62 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS CHAP. 
power in a large degree, others in a less degree, many 
not at all; and the breeder should try to discover 
those sires that are impressive. What is true of the 
sire is also true of the dam ; for instance, barrenness 
in some families is not uncommon, or some other 
fault distinguishes the progeny of the mares of certain 
blood. Here and there, however, is a mare, it may 
be, of unknown and unrecorded pedigree, which year 
after year throws, to whatever fairly good horse she 
is covered by, a foal that grows into a high-priced 
first-rate animal. “Is horse-breeding such a lottery 
then? Are farmers to embark in an undertaking 
where so much depends on the chance of finding the 
mare and sire suited for their purpose?” I will not 
reply to these queries by saying “ nothing venture, 
nothing have,” though this is true of trade in general, 
for my task is to give an idea of the measure of 
venture that is requisite to gain the end. I am very 
partial myself to Cleveland bays, and one of my 
chief reasons for favouring them is that there is very 
little “ venture” and much certainty of the “ have.” 
I know that my Cleveland mares will, when put to 
the Cleveland sire, breed foals absolutely true to 
colour and type; I know that if they go to the 
Yorkshire coach horse they will retain their Cleve- 
land form but with added quality; that if they go 
to the Thoroughbred they go to a pure source that 
rivals their own blood for impressive qualities, and 
that I shall have whole-coloured foals which if they 
favour the sire, will be fine hunters, and if they 
favour the dam, will grow into the finest carriage 
horses. My experience is only that of those who, in 
the past and present, have tried the Cleveland as a 
