208 A BREEDING GENTLEMAN. 



years old, before he can be called fit for work : this 

 cannot be done, taking one year with another, includ- 

 ing keep, shoeing, attendance, and breaking, under 

 25/. each year. Here we come to 123/. Now, if 

 the colts were all to turn out well, and grow into 

 fine horses, we should by these means get horses at 

 about the same price we could buy the same stamp 

 of horse of any respectable dealer. But in lieu of 

 their all turning out worth their cost, 123/., we 

 must calculate, that, taking several together, one 

 dies, some get accidents, some grow up plain in ap- 

 pearance, and some want action. All these casualties 

 and diminutions of value must be added to the value 

 of what those who do turn out well ought to bring- 

 to make the remainder pay their expenses, which to 

 the private gentleman they never do or will. We will 

 suppose he breeds three colts : then these three, at 

 123/. each, have cost him 369/. Now, he will be a 

 very fortunate breeder if he can calculate on a num- 

 ber as we will on the three, by supposing they grow 

 up to be worth, at five years old, the following prices : 

 123., 100/., and 70/., making 293/. the three. De- 

 duct this from their expenses in rearing, we shall 

 find he is minus a little more than 25/. per horse by 

 the speculation. 



From the representation I have made of the result 

 of a gentleman breeding, two questions may naturally 

 be asked 1st, why do so many breed? and, 2dly, 

 how do some men make it pay ? I will endeavour to 

 reply to both these questions. Many begin breeding 

 from knowing nothing of its expense, and really 

 thinking they are certain to get a very fine horse for 

 very little money. I wish they may : but they will 

 not. A very great number are tempted to breed 



