CHAPTER XL 



BREEDING, CASTRATION, ETC. 



Our observations on this will be of a general nature, and very 

 Bunple. The first axiom that we would lay down, is that " like 

 will produce like," and that the progeny will inherit the general 

 or mingled qualities of the parents. There is scarcely a disease 

 by which either of the parents is affected that the foal does not 

 often inherit, or at least occasionally show a predisposition to it. 

 Even the consequences of ill usage jr hard work will descend to 

 the progeny. There has been proof upon proof, that blindness, 

 roaring, thick-wind, broken-wind, spavins, curbs, ringbones, and 

 founder, have been bequeathed to their offspring, both by the sire 

 and the dam. It should likewise be recollected that although 

 these blemishes may not appear in the immediate progeny, they 

 frequently do in the next, or even more distant generation. Hence 

 4,he necessity of some loiowledg* of the parentage both of the sire 

 ind the dam. 



Peculiarity of form and constitution wiU also be inherited. 

 This is a most important but neglected consideration ; for, how- 

 ever desirable or even perfect may have been the conformation 

 of the sire, every good point may be neutralized or lost by the de- 

 fective structure of the mare. The essential points should be 

 good in both parents, or some minor defect in either be met, and 

 got rid of, by excellence in that particular point in the other. 

 The unskilful or careless breeder too often so badly pairs the ani- 

 mals, that the good points of each are almost lost : the defects 

 of both increased, and the produce is far inferior to both sire and 

 dam. 



The mare is sometimes put to the horse at too early an age ; 

 or, what is of more frequent occurrence, the mare is incapacitated 

 for work by old age. The owner is unwilling to destroy her, and 

 he determines that she shall bear a foal, and thus remimerate him 

 for her keep. What is the consequence ? The foal exhibits aa 

 unkindliness of growth, — a corresponding weakness, — and there is 

 «carcely an organ that possesses its natural and proper strength. 



That the constitution and endurance of the horse are inhcritad, 



