Breeding of Hunters and Roadsters. 
345 
preference given to the Largest horses exhibited, particularly if 
these spurious monsters had a pedigree going back to " Eclipse" 
or " Childers." As a rule, the overgrown thorough-bred stallion, 
i.e., those of about 16 hands 2 inches, have done harm in the 
counties where they have travelled. 
When the powerful half-bred mare breeds to the blood-horse, 
there is always a disposition in the produce to increase in height 
and length. Some of the largest, ill-formed, and least useful 
horses have been the produce of bad, overgrown blood-horses, 
and Yorkshire mares ; the stock often exceeding 17 hands in 
height. On the other hand, the old Cleveland horse, on short- 
looking legs (short because of his deep and wide frame), measures, 
when of the best form, about 16 hands; and from mares of that 
stamp, and a good blood-horse of 15 hands 2 inches, it is easy to 
produce in the second or third generation hunters which could 
carry 18 stone over a heavy country, and jump double fences, 
despite the ground and weight. Though the present require- 
ments of Leicestershire can hardly be met by one or two ciosses 
of blood, still it is important to know how size with good form 
may be had when wanted. 
In selecting a mare to breed hunters, form is usually more 
regarded than pedigree ; not that knowledge of descent is un- 
important, but, because Avith all but blood-horses, it is com- 
monly so very hard to go far back — nay it is good policy, when 
doubt arises, to stop inquiry, lest more than the truth should he 
heard. 
Young mares should be selected in preference to aged and 
hard-wrousrht animals ; the latter being: uncertain till tried. 
Exception, however, should be made in favour of a mare of ten 
or twelve years, which had produced some good foals ; if sound, 
she is in her pririie. Those destined from the first for breeding, 
should be put to the horse at three years old, instead of being 
lelt barren till a year or two later, as is commonly the case ; if 
they have been well kept, they will be sufficiently developed at 
that age. 
Mares of the stamp for producing hunters are very scarce now, 
as may be inferred from the small number presented at exhibi- 
tions of general stock ; yet, with our climate, soil, and national 
resources, the few good animals still obtainable for breeding- 
would suffice for laying a foundation, if breeders were encouraged 
to produce and keep stock of the right sort. 
The real good half-bred stallion — such as we used to see, 
with his large clean legs, well-defined knee, hock, and pastern 
joints, with good head, shoulders, barrel, and hind quarters 
— is now become scarce; these horses when about 16 hands 
