Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-04-11
agricultural faeaoing.
T TOM Inc OUuHlIF NslitleIlll
BREEDING HORSES.

BREEDING HORSES.
1 notice in your paper of Feb. 9Th,
some inquiries by Equus, respecting horse
breeding. Having beena close observer
for number of years, and having fol-
lowed raising colts to some extent for ten
years past, I simply state what l have
learned from these sources. l do not ex-
actly understand whether he desires to
know at what age to commence, or only to
what age he may rely on mares breeding;
but I viii state my opinion on both.
Mares that have been well treated while
young, (that is, not allowed to get stunted
in growth may be used at three years
old; bat as a general rule, four is early
enough to commence breeding them.
From this age, good mares may breed
every year, if due care be paid to feeding,
and not over-working them, till they are
twenty years old. Beyond this age, they
cannot be relied upon with much degree
of certainty to breed, although in many
instances they do, but it is by no means
general rule.
In answer to the inquiry, whether ring
bone, SPAWN, or any other disease is he
reditary. I answer, that I am fully con-
WINGED some diseases are. Many years
ago there was brought to this country a
fine stallion said to be a high blooded
horse. He was stone blind, and the per-
son who brought him here solemnly de-
clared that it was caused by a severe
blow between his eyes. This declaration,
together with the fine form and graceful
action of the horse, induced many of our
farmers to breed their mares to him. But
in few years they saw how sadly they
had been bitten; for a great number of
his colts were either weak eyed, or went
entirely blind, without any 6loa0 betaoeea
the eyes as no doubt their sire did before
them. Some of his colts were kept for
stations and the same is as true of their
posterity. l consider this proof-positive
that blindness is hereditary in the horse.
Another disease has come under my
observation, which satisfies me that. also.
is hereditary. 1t is called in Hoosier-
dom, club-foot, and have seen instances
oft springing from the sire, and others
from the dam. I well know some DENY
this being hereditary, that it is caused by
the colt travelling on hard ground about
the time the hoof is growing off, and
breaking or wearing the foot sore. which
caused it to stand on its toe, till its foot
grows straight or turns under; but GER
tain [ am that there is a great disposition
in colts bred from club-footed parents to
get sore feet, than there is in any others
/ So strongly am I convinced of the truth
of this, that would not breed a mare tc
blind or club-footed horse if considered
him perfect in every other particular.
With regard to ringbone, or SPAWN,
am not posted, but my opinion is that they
are in some degree to be feared. If
owned mare with either of these bIem.
ishes I would not stop breeding her, IN
less [ found by experience that she en-
tailed the disease to her colts; but ]
should not run the risk of breeding a clean
lirbed mare to a stallion with these
blemishes.
If Equus is about to enter into horse
, breeding, would advise him to obtain
good young mares, say from four to SIX
years old, even if they cost him more
and then they are fit for both raising colts
and work, and he viii be saved the ex
pense of keeping other horses to perform
his farm labor. The colts may be easil7
: learned TO lead by their dams with halter
and thus save much annoyance to thei
F, master, and they viii not be half tn
trouble to break when they are thu
5 tamed.-PLoUGHNAN. Neag -AZBans
2 Indiana.
L will answer the inquiry of your cor
e respondent in regard to breeding horses
: He asks to what age mares may be use,
5 for that purpose. This question [ thinl
e cannot be correctly answered, as Their
? are some mares that Will not breed afte
e they are fifteen years old. TWENTY-FIVE.
e is about the usual age for mares to stor
breeding 1 have one that is twenty
: seven years old in May, SO, that ha
: raised six colts since she was twent
years old. L think that Is a mistake
idea that the colts of old mares are NOR
: liable to blindness or other diseases. tina
5, the colts of young mares.
e L know that rinpbODe and sDavin or