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SECTION XI. 



ON BREEDING, AND THE PRINCIPLES OP THE SAME 



Rreedino — The Principles of Breedino — In-and-in Breeding — Permaneni 

 Varieties —Animals become Parents too Early — Objections to In-anp- 

 in Breeding Answered — The Advantage op In-and-in Breeding Tbb 

 Importance of Studying Anatomy and Physiology. 



Breeding. 



ri^HE choice of a sire aud dam is a point of the utmost conse- 

 JL quence in breeding horses (or indeed any other animal), as 

 the offspring will be found, in almost every instance, to inherit 

 the qualities of its parents. Peculiarity of form and constitution 

 is inherent, and descends from generation to generation ; hence 

 the necessary attention to those niceties which breeders are often 

 apt to forget. Xor is it sufficient that one of the parents be good 

 and the other indifferent ; for the perfection of the sire may be 

 lost through the deficiencies of the mare, and vice versa. 



In the selection of a stallion many things should be observed. 

 There should be general uniformity and compactness in every 

 part. The height should depend on the occupation the foal is 

 destined to fill The legs should be particularly examined, and 

 disease should pervade no part of the system. Fat, heavy horses, 

 with thick legs, and coarse, unseemly heads, should always be 

 avoided. Horses should be free from specks on the eye — partial 

 or total blindness. Temper 10 an essential point, for vice is some- 

 times hereditary. Stallions that cover too many mares in a sea- 

 son, in the latter period produce weak offspring. 



As regards the mare, it is well known that the dam contributes 



more to the integrity of the offspring than the sire. It is essential 



thai she be in full possession of her natural strength and powers. 



The vigor of the constitution determines much in favor of thp 



(302) 



