256 
Breeding Horses. 
The next step is to procure good mares to breed from ; these 
should not be used because you have them, still less because they 
are unsaleable, but should be bought for this especial purpose, 
and selected with great care. I should advise their being bought 
in the autumn of the year, when two years old off, to be put to 
the horse in the following spring. I advise this because they 
are all brought to market at that time, the choice is greater, 
they are purchased at less cost, they are more free from defects, 
and also breed much better. They have never been made up, 
but are brought direct from the grass fields, which is very im- 
portant as to soundness of wind and limb. No one has ever tried 
to breed from them, and sold them because they fail to do so ; if 
they are unsuccessful in your hands, you can part with them at 
five or six years old, most likely at a profit. 
It is important to have made up your mind fully what kind of 
horses you propose to breed before you begin to select the mares. 
They must be the very best of their kind, with the best action, 
and free from all defects of wind and limb. Such animals as 
are roarers, or who have curbs or curby hocks, spavins or splents, 
are unfit for the purpose. The toes should point in straight 
lines ; they should not turn outwards, and had better not turn 
in. The feet should be of moderate size, not round, but of an 
oval shape. Convex soles are particularly to be avoided. The 
excess of substance should be on the side of the mare, she 
should be made useful on the farm ; the blood on the side of the 
horse. Where elegance of appearance and speed are to be 
combined, or either to be had, it must come from the thorough- 
bred side. Weight and substance come from the cart, but 
elegance and pace from the blood. There is no substitute for 
blood where pace and continuance are required. 
As I have begun saying something about the stallion, I will 
just observe with what care breeders of cattle select their bulls, 
not only looking well at every line of their bodies, but at every 
feature of their faces ; their width, their length, their colour, and 
their touch must be approved, and even their ancestors for. many 
generations are taken into consideration. Rams are just as closely 
inspected. In both cases the action must be good ; they must 
stand straight upon their legs, and be able to move with ease to 
themselves. Breeders of horses would do well to use as much care 
in selecting stallions for their mares, but 1 am disposed to think 
they do not. It is not tyaufeual to avoid the trouble, and put the 
mares to some convenient horse. Economy sometimes suggests 
that " this horse is only one or two pounds, he is jusj as good as 
the absent one, whose price is perhaps double." Another very 
important feature is to be observed. Breeders of cattle and 
sheep keep their best females to breed from — the better they are 
