44 
Half-bred  Horses  for  Field  or  Road : 
was  a beautiful  horse,  standing  15  hands  2 inches,  with  a 
thoroughly  Arab  head,  which  he  put  on  his  stock  even  from 
the  commonest  cart -mare.  “Omen,”  by  “Augur,”  son  of 
“ JBirdcatcher,”  out  of  “ Comfit,”  by  “ Sweetmeat,”  had  bone 
enough,  but  no  more ; he  was  a little  horse,  so  much  so,  that  the 
farmer,  as  usual,  condemned  him.  But  he  left  his  mark,  with 
the  few  chances  he  had,  and  if  alive  now,  would  have  had  the 
best  mares  in  the  country  ; as  his  stock  have  the  “ Birdcatcher” 
type,  which  sells  them,  and  they  are  good  hunters.  All  these 
horses  finished  in  the  district  where  they  began,  as  their  stock 
had  only  to  be  seen  to  ensure  good  seasons  for  them  ; whereas 
the  big  horses,  though  often  prize-takers  at  Agricultural  Shows, 
had  to  pass  from  one  county  to  another,  leaving  behind  them 
too  often  a lot  of  incapable  brutes,  and  showing  in  many 
cases  unmistakable  symptoms  of  being  wrong  in  wind  before 
leaving  the  breeder’s  hands. 
In  conclusion,  therefore,  I would  not  begin  with  a mare 
requiring  too  big  a horse  ; for,  to  speak  plainly,  I hate  the  sight 
of  a big  horse,  big  hound,  big  bull,  either  for  activity  or 
stud  purposes.  But  if  a tenant-farmer  has  a mare  which  he 
considers  requires  a big  horse,  let  me  beg  of  him  to  pick 
a compact  big  one,  and  one  comparatively  much  shorter  in  his 
back  than  tbe  horse  standing  15  hands  2 inches  need  be, 
as  a long-backed  big  one  will  spoil  nine  mares  out  of  ten,  out- 
line favouring  the  horse  in  most  instances.  “King  Tom” — 
and  I must  say  a word  of  him  to  the  farmer,  though  I could 
not  of  his  half-brother  “ Stockwell  ” — I consider  was  the  pre- 
cise type  of  the  big  horse  I should  recommend.  And  though  he 
was  not  within  the  compass  of  the  farmer,  his  sons  are  about 
the  country,  and  all  have,  as  far  as  I have  seen,  his  peculiarity 
of  short  back,  almost  commencing  from  the  withers.  This  has 
secured  to  them  the  power  of  putting  it  on  their  stock,  which 
consequently  are  first-rate  jumpers,  as  the  old  horse  did  on  his 
stock,  and  which  served  them  so  well  where  the  finish  was  up 
hill,  Ascot  to  wit,  over  which  course  so  many  “King  Toms” 
have  won  races,  but  never  elsewhere  ran  up  to  that  form  again. 
“ King  Tom  ” also  had  the  straight  hind-leg,  which  for  hunting 
purposes  is  the  strongest  ; and  in  this  respect  his  sons  are  like 
him,  and  ought  to  be  used  when  accessible. 
One  word  more  and  I have  done.  Do  not  put  a thoroughbred 
mare,  or  one  with  a few  crosses,  to  a coach-horse,  trotter,  or  cart- 
horse ; for  though  it  may  come  off  now  and  again,  it  is  breeding 
upside  down,  and  another  phase  of  fluky  ness  not  worth  a 
trial. 
