422 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK m. 



Neither a hollow nor yet a roach-back. Girth to be deep, well ribbed 

 up, and not too flat. 



Hind-quarters to be full, and there must be length in every part of 

 the hind-quarters where the muscles are located. Not sloping hind- 

 quarters or goose-rumped. 



Tail to be well set on, high, and no inclination to either side. 



Legs. Fore-legs should drop straight from shoulder to ground, 

 knees not set-back (calf-kneed). The elbow should neither be set out 

 nor in, a defect either way prevents true action. 



Hind-legs. The bones of the hock should be large, well-formed, 

 and clean free from enlargement or puffs of every kind. Should 

 stand square on all four legs. Neither leg to be twisted. 



Fetlocks to be sloping ; not too long, and not turned either outwards 

 or inwards. 



Feet to be good and open, with no pretension to smallness or con- 

 traction. 



Action. He should be able to walk, trot, and gallop freely ; the 

 action should be true and straightforward ; not pigeon-toed or dished. 



THE MARE. Many of the suggestions given under the head of the 

 stallion are applicable to the mare; the maxim "like begets like" is 

 therefore worth remembering in selecting either sire or dam. 



There are no mares so valuable as those which throw their foals 

 after the sire, and tried brood-mares that have proved matrons of good 

 stock. It is no criterion of a mare's suitabilit} 7 that she is highly bred 

 or a clever hunter. 



The Half-bred or Hunting Mare should have a good constitution, 

 be symmetrical and good-looking. Height from 15*2 to 16 hands 

 roomy, compact, deep-bodied ; not leggy, loose, slack, or narrow. 



A mare can be put to the stud from two years to eight years old. 



Mr. Armstrong suggests the following procedure for breeding what 

 will eventually be called pure-bred hunters. Select 14-stone blood- 

 like hunting mares either Thoroughbred or nearly so put them to 

 horses like Silver Crown, Truefit, Blue Grass, Blue Blood, Ruddigore, 

 Suleiman, Eosnal, Knight Templar (all winners of Queen's Premiums), 

 or other strong horses, and then select the best of the resulting fillies 

 and colts, and put unrelated ones together to breed hunters. Again 

 select in like manner from the youngsters, and there will gradually be 

 developed a stronger and sounder animal than the racehorse, but not 

 quite so speedy. Even the comparative failures will pay the cost, and 

 the successes will leave a good profit. 



