PRINCIPLES OF HORSE BREEDING 255 



The care that the horse receives has a moldhig influ- 

 ence upon the variation he is likely to undergo. The 

 animal that is well cared for — that is, properly housed, 

 fed, watered, exercised, groomed, and the like — cannot 

 fail to respond to such treatment. Many persons have 

 fallen short of success in horse breeding by depending 

 upon blood alone for improvement. They have for- 

 gotten that all of our improved breeds are the product of 

 adequate nutrition, combined with intelligent breeding, 

 suitable environment and kindly care. 



Crossing. — The mating of dissimilar animals is a prime 

 cause of variation. Up to the time of Bakewell, cross- 

 breeding was a favorite method of seeking improvement. 

 Previous to this time crossing was made easy from the 

 fact that no record of breeding was kept. It was ob- 

 served that mating two animals reared under different 

 conditions, resulted in increased size, more vigor and 

 greater prolificacy. While this system of breeding ren- 

 dered valuable service in the formation of new breeds it 

 must be remembered that the cross-bred animal does not 

 breed true in general characters; in fact, he has nothing 

 to breed true to, as his parents were unlike. While cross- 

 ing, such as the mating^of two animals from different 

 breeds, is a course of much variation, the results are 

 usually disappointing in the end. 



Use. — It is well known that use stimulates and disuse 

 dwarfs development. Examples of the beneficial effect 

 of exercise are common. Athletes train and musicians 

 practice for niany hours each day that they may become 

 skilled. Horses intended for racing are trained from 

 colthood in order to make the most of any natural ability 

 to trot or run. Thus, use and disuse become important 

 factors in causing variation. 



SELECTION IN HORSE BREEDING 



In establishing or creating a type, selection plays an 

 all-important part, as it enables us to encourage the 



