256 



MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



production of those animals that meet the demand and 

 to prevent, in part at least, the production of undesir- 

 able individuals. In selecting horses for breeding pur- 

 poses, there are three important factors to be considered : 

 First, the individual merit, or the perfection of the animal 

 as a representative of its race, type or breed ; second, the 

 pedigree, or the purity of the ancestry and the probable 

 capacity of the individual to reproduce itself or to shovi^ 



FIG. 129.— BELGIAN MARE "ELEQUANTE" 



improvement; and, third, the suitability of the two in- 

 dividuals to be mated. 



Individuality. — In breeding horses the perfection of 

 the animals selected should be carefully considered. Oc- 

 casionally we give too little attention to this and select 

 breeding animals on the basis of their pedigree. Such 

 practice may prove disappointing, as many inferior in- 



