Jlorse-hreeding for Profit. 8 1 
accidents are estimated. The best army horses would be 
produced by — 
(1) Putting a strong half-bred mare to a big roadster or 
short-legged Cleveland. 
(2) Or by putting a clean-legged active cart-mare about 
15'2 to the Thoroughbred, or, adopting the late Mr. Nalton of 
Copmanthorpe’s words, “ the neat cleanly vigorous cart-mare to 
the Thoroughbred sire.” 
One word as to Hackneys. They are at present in fashion at 
home and abroad. The prices for Hackneys, above 15'2, that 
are really good, are extraordinary. But, though the price for a 
tip-top Hackney is a high one, I doubt if the average price 
obtainable over a series of years is a very remunerative one. 
The Hackney is a good crossing basis. Hunters can be bred off 
Hackney mares, and Hackney stallions can get, as we have ob- 
served, carriage-horses. For Hacks, both “ ladies’ ” and “ gentle- 
men’s,” there is always a capital market, and a fancy price — with a 
most important reservation, viz. : provided perfect mouths, paces, 
and manners are combined with absolute soundness and good 
looks, all of which qualities the most careful and fortunate 
breeder cannot count on distinguishing his young stock. 
Ponies, where they can be bred on the edge of moors and on 
hillsides, should be profitable enough in a district where pit 
ponies of the Shetland and small breeds fetch good prices, and 
good blood ponies fetch the prices of good horses for polo and 
driving purposes. 
One point with regard to young stock it is necessary to 
emphasise, and that is the importance of doing the best you can 
for foals between the time when they are taken from their 
dams and the following summer. This is the hardest period 
in the colt’s existence, and to start him well as a yearling is half 
the battle. 
The question is often put. What is the actual cost to a 
farmer of a broken colt at four years old ? My own idea is 
that, breeding from mares earning their living, a four-year-old 
should not cost more than Sol. In the case of mares there is 
no harm done in putting them to the horse at two years old, so 
as to foal the middle of the May following, and leaving them 
unbroken till they are nearly four ; so that if mares do not quite 
fetch the price of geldings they do not cost so much to rear. 
Mr. Thomas Fetch, a Cleveland breeder, estimates a three-year- 
old colt to cost, one year with another, nearly SOI. 
Mr. Thomas Boyes Jackson, of Holdemess, a witness before 
the Royal Commission in 1 890, says : “ The cost to the breeder 
to rear a four-year-old, after reckoning for the breaking, is about 
VOL. III. T. S. — 9 G 
