JUDGE OF BREEDING ESTABLISHMENT 53 



I know several men who, owning large studs of 

 racehorses and hunters, have no idea how to breed 

 a weight-carrier. They are, therefore, compelled to 

 trust to the dealers to procure them. The breeding 

 of racehorses is, however, a much more easy task, for 

 no mistake can possibly be made as regards pedigrees ; 

 whereas, with half or three-quarter bred mares and 

 stallions, it is very often a difficult matter to secure 

 what is required. 



It is by no means sufficient that a judge for 

 breeding establishments should possess merely an 

 eye for the shape of a horse ; he should in addition be 

 a certificated veterinary surgeon. One may often see 

 men who own well-shaped hunters, and they get 

 the credit of having an eye for a horse. Such by no 

 means is invariably the case, for the man may be 

 fortunate in possessing a stud-groom who is a good 

 judge, or he may perchance breed a well-shaped horse 

 or two. Besides which, the knowledge of points only 

 is useless for breeding purposes where perfect sound- 

 ness is essential, hence the necessity of the judge 

 possessing the knowledge requisite to detect any un- 

 soundness which may exist, and such is not likely to be 

 found amongst amateurs. The unsoundness may be 

 occult, or it may be that though a horse is actually 

 sound, there are indications of possible or probable 

 unsoundness arising when he is put to work, and this 

 is precisely the one thing which should be most 

 carefully avoided. 



