IN WHAT ARE CALLED THE BREEDING DISTRICTS. 377 
form , and other requisite qualities . They can thus calculate 
upon getting either a fashionable carriage horse, or a big-sized 
nag; and, in either case, an animal of considerable value, which, in 
general, will amply repay them for breeding. But in order to 
procure big horses, even of any kind, it seems quite necessary to 
employ large roomy mares; little ones will mostly produce a di¬ 
minutive race, no matter what horse they are put to. This cir¬ 
cumstance the breeders in the East Riding seem to attend to more 
than others; and we do not hear them complaining of being in¬ 
sufficiently remunerated for rearing this kind of stock. Further 
north they have run more upon blood ; and as I have before ob¬ 
served, mares of this sort being in great demand, the farmers 
have, of late years, been tempted to part with the best of them. 
This, I say, has produced its natural consequence. The greater 
part of the horses now brought forward at these more northern 
fairs, to use the phrase of the dealers, “ look like no trade at 
allmeaning that they are generally of so bad a description, 
that it would puzzle any one to know what to do with them. 
Let us hope, however, that the times will mend with the farmers; 
that we may again see them riding to market well mounted; and 
that whenever they find they have a good brood mare, they would 
no more think of parting with it, to use the words of our friend 
Tommy Swan, “ than they would with their shirt.” 
I have been led on to make these observations from the regret 
I feel at witnessing the deplorable change that has taken place in 
these northern districts within my own recollection. These coun¬ 
ties, so famed for “ flying steeds/' are now, in that respect, 
scarcely better than their neighbours. 
And although this subject may not be considered strictly pro¬ 
fessional, yet it is so connected with our profession, that I think 
we must all feel interested in it; for should we lack patients, our 
vocation's gone ; and then what would become of all the host of 
Vets., so 
Numerous in our isle, 
Like balf-form’d insects on the banks of Nile ?— pope. 
I know not, but I think if the manufacture of veterinary sur¬ 
geons and good horses goes on increasing in the same inverse ratio 
as of late years, we shall soon have nearly as many of the one as 
the other. 
