ON BREEDING. 
5 
least doubt respecting the pedigree, let him endeavour to see 
some of the stock, making sufficient allowances for the kind of 
mares they are got from, and thus form his opinion. Chronic 
Founder is another instance of constitutional liability. This 
disease is probably owing to the introduction of the eastern 
blood, since the thorough-bred is more predisposed to this 
disease than any other. In the Arabian deserts a narrow foot 
was preferable to a flat one; but in our moist pastures we re¬ 
quire the latter form, and all our indigenous horses have broad 
circular feet. Weakness in the fore legs is another constitu¬ 
tional disease, and broken-winded horses also are dangerous to 
breed from. A strict examination ought likewise to be made to 
discover if there is any tendency to grease, canker, sand-cracks, 
splints, spavins, ringbones, curbs, &c. &c., as they also may be 
considered, in some respects, to be hereditary ; and this should 
more or less influence his choice, as much as pedigree, symmetry, 
and action. 
Having, then, considered the different circumstances connected 
with the subject, we conceive that we are fully warranted in 
recommending the practice of breeding from the best animals 
of their kind , whatever may be their consanguinity; the male 
and female should approximate as much as possible in their 
respective size and qualities , no matter whether for the turf, 
the carriage, the road, or for heavy draught. By pursuing this 
method, the breeder will run the least risk of deterioration, and 
may almost to a certainty obtain that form and those qualities 
which he is anxious to produce. 
The practice of crossing the various breeds prevailed for a 
long time, under a supposition that animals so bred were im¬ 
proved in symmetry, and also were prevented from becoming 
small, tender, &c. &e. Time and experience, however, soon 
proved this notion to be incorrect, and to have no foundation in 
truth. 
Opinionum eommenta delet dies, Naturae judieia confirmat. Cic. 
Time obliterates the fictions of opinion, and confirms the decisions of 
Nature. 
By referring to the pedigrees of our best racers we shall dis¬ 
cover that many of them were bred from the nearest affinities : 
Flying Childers,High-flyer, Old Fox, Omar, Babraham, Blank, 
Trap, Tally, Silverly, Damper, Johnny, Skakespear, Goldfinder, 
Jethro, Hudibras, Mop, Grey, and Chesnut Skim, &c. &c., are 
striking instances of the good effect produced by keeping in 
“ good blood f having once possessed it, even though it be in¬ 
cestuous. The horses of the Bedouins are always in their primi- 
