BREEDING 305 



out the largest that Sir Robert had ever bred. It is 

 an established axiom, that in general the produce 

 partakes of the qualities, or the mingled qualities of 

 both parents. Above all things, avoid breeding from 

 either a horse or mare which has any nervous disease, 

 as it is almost certain that the progeny will inherit it ; 

 and like diseases in the human race, if it does not show 

 itself in the first generation, it is more than probable 

 it will break out in the second ; so that breeders should 

 always know the history of both sire and dam. And 

 we again repeat, that however perfect the form of the 

 horse, these may be neutralised by a defective mare. 

 Wherever bad points appear in either the male or 

 female of animals the breeder is anxious to avoid, or, 

 on the other hand, keep up, from possessing some good 

 qualities and points, attention should be paid to put an 

 animal of the opposite sex to the other having those 

 points in a more perfect degree ; and it cannot be too 

 strongly impressed upon the mind that excellence on 

 the part of the mare is as essential as that of the horse : 

 for it very rarely happens that a good foal is produced 

 by a sorry mare. 



We see what has been effected in Yorkshire and 

 other midland counties in breeding the larger-sized 

 cart-horses, by a strict attention to have both sire and 

 dam as perfect as possible in their form. Both parents 

 should be in full possession of their health and strength ; 

 and it is a great mistake to suppose that a mare can 

 be fit for breeding when incapacitated by disease for 

 work. Many suppose that because a mare is rendered 

 lame by accident, that she is nevertheless useful as a 

 brood-mare. This, however, is sometimes found to be 

 a mistake. 



Breeding in and in, as it is termed, — that is, 

 forming a constant union of the same blood, is always 



U 



