HORSES. 193 



race, in full strength to her offspring. If, however, you know 

 nothing of the origin of the mare, hut yet, after having heen 

 " hroken to work," she exhihit quaUties of a high order, is 

 sound and possessed of vigorous health, and being satisfied that 

 she will be likely to bring good stock, even if not thoroughbred, 

 she can, after being thus tested, try her luck. 



A very important point in breeding, and which is rarely if 

 ever considered, is the character of the breeding animals. All 

 animals have both a moral and intellectual character, varying 

 in degree perhaps, but yet fixed and determined, and it is high 

 time that these qualities were recognized. 



Tlie horse is one of the most intelligent, sagacious, docile and 

 tractable of all animals, and under proper and judicious train- 

 ing can be made to do everything which comes within the range 

 of his ability. Naturally generous, affectionate and confiding, 

 he attaches himself to his master, and is ever ready, with kind 

 and yielding disposition, to do within the limits of his capacity 

 all that can reasonably be required of him ; and all that is neces- 

 sary to make him kind, amiable and gentle, and at the same 

 time increase his knowledge, is to recognize this capacity, and 

 by careful education to develop his ^mental and moral qualities 

 as much as possible. There are, however, some horses which are 

 inherently vicious ; they have ugly tempers, are cross, unman- 

 ageable, will bite, kick, are obstinate and wilful, possessing and 

 constantly exhibiting a natural depravity. A horse of such 

 character is well nigh useless, and although having other good 

 qualities, they are overbalanced by this evil disposition, and to 

 breed from such an animal is nothing short of wilful wicked- 

 ness. With all their good qualities this ugly and fe;"ocious tem- 

 per renders them unfit for breeding purposes, for it must never 

 be forgotten that bad qudities are as easily transmitted as good 

 ones, and to breed from such horses is not wise, for their use is 

 not only limited to the performance of certain kinds of work, 

 but they constantly put in jeopardy the comfort if not the safety 

 of those who have the care of tliem. 



One point more we mention, and that is temperament. It is a 

 subject of which few stock raisers have any knowledge whatever 

 or ever think about, and fewer ever care to take the trouble to 

 study and comprehend it. It is, however, so connected with 

 the character and the disposition of the horse as to be of the 



