HORSE-BREEDING IN INDIA. 



S9 



Nicking.— This term is used by breeders to denote the matching 

 of the mare and stallion. A mare is said to have nicked well with a 

 horse when the offspring is satisfactory, or badly when the reverse is 

 the case. Also certain breeds are said to nick well with certain others. 



Strains of blood — Mean that a family of horses have been crossed 



a generation or more back by some particular breed or well-known 



orse. Thus we say of ahorse, perhaps Mongrel, "he has a strain of 



Thorough-bred blood/' or ''he has a strain of ' Hermit ' blood/' 



meaning the race-horse " Hermit." 



Last Top Cross — Means the cross between the sire and dam. A 

 pure bred horse must have five top crosses, sic. 



Pure bred Stallion A mates with Half-Bred Mare B. 



Result, 

 I I 



P. B. Stallion A mates with B. 

 \ 



Result. 

 II II 



P. B. Stallion A mates with B. 



Result. 

 Ill III 



P. B. Stallion A mates with B. 



Result. 

 IV IV 



P. B. Stallion A mates with B. 



Result BV being pure bred. The half-bred taint in the mare B 

 being now supposed to be eradicated. 



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