their  Breeding  and  Management. 
15 
hire  a fashionable  stallion,  and  put  all  mares  to  him,  whether 
the  cross  is  suitable  or  not : breeders  should  select  and  indi- 
vidually fit  the  horse  to  the  mare,  blending  together  slightly 
opposing  but  almost  invisible  deviations.  I commenced  by  say- 
ing the  foundation  of  all  improvement  is  judgment  in  selection  : 
racing-men,  however,  breed  from  fashion  and  blood,  without 
regard  to  legs  and  action  ; forgetting  that  own  brothers , without 
identity  of  shape,  are  different  animals.  The  shape  as  well  as 
the  blood  are  the  considerations  which  should  constitute  the 
value.  We  too  often  have  length  in  the  top,  not  underneath  ; 
light  legs,  bad  ankles,  shoulders  into  the  neck,  instead  of  sloping 
into  the  back,  light  girths,  bad  feet,  perhaps  curb,  spavin,  and 
ringbone.  What  we  want  in  a horse  is  this  : length  underneath 
from  the  shoulders,  sloping  well  into  the  back  ; strong  below 
the  knee,  bone  and  sinew  ; the  knee  to  bend,  and  the  shoulder 
as  well  to  move.  For  any  and  every  purpose  we  want  horses 
with  heads  set  on  rightly,  four  good  legs,  and  with  their 
shoulders  sloping  well  into  their  backs. 
Mr.  Lumley  Hodgson  having  concluded  his  paper,  I may 
perhaps  be  allowed,  by  way  of  example,  to  mention  one  horse  of 
which  he  is  the  successful  breeder  and  fortunate  owner,  got  by 
“ Camerino,”  dam  by  “SirTatton  Sykes,”  w inner  of  the  Leger, 
grandam,  “ Betsy  Bird,”  by  “ Voltaire.”  The  produce  * of  this 
famous  horse  in  question  have  won  endless  premiums.  He  is 
thus  described  by  “ Blinkhoolie  ” in  the  ‘ Sporting  Times,’  Jan. 
30,  1875:  and  for  a novice,  the  mere  description  is  a polite 
education  : “ ‘ Highthorne,’  a brown,  with  fine  clean  black  legs, 
a good  expressive  head,  beautifully  placed  shoulders,  with  tack, 
loins,  and  quarters ; a model  of  symmetry  and  power.  He  is 
very  well  ribbed-up,  and  the  muscles  on  his  forearms  and 
thighs  are  excellent.  His  soundness,  wind  and  limb,  undoubted  ; 
his  temper  all  that  can  be  desired,  and  his  action  simply 
perfection.” 
Me.  Maynard. 
Mr.  Maynard,f  who  has  completed  a ten  years’  Mastership 
of  the  Xorth  Durham  Foxhounds,  has  favoured  me  with  the 
following  very  interesting  letter : I begged  for  the  sort  of  open- 
* Namely,  amongst  others,  “ Topthorn,”  a great  winner,  “ Cyprian,”  “ Flower 
Girl  ” — at  3 years  first  at  Yorkshire,  at  4 years  first  at  Eoyal  at  Carlisle— “ Chan- 
cellor,” “Robin  Hood,”  &c.  “ Highthome’s ” produce  in  1878  won  between  30 
and  40  prizes  ; in  1879,  31  prizes  ; in  1880,  52  prizes  at  the  Royal,  Yorkshire  and 
all  great  Shows;  in  1881,  between  90  and  100  prizes  ; at  the  Yorkshire  Meeting 
held  at  Hull  8 Highthomes  were  shown,  they  won  6 prizes;  they  are  again 
winning  largely  this  year — 1882. 
t Anthony  Lax  Maynard,  Esq.,  Newton  Hall,  Durham. 
