MANAGEMENT OF THE STALLION 
135 
and in breeding condition 1,950 pounds. I prefer the dark or steel gray 
or black colors, without markings other than a star in the face. Plenty 
of bone to support the body is essential, but abnormal bone is rather a 
weakness that foretells an early breakdown or roughness of limb.” 
Dunham’s methods and points of view of selection are explained in the 
following words: ‘‘When a horse it brought out for my inspection I first 
note his general conformation and size. A stallion to be successful in the 
stud should have good feet and legs and stand well on them. Nothing is so 
sure to be transmitted to the offspring as faults of conformation in the 
bony structure, such as curby formation of the hind leg, lack of bone, or 
crooked or badly placed hind legs. In order to suit me a stallion must 
have some quality and must be a true mover. If he has a powerful fore¬ 
arm and shoulder^ he is almost sure to transmit these qualities to his off¬ 
spring and to beget colts of large size. For a sire do not buy too small 
a horse, and do not buy one that is lacking in substance or that does not 
stand well on his legs, feet and pasterns.” 
In the words of McLaughlin, the selection of a Percheron must be gov¬ 
erned by the following desideratum: “Proper draft size is, of course, the 
prime requisite for the Percheron stallion. Correct conformation and 
alignment of the legs, big, broad joints, heavy bone with quality, pasterns 
sloping at an angle of about 45 degrees, a short back and a long hip with 
the tail set high, great depth through the chest, or heart as we usually 
call it, great width of chest, with the front legs not set too far out, plenty 
of middle, with great width to hips and stifles—these points, together 
with a big, broad foot with a high heel and plenty of straight, clean, vig¬ 
orous action at both the walk and trot, are the most essential character¬ 
istics of a Percheron stallion. The things most to be avoided are improper 
conformation and alignment of the legs. A perpendicular line projected 
from the middle of the front toe should bisect equally the pastern joint 
and the knee-joint. A line passed through the point of the stifle, the 
point of the hocks and the point of the hind toe should bisect equally the 
hock joint and the pastern joint.” 
Lee presents points to be considered and is hereby quoted to say: “The 
selection of the stallion to use either on pure-bred or grade mares should 
be studied carefully. One should exercise his very best judgment not only 
as to the animal’s individuality and breeding, but as to what he will do 
in the stud. One horse may be a good individual but be lacking in bone, 
another in size, and so on. 
“In all our experience we have found it easy to right a wrong early, 
not waiting until we have one or two crops of colts, and then seeing 
where our stallion is lacking. Some localities want a heavy, low-down 
block; others want a tall, rangy, light-boned horse. My idea of -a good 
Percheron stallion is one which at the age of three or four weighs about 
a ton, is black or gray in colors, neither the low-down or the tall, rangy 
kind, but one well-balanced all around. I want him wide between the eyes 
and with a good, clear eye. I prefer hazel eyes as they seldom lose their 
sight. See that his ears are well set, not pointed or drooping, but stand¬ 
ing up well in about the same distance apart at top and bottom. He 
should show a clean-cut neck, nicely set on his shoulders, with his head 
up to attract attention. I want always to see a wide breast and clean, 
flat bone, not a meaty, large bone (it will always give trouble, both in 
the stallion and his offspring). Well-set limbs are essential; see that he 
is not buck- or calf-kneed, and that he is clean around his pastern joints. 
Look for side-bones; they are considered by 75% of the farmers as a buy¬ 
er’s trick to buy horses cheap, but they have worked more harm to the 
heavy horse for market than any other one thing in the past five years. 
See that the horse has a good hoof, not the pancake kind, or the narrow, 
contracted kind, but a well-shaped, solid hoof. If one follows this he will 
find a good front end. Next have the stallion deep through the heart, 
