VIL THE SIRE 87 
sire, let us look at the horse qualified to get (1) a 
carriage horse, (2) a hunter. 
The Thoroughbred to get a carriage horse should, 
if possible, be whole-coloured, unless the mare is a 
Yorkshire coaching or Cleveland mare, when the mare 
may be depended on to give her solid colour to the foal. 
He should have great substance, and may be a 
lengthy, stout-barrelled horse wearing his head well, 
and carrying his tail elegantly at the end of a level 
quarter ; he should have as much action as possible, 
and some Thoroughbreds are beautiful movers in 
their trot ; he should not as a rule be under 15.3 or 
over 16; but, as I have said before, judge the sire, 
where possible, by his stock. 
To find the Thoroughbred calculated to get big, 
bold hunters, at a fee within the reach of the tenant- 
farmer, is indeed a difficult problem in England. I 
wish I could at this moment mention half-a-dozen 
Thoroughbreds that were sure getters of hunter stock. 
The horse to look for—the horse I want for my 
hunter brood mares—is one that has stood train- 
ing and run fairly well over long-distance races 
on the flat, or in the front rank in steeplechases, or 
one that is the immediate descendant of creditable 
performers. I want him game, without vice, with a 
good constitution, free from all suspicion of roaring, 
whistling, spavin, or disease of the feet ; his forelegs 
big and flat and short below the knee; arms, 
shoulders, loins, and thighs covered with big muscle ; 
and deep-chested with plenty of bellows room. I do 
not care what his colour is, nor about firing and 
blemishes and unsightliness of limb or joint due 
solely to a life of hard work. I want the knees and 
