68 HORSE-BREEDING FOR FARMERS CHAP. 
(3) Hunter mare to Thoroughbred—A well-bred 
hunting mare, say with two or three crosses of blood, 
up to weight, that has proved herself a bold, cheerful 
hunter with stamina and constitution, is the best 
hunter brood mare. Such a mare, not older than 
eight or nine when she goes to the stud, will gener- 
ally prove a success ; but it is only a mare here and 
there that can be depended on for producing one 
weight-carrier after another, and a farmer who owns 
this sort should never part with her ; if he can afford 
it he should keep the best and strongest filly off her 
to hunt himself, and look to replacing her by her 
daughter in good time, as in all probability the 
impressive powers of the dam will be inherited by 
the daughter in some degree at least. 
(4) The Thoroughbred mare and clean-legged cart 
horse.—\ have not alluded to the Thoroughbred on 
the farm before, as in my opinion it is hardly the 
place, as a rule, for them; but some strong, useful 
hunters are in this way bred off Thoroughbred mares 
in Devonshire and the south-west. For such horses 
as are required for a hilly country, when the pace is 
not fast, and not a deal of big jumping to be done, 
they seem to be liked well enough, but they are 
seldom horses of the first class. It would probably 
be better to cross “ bloody ” mares with a selected 
Yorkshire coach horse. Though I have not seen it 
tried often. enough to venture to recommend it, there 
is no reason, if the mare has substance, why weight- 
carriers should not be bred in this way. 
(5) The Thoroughbred weight-carrier is a com- 
paratively scarce animal, and no ordinary breeder can 
count on breeding him. He is a giant of his race, 
