110 
ON TI1E MANAGEMENT OF FARM HORSES. 
and thus striking their poll violently against some object above 
them, such as a low doorway. Suffolk horses have a slight 
tendenc} 7 to this fault. With regard to the other points, the back 
should be straight and broad, the ribs well arched, and the false 
ribs of due length, so as to give the abdomen capacity and 
roundness. The tail should be well set out, not too drooping, and 
the quarters should be full and muscular. The horse should girth 
well, and, if a large horse, should be eight feet in circumference. 
The foot is a matter of very much importance : the tendency of 
many heavy horses is to have thin flat feet, but a stallion so con- 
structed is exceedingly objectionable. An abundance of horn, so 
as to afford a firm holding for the large nails and heavy shoes 
which such animals are obliged to wear, is extremely desirable, 
and the feet had better be too large than too small. 
With regard to the mare, she should possess as many of the 
points I have enumerated as possible. 
Having thus ascertained that the stallion is free from the cardinal 
faults which I have pointed out, and rich in the virtues I have 
enumerated, we should also be satisfied, before securing his ser- 
vices, that he is well suited as regards size, strength, breeding, 
and activity, for the mare we wish to put him to. If the mare is 
small but symmetrical (for we cannot suppose any sensible breeder 
will breed from a little ugly mare), we may very properly select 
a large-sized stallion, taking care, however, that he is an active 
mover ; such a horse, indeed, as gained the first prize at North- 
ampton. If, on the other hand, the mare is large, and has a 
tendency to coarseness, we should select a middle-size horse of 
symmetrical appearance, — a Suffolk-Punch for example; and such 
a one as either of the prize animals at Northampton belonging to 
this breed. 
Where the object is specific, viz., to lighten and render more 
active a coarse and slow breed of horses, we may then have 
recourse to the Cleveland with great advantage; taking care, 
however, that the subject of choice, in addition to symmetry and 
activity, should be as deep in the ribs and short in the back and 
the legs as the Cleveland bay can possibly be. Beyond the 
Cleveland, however, we must not go: I deprecate in the strongest 
terms that utter departure from the principles of nature which is 
sometimes displayed in the production of a nondescript animal, — 
the cross between the thorough-bred horse and the cart-mare — an 
animal often possessing the body of one parent and the legs of the 
other — the vices of both, with the virtues of neither. 
One precaution in breeding I would strongly recommend, which 
is, never knowingly to breed from animals of vicious dispositions. 
It is unfortunate enough for society that the vicious amongst 
