CHAP. in. THE TYPE OF HORSE TO BREED FROM. 421 



by which the proportion of the sexes can be determined upon and 

 secured." 



The lack of success in horse-breeding, Svrites Sir Walter Gilbey, in 

 the " Live Stock Journal Almanac," is attributable to a great exent to 

 the want of care in the selection of the dam. Many persons possessing 

 mares, regardless of their loose, leggy make, small size, or hereditary 

 unsoundness, have thought them good enough to breed from. To 

 those who have such mares, the advice given on other occasions may 

 be repeated, " Do not breed from the old mare because she is an old 

 mare, and although she may be a favourite." The breeding of any 

 species of animal with a view to obtaining any one quality, while it 

 leads to greater perfection therein, is often accompanied by deteriora- 

 tion in other respects. Such has been the consequence of aiming 

 chiefly at speed by which size, shape, action, and strength have been 

 to a great extent lost sight of. The sire acts the principal part in 

 impressing his character and moulding the outward form of the off- 

 spring, whilst the dam has her influence over the internal organs and 

 vital functions of her produce. That which is really wanted, therefore, 

 is the judicious blending of the qualities of the Thoroughbred stallion 

 with suitable half-bred mares and light draught mares. 



A horse, for riding or driving, may be good, so far as being strong 

 and useful, but to be valuable he must be good-looking, have a graceful 

 carriage, and be true in his paces ; therefore, to breed such animals, 

 the sire and dam should be selected with the idea in mind that good- 

 looking, sound, strong, active, safe-stepping horses mean " good 

 prices." Those who disregard imperfections in the sire and dam will 

 not be successful in making horse-breeding, as an adjunct to their other 

 business, remunerative. The ill- digested notion is happily now fast 

 being dispelled, that the services of any weed}', useless blood sire may 

 be accepted because his travelling fee is small. 



Sir Walter Gilbey gives the following practical suggestions as to 

 the standard or type of stallions and mares to breed from. 



THE STALLION. All pure-bred sires are better suited for getting 

 half-bred stock. He should be Thoroughbred, and, if possible, a 

 proved good stock getter. Racing qualities do not always prove suit- 

 ableness for stud purposes. 



Soundness. He should be free from hereditary unsoundness. He 

 should possess a good and not fretful temper. 



Colour. Bay or brown. 



Height, 15'2, and in no case to exceed 15*3. 



Head, not too large, to be well set on. 



Neck fine, arch-looking where it joins the head, and on no account 

 to be ewe-necked. 



Shoulders to be sloping, with breadth at the withers, not sharp 

 (knife-shaped). 



Chest fairly capacious, as the size and shape govern the condition of 

 the lungs. Depth of chest is necessary for speed. 



Back to be straight and rather short, with breadth across the loins. 



