14 NOTES ON BREEDING EACEHOESES. 



Stud Book, and last, but not least, the personal concerns of 

 English breeders. 



This brings us to the practical question, What must be the 

 aim of the breeder in the selection of brood-mares ; or, as ap- 

 plied to us, what principles must guide us in the importation of 

 brood-mares from England or France, or when choosing from 

 those bred at home ? 



I believe, if strictly adhered to, the following hints may be 

 depended on as oifering the greatest amount of safety in the 

 choice of brood-mares : — 



1. To buy, without exception, mares from the best strains of 

 blood only, more regard being had to the dam even than to the 

 sire. 



2. To bear in mind that a good pedigree alone is not suf- 

 ficient, because the best-bred mare may be unsound (I thought 

 that by the acquisition of the own sisters to Gladiateur and 

 Vermout, although neither had done anything remarkable on 

 the turf, I had made sure of an enormous success; but both 

 turned out unsound and worthless at the stud) ; to be, there- 

 fore, particular to buy from the best strains of blood such 

 mares only as have 



(a) Themselves exhibited some form on the turf, and only 

 on account of insufficient age not yet been tried at the 

 stud, or have 



(b) Already bred winners, and thereby proved themselves 

 sound dams and fit to propagate the excellent qualities 

 of their respective families. 



As a matter of course, of the mares coming within the limits 

 of the foregoing conditions the most powerful and truthfully 

 made will be preferred ; but no consideration of the exterior, 

 however prepossessing it may be, if not accompanied by those 

 requisite attributes, should be allowed to prevail — for there is 

 no more baneful, no more certain, hereditary evil than un- 

 soundness — especially rheumatic or scrofulous disorders. 



I am well aware that with regard to No. 2, and especially 

 subdivision (a), I shall meet with vehement opposition, and 

 that a number of instances to the contrary will be cited. They 



