280 THE HORSE. 



and choose from tliem, or their immediate relations, mares and 

 stallions for his purpose. Again, in breeding hunters, it would 

 follow that such stallions should be selected as have produced 

 good stock of that particular class, in which stoutness, clever- 

 ness, good temper, and sound constitution, are indispensable re- 

 quisites, when united also with the power of carrying weight. 

 Trotters, again, must be chosen for getting trotters ; and no one 

 would expect to rear a liorse capable of doing his fourteen miles 

 per hour at this pace, from a sire and dam which could not trot 

 above eight, and tliat with a straight knee. I have myself 

 owned a mare by Monarch, out of Gadabout, which was as fine 

 a trotter as ever was seen, going fast and in the most perfect 

 trotting style, and I have seen some few others, almost as good, 

 of full blood ; but they are exceptions to the rule ; and there is 

 no case that I know of in which a thoroughbred horse could 

 compete with the regular match-trotter. In all cases, therefore, 

 the breeder must make up his mind as to what he wants, and 

 then select his mares and sires from such animals as belong to 

 families which have long been famous for the qualities he is in 

 search of. If, in addition, he can actually procure the individ- 

 uals wliich have distinguished themselves, it wir be so much 

 the better ; but we shall hereafter tind that family is of more 

 consequence than individual success. 



SELECTION OF BROOD MARE. 



In choosing the brood mare, four things must be considered — 

 first, her blood ; secondly, her frame ; thirdly, her state of health ; 

 and, fourthly, her temper. 



Her blood or breeding will mainly depend upon the views 

 of the breeder — that is to say, what particular class of colts he 

 wishes to obtain, and according to his decision he will look out 

 for mares of the particular kind he desires to reproduce, on 

 the principle that "like begets like," but subject to the various 

 considerations partly alluded to in the last chapter, and partly 

 in this and subsequent ones. 



In frame, the mare should be so formed as to be capable of 

 carrying and well nourishing her offspring ; that is, she should 

 be what is called " roomy." There is a formation of the hips 



