24 
Half-bred  Horses  for  Field  or  Road: 
conversation  extending  over  twelve  months  have  resulted  only 
in  the  following  communications  : — 
“ Killerby,  Cattebick, 
“ DEAR  Lord  CATHCART, — “ dan.  25,  1883. 
“ I have  thought  fully  over  the  subject  of  breeding 
weight-carrying  hunters,  and  the  conclusion  I have  come  to  is, 
that  it  is  impossible  to  laydown  any  rules  on  which  to  proceed, 
to  obtain  the  animal  named. 
“ It  is  not  difficult  to  define  the  course  to  be  pursued  in 
breeding  pure-bred  animals,  or  even  in  breeding  crosses  from 
two  strains  of  pure-bred  animals;  but,  in  my  opinion,  in  crossing 
with  cross-bred  animals,  which  necessarily  the  brood  mares  for 
breeding  half-bred  horses  must  be,  the  results  are  of  a very 
uncertain  and  fluky  nature.  I must  beg,  therefore,  to  be  excused 
from  attempting  to  teach  others  this  road,  which  I feel  I do  not 
know  myself,  and  which  I think  might  lead  them  to  disappoint- 
ment and  loss. 
“ Believe  me,  yours  very  truly, 
“John  B.  Booth.” 
In  a previous  letter,*  March  3rd,  1882,  Mr.  Booth  observes — 
and  as  stated  from  such  relevant  facts,  mentally  soaked,  impor- 
tant principles  sometimes  may  be  evolved 
“ I had  one  mare  which  bred  me  seven  foals  ; the  first  three, 
by  one  horse,  made  an  average  of  over  200/.  each  at  four  years 
old.  The  other  four,  by  another  and  equally  good-looking 
horse,  made  about  30/.  each  at  the  same  age,  the  first  three 
being  fine  strong  good  animals,  the  last  four  perfect  weeds. 
“ Another  mare  I had  bred  me  five  foals  ; the  first  I sold  as 
a three-year-old  for  200/.  ; the  next,  two  years  old,  for  300/.,  and 
the  next  two  at  good  prices  ; but  all  the  first  four  went  roarers, 
at  which  I was  so  disgusted  that  I sold  the  mare  with  a ^filly 
foal  at  her  foot  for  20/.  ; that  foal  was  brought  up,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  celebrated  hunters  in  the  country,  and  kept  perfectly 
sound  all  her  life.  These  were  from  good  mares,  and  got  by 
the  best]  sires  I could  find.  Whilst  such  a horse  as  ‘ Golden 
Drop,’  for  instance,  was  out  of  a common  cross-bred  coaching 
mare  you  would  not  have  given  10/.  for  by  a horse  travelling 
the  country  at  30 s.  a mare.  These  are  instances — I could  give 
scores  of  them — which  will  show,  I think,  that  any  one  writing 
a paper  on  such  a subject  would,  by  giving  advice,  be  apt  to 
mislead  other  people.  In  my  opinion  the  matter  is  best  left 
to  the  judgment  or  inclination  of  those  who  like  to  try  it.” 
* Addressed  to  the  Secretary  and  Editor. 
