their  Breeding  and  Management. 
29 
found,  with  now  and  then  a good  animal,  yet  generally  aged, 
and  tejribly  worn,  and  such  scarcely  ever  breed  anything  but 
weeds.  It  is  the  lusty  young  mare  in  the  full  vigour  of  life  that 
produces  the  most  healthy  and  enduring  stock. 
“ The  great  difficulty,  then,  in  the  way  of  breeding  superior 
half-bred  horses  is  in  possessing  a mare  suitable  to  breed  from. 
Some  are,  no  doubt,  yet  to  be  found,  and  it  would  be  a great 
advantage  to  England  if  they  were  owned  by  breeders  who 
would  never  part  with  them. 
“ With  regard  to  the  choice  of  a stallion  for  any  particular 
mare,  there  is  much  to  be  said  ; the  breeding  of  half-bred  horses 
is  a great  lottery.  I would  strongly  advise  the  use  of  such 
stallions  as  are  known  to  cross  well  with  half-bred  mares , for 
however  apparently  suitable  a thoroughbred  horse  may  be  to 
mate  to  half-bred  mares,  the  produce  may  turn  out  most  dis- 
appointing. In  my  experience  I have  always  found  stallions  of 
high  quality,  standing  about  15'2,  or  15‘3,  on  short  flat  legs, 
with  free  action,  the  best  to  use.  Stallions  that  are  roarers, 
or  having  spavins,  or  diseased  feet,  or  suffering  from  any  other 
hereditary  infirmity,  should  be  particularly  avoided ; on  the 
other  hand,  good,  strong,  well-laid  shoulders  : deep  fore-ribs, 
good  back  and  quarters,  sound  legs  and  feet,  should  always  be 
sought  for  in  the  selection  of  a sire. 
“ I am  of  opinion  that  there  is  no  advantage  in  having  half- 
bred  mares  to  foal  earlier  than  the  1st  of  April.  The  mare 
during  the  time  of  her  pregnancy  should  be  well  housed  and 
fed,  then  the  chances  are  that  the  produce  will  be  strong  and 
healthy,  with  an  abundant  flow  of  milk  for  the  foal,  which 
should  be  constantly  handled  whilst  sucking  its  dam,  and  taught 
to  lead,  and  so  avoid  the  dangerous  practice  of  ‘ swinging  ’ 
when  grown  up.  Colts  should  be  castrated  when  a year  old, 
care  being  taken  to  keep  them  warm  and  dry  for  some  days 
after  the  operation.  I would  recommend  a partial  breaking  at 
two  years  old,  to  be  resumed  at  three  and  completed  at  four 
years  old,  and  let  the  breeder  never  lose  sight  of  this  fact — 
that  nothing  conduces  to  the  value  of  young  half-bred  horses  so 
much  as  the  possessing  of  good  manners,  and  that  it  almost 
entirely  depends  on  the  judgment,  patience,  and  care  exercised 
by  the  horse-breaker,  whether  this  most  desirable  attribute  is 
inherent  in  the  horse  or  not. 
“Trusting  the  few  remarks  I have  strung  together  maybe 
intelligible, 
“ I am,  my  Lord, 
“ Your  Lordship’s  most  obedient  servant, 
“Thomas  Farrington.” 
