SELECTION, CARE AND MANAGEICENT 521 



use greater care in the selection of his foundation 

 stock, both as to their breeding and conformation, 

 than ever before. The mares should be of good 

 size, standing squarely on large, wide-heeled feet 

 with round hoofheads, above which are pasterns of 

 proper slope, strong, flat bone, flat, wide hocks and 

 large, flat knees. Also they should have good ends, 

 long, well-sprung ribs and level toplines. Avoid 

 all undersized and very blocky mares. 



"In choosing a stallion one must remember that 

 the sire is half the stud, and that his selection is 

 most important. There are many experienced breed- 

 ers who can tell at the first glance a stallion that 

 will be more than an average breeder. The same 

 stallion, on close inspection, may have faults, either 

 in breeding or conformation, which would make 

 him undesirable as a stud-header. But if one can 

 get the strong 'personality' in a stallion which so 

 attracts the man of experience, and without the 

 other faults, one is almost sure to be piloting in 

 safe waters for a sire. 



"The general points to seek in the selection of 

 a sire are much the same as for mares. In addition 

 he should be stronger and more masculine in appear- 

 ance, especially in head and neck, as well as more 

 upstanding. The day of the blocky Percheron stal- 

 lion is past. A stallion to head a stud of registered 

 mares should stand not less than 17 hands high, and 

 weigh no less than 2,100 pounds in sale condition. 



"In the selection of both stallion and mares the 

 breeding is very important and should be carefully 

 considered. The families of Percherons which have 

 made the greatest successes as sires and dams are 

 well known, and one should get as much of the 

 blood of these strains as possible in the foundation 

 stock. 



