1852 
THE CULTIVATOR 
239 
On Raising Horses—No. 3. 
My last contained some hints concerning the selection 
of mares. I now propose to give your readers a few 
ideas concerning the proper selection of stallions. 
This will depend upon the kind of horses we intend to 
breed. Unquestionably the most profitable., are such as 
will command high prices in our city markets, as carriage 
or road horses. Indeed, the remark of a very popular 
English author, a gentleman of education, and the widest 
experience, is to this point, more pertinent than anything 
I can write. He says—“ The more we can get the attri¬ 
butes of the race horse, combined with the strength we 
want, the better horse we shall get for any purpose.” We 
say, then, get the strongest, most symmetrical, useful 
looking thorough-bred stallion, that can be found—for 
from such have descended all the families that are now 
famous in our country, viz- the Messengers, Eclipses, 
Highlanders, Morgans, Magnum Bonums, Bluchers, Bus- 
soras, Consuls, &c., &e. 
It is quite time that we turned what mares we have 
left, that are descended from these famous sires, back to 
the fountain-head. Unless we do, we shall have occasion 
to complain of more lamentable degeneration than we 
have hitherto known. But we must hear our author, 
u Cecil,” on these topics; not as to the propriety of using 
thorough-bred stallions—for this he takes for granted— 
not recognizing any other, except for the breeding of 
draught horses. He says— u Whether for racing, or for 
other purposes, a stallion should possess a faultless pedi¬ 
gree, and his good looks should bear the stamp of “ title” 
in his ancestors and in himself; power and action are qua¬ 
lifications that should never be overlooked.” 
And again, in another connection, he remarks upon the 
proper selection of a stallion, where the breeding of hun¬ 
ters is the object aimed at. The hunter is a horse not 
known among us as such, but our first rate market hor¬ 
ses are very similar to him in form and appearance. 
11 In breeding hunters and carriage horses, the selec¬ 
tion of stallions may be less important than for the turf; 
at all events, different qualities are required. Symmetry 
is of far greater consequence than blood—good sound 
legs and feet, than speed—lofty action more to be covet¬ 
ed than length of stride; color and temper also come un¬ 
der the category of desiderata. When the fashion pre¬ 
vailed of running half-bred horses, it was discovered that 
those were most superior that had the stain on the mare’s 
side—in other words, that the sire should be thorough¬ 
bred—the same principle holds good with hunters and 
carriage horses.” 
And I may add that it is my opinion, founded on re¬ 
flection and observation, that the same will also hold for 
roadsters and trotters. I have no doubt that the future 
improvement of the trotting horses of our country, both 
as it respects speed, bottom, and elegance of appearance, 
is to come from a judicious cross with thorough-bred 
stallions. 
Note what a wonder was produced by breeding the 
trotting mare Fanny Pullen, to the imported thorough¬ 
bred horse Trustee—viz. the trotting horse of the same 
name, that performed the greatest feat ever known. As 
to the adaptation of a stallion to the mare we intend to 
breed from, our author remarks: 
11 Many breeders are of opinion that the principle to be 
adopted, in order to obtain a first rate colt, is that of 
sending a mare characterised by stoutness, to a horse 
famed for speed : whether it can be laid down as an es¬ 
tablished rule, is, perhaps, questionable; but it certainly 
is desirable to breed from mares enjoying stout and heal¬ 
thy constitutions. If the relative symmetry of the sirr j 
and dam were more generally observed, it would, no 
doubt, be attended with success. It has already been 
suggested, that the most judicious course to pursue is 
that of seeking a remedy in the stallion, for the defects 
that exist in the female. It is again necessary to refer to 
that subject, as one which must be qualified in its extent, 
for all extremes are bad. I am not aware of a single 
example of a very lengthy mare producing a good foal 
by a very short, compact horse. The defects which may 
be obviated in one sex. by the converse in the other, 
are legs and feet, shoulders, backs, loins and hocks, but 
a great disparity of proportion cannot reasonably be ex¬ 
pected as conducive to symmetry in the progeny. 
The importance of this subject must excuse my quot¬ 
ing still further, from another page. 
11 The choice of a stallion for each mare, instead of be¬ 
ing left to chance, requires to be guided by the greatest 
experience, judgment, and study. With the hope of cor¬ 
recting in the progeny whatever defects or imperfections 
prevail in the mare, the most judicious course to pursue, 
is obviously that of seeking the remedy in a stallion most 
perfect in those points in which the female is defective. 
There is, however, one circumstance connected with this 
practice, which demands especial notice in these pages. 
It is that of endeavoring to compensate, by the great size 
of the horse, the deficiency in that respect, in the mare; 
one of the greatest fallacies, both in theory and practice, 
that can possibly be entertained. When dealing with the 
handi-work of nature, man must be content to obtain the 
objects of his wishes or improvements, by degrees; a 
limit is opposed to the progress of human ambition, and 
the man who, in the hope of ascending to the summit on 
which his ambitious dream of perfection hovers, by one 
gigantic step, most frequently finds himself hurled to an 
immeasurable distance from the attainment of his wishes; 
whereas, had he been contented to woo nature more dif¬ 
fidently, he might in due time have attained his object . 
It is generally expected, and usually realised, that the 
offspring partakes some of the features of the sire, and 
some of the dam; therefore, if a very large horse be put 
to a small mare, in the expectation of their producing a 
large foal, and that foal takes after its sire in the fore¬ 
quarters, and its dam in the hinder ones, the exactness 
of anatomical proportions and symmetry will be lost, and 
the offspring will be comparatively worthless.” 
I will detain you with but one other extract, which ap¬ 
pears to me to be worthy of notice and reflection. 
II An old and valued friend, a few years since u gath¬ 
ered to his fathers,” who was gn extensive breeder, and 
moreover a very keen observer, was wont to be very ear¬ 
nest in his declaration, that mares should never be sent 
but to the same stallion, during the whole course of their 
career in the stud, unless it could not possibly be avoid¬ 
ed. I certainly am not prepared with any argument to 
oppose his opinion, although it was undoubtedly founded 
on very subtle notions of the works of nature. He main¬ 
tained that a mare having bred foals by different stallions, 
entertained a greater predilection for one partner than 
another, and that on subsequent occasions, having remi¬ 
niscences of past events, the produce was affected there¬ 
by.” 
I will now conclude this article by reiterating the prin¬ 
ciple laid down in the beginning, viz: that none but tho¬ 
rough-bred stallions should be used, unless we mean to 
breed mere draught horses. And if these, none should 
be used, except such as have good size, plenty of bone, 
fine symmetry; compact, hardy looking horses, with as 
much motion and style as possible. I am aware these are 
scarce. I know of none in the central part of the state 
that will answer the description, excepting Consternation, 
Pryor, and Horn-blower. The latter has been recently 
