b HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



mare. As to points, tbey should be somewhat after tliis fasliion : 

 the head small, neck rather long, shoulders lying back, back 

 long, with good loins; the breast deep, with wide ribs; the 

 fore-legs should be straight, standing clear of the body at the 

 elbows. From the knee to the fetlock joint short, tlie pasterns 

 also must not be too long; hind quarters lengthy and muscular, 

 with good sound hocks. I have observed in most animals, that 

 unless there is a certain length and depth in the flank, they will 

 scarcely ever produce fine offspring. To use a phrase common 

 amongst horse-dealers, a brood mare should be a roomy animal. 

 Those which are high on the leg, with short bodies, will not, in 

 my opinion, ever answer the purpose. I have made the attempt 

 against my own conviction, merely as an experiment, and a 

 failure was the consequence. Size and length in the sire will 

 not compensate for the deficiency of those requisites in the dam. 

 In six cases out of eight, the colt will follow tlie proportions of 

 the mare, and so prevalent has been this opinion among good 

 judges of breeding, that a famous breeder of race-horses once 

 said of his mare, a very noted one, tliat it was of little conse- 

 quence to what horse she was put, as she always produced a 

 winner. There is a very old but true saying, " that blood will 

 tell ;" brood mares should, therefore, be selected from good and 

 well tried stock, of long pedigree. It is likewise a fact well 

 known, that the bone of thorough-bred horses is different in its 

 texture from that of a cart horse. The first is more solid, and 

 consequently heavier than the latter, and even as to measure I 

 have seen the experiment tried with a well-bred horse and a 

 large cart horse, which proved in fiivour of the former, but 

 perfection as to shape and make is seldom to be met with. 



In breeding, therefore, we must endeavour to make up for the 

 deficiency of any good points in the dam, by the abundance or 

 preponderance of those points in the sire. Temper also should 

 not be overlooked, although men on the turf do not care much 

 about the disposition of their racers, provided they have the dis- 

 position and the power also to win. I once had a thorough- 

 bred mare, of the very worst temper, which I rode for several 

 seasons. She was almost unmanageable in the stable, and as 

 soon as mounted, would kick furiously for a short time, but 

 afterwards carried me quietly enougli, and by being calm and 

 determined, I at last obtained conqilete control over her. Not 

 so, however, with the groom. Slie always had a loose box, at 

 the furthest end of the stable, to herself, but one night having 

 by some means opened the door of her box, she rushed upon 

 another mare in the adjoining stall, and began tearing her with 

 lier teeth* A servant who slept in the house being awakened 



