The Thoroughbred 41 



jnst as past history proves that the Thoroughbreds of the South 

 were immeasurably superior to the cold-blooded, cross-bred horses 

 of the Xorth. Northern cavalry begau to be effective iu the Civil 

 War only when the limited supply of southern Thoroughbreds 

 began to be exhausted. 



PREPOTE^fCY 



Prepotency is kno'^ai to intensify in direct proportion to the 

 established purity of an individuaFs ancestors, and the purity 

 of ancestors is manifested by their pedigrees, which means an 

 accurate knowledge of ancestors. We find in the Thoroughbreds, 

 more than in any other breed, the longest line of known ancestors 

 bred from selected performers, and each generation bred to in- 

 tensify the de^'elopment of those qualities most desired in any 

 type of horse, namely, intelligence, gameness, constitution, and 

 ability to perform in proportion to environment. 



Breeders know that the percentage of uncertainties increases 

 in a geometrical ratio with every outcross, hence when breeding 

 a female of unknown lineage, wisdom prescribes the use of a 

 sire of definitely determined prepotency, and this is necessarily 

 best established in the Thoroughbred. 



THOROCGHBREDS ARE INTELLIGENT; THEY WILL NOT STAND ABUSE 



The only objection to the Thoroughbred, as a general-purpose 

 horse, that I have ever heard expressed by farmers is, that they 

 are too hot-headed ; that they require more careful driving and 

 handling than animals sired by an individual of the draft breeds. 

 Fpon consideration of this statement, one must conclude that 

 these farmers desired cold-blooded, low-spirited beasts which 

 would not resent abuse. Animals of gameness will not stand 

 abuse, but neither will they He down when they are tired. Horses, 

 like men, and like other animals which have no fighting spirit and 

 which will stand abuse without resentment, will also quit when 

 their work becomes tiring. They have neither determination to 

 do their work nor the heart to go on to a finish. 



While the cold-bred horse takes abuse from a brutal driver, 

 and sullenly, half-heartedly plods on, the Thoroughbred makes 

 known that he will not be mistreated. The fanner hears of it 



