was there, 

 but the size had deteriorated. 



The first and simplest mode of improving the Canadians 

 as Canadians — that is to say, without endeavoring to raise 

 them to a higher degree ^of blood — is, to select the largest 

 and most shapely mares of that breed, and more particu- 

 larly such as are the most free from the characteristic 

 faults of the Canadians, viz., the thick neck, low, heavy 

 withers, straight shoulder and flat side ; then to select the 

 best stallions of that breed, having regard to the very 

 same points named above, — and to see that the mare is in 

 fine breeding condition when put to the horse. Care be- 

 ing had to follow up this plan judiciously, and to keep the 

 mare during her pregnancy and the nourishment of her foal 

 liberally and comfortably fed and sheltered, though not to 

 force either mother or offspring, as is done with thorough- 

 breds, by hot lodging and over stimulating provender, 



