24 THE HORSE. 



The chief preliminary considerations to breeding 

 are — the species required, choice of stallion and mare, 

 and the season of putting them together. De Grey, 

 an old English writer, insisted on the preference due 

 to autumn, for reason scarcely worth recapitulation 

 at this period, unless from necessity with a favourite 

 mare. The spring is always chosen, and it matters 

 not how early, with those breeders who can depend 

 on early pasturage. The radical error in our general 

 breeding system is, that the form and size of the 

 stallion alone is particularly attended to, whilst the 

 form and aptitude of the mare is little considered. 

 Hence probably, the cause of our notorious and con- 

 stant scarcity of thorough shaped horses. In order 

 to produce such, it would seem that there is a neces- 

 sity for a just symmetry and proportion in both 

 horse and mare ; at least, as far as regards the most 

 important points, which have been already discussed. 

 At any rate, with regard to those, that which is 

 deficient in one should be made up by the other. 

 In breeding hacks, that is to say, road horses, re- 

 course is generally had to racing stallions, to such as 

 have a show of blood, or trotters, as in Norfolk. 

 These generally cover at one to five guineas. The 

 opposite modes, with regard to expense in breed- 

 ing horses, have been noted. In the racing studs, 

 and perhaps in all, where high form and size, for 

 sale, are the objects, the brood mares and foals are 

 allowed corn. In the common breeding system, the 

 purpose being to obtain stock at the least possible 

 cost, the mares and foals shift through spring and 

 summer, wherever thev can find a bite of grass ; and 



