258 MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



horses are alike, we are obliged to strike an average 

 between the characters of the parent and what we desire 

 to get in the offspring. When the offspring shows good 

 qualities the mating is considered a fortunate nick; when 

 there is no resemblance to either parent, but to some near 

 ancestor, it is called atavism: and if to some of the far- 

 removed ancestors, it is called reversion, although these 

 terms are often used interchangeably. The success of a 

 horse breeder often depends upon his ability to mate the 

 animals properly. Some persons become very skilled in 

 such matters. 



V HEREDITY 



There are two great forces underlying all breeding 

 operations : First, similar tending to beget similar, which 

 has to do with heredity ; and, second, the great run of 

 A'ariation through which improvement is sought. On 

 heredity, or the extent to which variations are trans- 

 mitted or passed down from parent to offspring, all suc- 

 cessful breeding operations depend. Variations that are 

 not transmitted are of no importance in breeding, though 

 they may be of consequence to the animal possessing 

 them. While the transmission of variation is a much- 

 discussed question, practical animal breeders work on 

 the supposition that such is the case. Horse breeders 

 believe that : If high-class trotters are to be produced, 

 they must mate animals that can trot fast ; that, if high 

 acting horses are desired, high actors must be united ; 

 and that if hea\y horses are wanted, then horses of 

 weight must be mated. 



Prepotency. — There is variation among parents in their 

 power to stamp characters upon the offspring. When 

 the offspring resembles one parent more than the other, 

 the one transmitting its characters is said to be pre- 

 potent over the other parent. Thus prepotency becomes 

 of importance in improvement, and the influences that 



