SELECTION OF STALLION. 539 



The feet should be of good size, and of sufficient depth 

 to give strength to the quarters. Spongy and flat feet 

 should be rejected. The loin should be strong, the back 

 well coupled, quarters broad from point to point of hips, 

 and running nearly straight out to the root of the tail. The 

 stifle should stand low and well out; hocks strong and 

 broad ; no puffs or windgalls, as these indicate weakness. 



As a colt from such a horse may at an early age show- 

 indications of blood spavin or thoroughpin, look at the 

 inside of the hock for an enlargement at the point of what 

 is called a jack spavin or curb. Next see that there is no 

 enlargement at the edge of the hoof, known as ringbone. 

 Weak eyes, blindness, poll-evil, fistula of withers, or in fact 

 any cause of unsoundness should be sufficient cause for re- 

 jecting a stallion. I need not enlarge upon the fact that 

 the mare should be selected with the same care. 



The reader will be aided in the study of disposition 

 bodily form, and the general characteristics of good and 

 bad animals, by reference to the illustrations already given, 

 and especially those in the following chapter. These will 

 enable the mind to grasp these points better than it would 

 be possible to do by the most extended verbal descriptions. 



The following from a leading writer on selection is so 

 much to the point that I cannot do better than to copy it : 



To be successful in breeding, special attention should 

 be given to the particular variety of horse required. If 

 heavy draught horses, or evenly trotting roadsters, or ponies, 

 are required, both the sire and dam should be selected 

 with special reference to these points. Desired effects can 

 in a great measure be produced by proper crossings. If 

 the mare is light-boned, or defective in this or in any other 

 respect, select a horse that possesses the contrast of greater 

 strength. But to insure certainty of obtaining what is 

 wanted, the mare and horse should be as near the type of 



