SECRETARY'S REPORT. 193 



This is by the formation of stock companies, or horse-breeding 

 associations. Such companies are not at all uncommon in the 

 Western States, and, if well conducted, can scarcely fail of 

 success. 



Suppose, for instance, fifty men interested in horse-breeding 

 meet together and decide, after suitable discussion, what kind 

 of stallion will best suit them. Then let them appoint a com- 

 mittee to purchase and take care of one, every member of the 

 association taking one or more shares of the stock, and having 

 the privilege of sending a proportionate number of mares every 

 year to the horse. The company should limit by vote the 

 number of mares, and every one ought to be approved by au 

 examining committee, as fit to breed from and adapted to cross 

 with the horse. In this way the members of tiie association 

 could be certain of pecuniary profit, if the horse lived, and, if 

 he died, the loss would not be insupportable. Indeed, almost 

 any horse would pay for himself in two or three years. 



RULES FOR HORSE BREEDERS. 



First. Resolve to raise either evenly-trotting roadsters, heavy 

 draught horses, or saddle ponies ; and remember that " like begets 

 like." Therefore, select both dam and sire with special refer- 

 ence to the kind of stock wanted, and, if you would be certain 

 of the quality of the colt, the sire and dam must resemble each 

 other, the more nearly the better, and must be of good descent. 



Second. Never breed from an animal known to have a special 

 weakness of constitution — never from one which has become 

 blind from hard work, a cold, or cataract — never from one 

 which has any disease of the respiratory organs — never from 

 one with any disease of the bones, as spavin, or ring-bone — 

 never from one with any defect of form, which either predis- 

 poses to disease, or renders unsalable, as curby hocks, large, 

 ugly head, long or lopped ears, naked tail, contracted, or other- 

 wise misshapen feet — never from one of decidedly bad color or 

 temper. Perhaps the most common disease of the finest and 

 fastest breeding mares is founder, either of the feet or chest, and 

 it is difficult to decide how much these affections vitiate the 

 blood, and produce a tendency to the same in tlie offspring. 

 Undoubtedly some horses are more liable to these ailments, from 

 a peculiarity of constitution, or from some defect of structure, 



