their  Breeding  and  Management. 
31 
“ Ludlow,  Shkopshiee,  February  19 th,  1883. 
“ Dear  Mr.  Bowen  Jones, 
“ There  is  no  doubt  that  the  breeding  of  horses  in  this 
neighbourhood  is  decidedly  on  the  decline,  and  a very  great 
pity  it  is  that  such  should  be  the  case,  for  this  district  is  most 
suitable  for  breeding  horses,  and  in  former  days  was  noted  for  the 
good  hunters  bred  in  it,  famous  for  their  capabilities  as  weight- 
carriers  and  for  their  powers  of  endurance.  This  is  therefore  a 
district  to  be  encouraged  by  every  possible  means  to  renewed 
energy  in  the  important  art  of  breeding  valuable  horses  for  all 
purposes,  as  the  subject  is  no  novelty,  and  the  farms  very  suit- 
able for  rearing  young  colts.  The  great  cause  of  the  decline  is 
the  want  of  a really  good  thoroughbred  horse,  that  would  cover 
at  a low  figure,  and  that  would  be  approved  of  by  the  farmers. 
He  must  have  great  bone  and  substance,  as  the  mares  generally 
are  small,  but  of  good  quality  and  hard  constitutions.  I have 
no  doubt  that  there  are  plenty  of  good  mares  in  this  country, 
and  that  a good  horse  would  be  highly  appreciated.  The  diffi- 
culty, however,  is  how  and  where  to  find,  first  the  money,  and 
secondly  the  horse,  these  bad  times  being  the  chief  cause  of  the 
said  difficulty.  At  this  time  an  attempt  is  being  made  to  form 
a company  and  procure  a suitable  horse ; at  present  there  is 
not  a very  cheerful  prospect  of  success,  but  I have  heard  many 
farmers  speak  very  hopefully.  There  is  only  one  thoroughbred 
stallion  that  I know  of  in  this  immediate  district,  where  only  a 
few  years  ago  there  were  five  or  six,  that  is  ‘Acton,’  a very 
good-looking  old  horse,  and  well  bred.  There  is  also  a cob 
stallion,  ‘Little  Tommy,’  by  ‘ Stockinger.’  I have  no  doubt 
that  there  will  be  some  half-bred  trotting  or  coaching  stallions 
in  the  neighbourhood  soon,  but  they  are  not  the  sort  that  are 
wanted  at  all,  there  being  no  certainty  as  to  their  produce 
having  any  heart  to  carry  heavy  weights  over  these  hills,  or 
even  in  more  favoured  hunting  countries,  even  if  they  have  good 
looks.  A really  well-bred  powerful  Norfolk  trotter  would  be  of 
great  use  in  this  country  for  getting  hacks  and  very  likely 
hunters  for  these  hills,  as  many  (of  the  right  sort)  have  great 
endurance  ; but,  for  all  purposes,  and  especially  for  the  chance 
of  procuring  a good  price  for  a fbur-  or  five-year-old  colt,  a big, 
powerful,  compact,  short-legged  thoroughbred  horse,  that  has 
not  been  over-worked  or  over-trained,  and  with  stout  blood  in 
his  veins,  is  what  is  required,  and  would  not  only  be  of  the 
greatest  service  to  the  best  class  of  men  in  Europe — the  farmers 
around  Ludlow — but  to  all  lovers  of  a good  horse.  The  horse 
must  cover  at  a low  fee,  in  order  to  prevent  mares  being  put  to 
