The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-01-27
FARM and HOUSEHOLD.
BREEDING ROADSTERs AND TROTTERS
BY THOMAS 8. LANG.

Perhaps no department connected with
the breeding of domestic animals in the
United States has received SO little syste-
matte and intelligent attention as the plo-
duet ion of lirst-class roadsters and trotters:
To breed from stations presenting to the
eye a symmetrical form and fine size, does
ard symmetry, only in proportion as the
progenitors, both size and dam, for several
generations, may have possessed like good
proportions.
While it seems well established that The
form of colts for the most part is deter
mined by the sire. which may he attributed
to the sires generally being better bred.
yet have in my mind several stations of
good style SO baly bred as to produce ami
mails of the most Indifferent character. and
with but few distinguishing traits of tie
sive; and in most instances. where these
stations were stinted with mares OF high
nervous energy and good breeding, their
own qualifications are entirely lost, tie
liam, on account of her stronger determin-
ing power, overbalancing the influences of
the horse.
This. then. should show us how import
ant it is that stations should be selected
with care, as the individual type of what
we wish to produce, and that his antece-
dents are such as will warrant reasonable
certainty in the result.
Therefore, a breeder desiring class of
trotting horses, regardless OF their size and
style, or carriage. need simply TO select Il
stallion with remarkable propelling powers
and satisfactory lasting qualities, being
sure that those qualifications are the result
Of close breeding and not of chance.
do not mean 10y close breeding that they
must he found in some branch of some
thorough bred family, as the tenn thorough
bred is sometimes accepted or used, but
that a stallion should be from line of
trntting animals that have been bred espe-
cially TO such movements; and if they can
be found possessing the thorough bred
strain, how much more valuable, and with
how much more certainty may We expect
satisfactory results from their use.
May be allowed to mention an example
To prove this theory-the horse well known
rs ''Rysdick's llambletonian,' by "Abdal-
lah, hy Mambrino,' by limp. Messen-
GER dam of " lIambleionian, by Gimp.
4 ! ~
he Ivy . Imp. Messenger
Now, if the reader will obtain Il list of
the remarkable animals produced by this
excellenlly bred horse, he will at once see
the value of close breeding to certain quail
ificai ions.
Had some favorite son of Gimp. Messen-
ger" however. been selected for his run
ming capabilities, and bred to notable run
ming mares should we expect, after several
generations in breeding, the splendid trot-
ting animals that are now the product of
d" iIambletonian -
We need not by any means believe that
we have yet arrived at the highest point
attainable for speed.
The tremendous stride of the colts of
Hambletonian and other like gaited horses
must gather energy and stoutncss, as they
are constantly bred to the best mares OF
like qualities.
| have, however. noticed 4 tendency to
lose sight Of symmetry and a beautiful car
riaGe in the efforts Of most breeders. Sym
metry, good size, color and style of going
are most important qualities TO be added
to speed. and the careful breeder should
always attempt to combine all these in the
animals produced for roadslers and trotters
\ long, slashng gated trotter is not
often 4 pleasant roadster; neither is short,
rapid, pony gated animal often good
horse; yet combination of these qualities
makes a good gentleman horse and
often 4 good trotting animal also.
Let our breeders breed with such types
for both dam and sire. and in few years
we should see the finest class of horses in
the world.
do not wish to be understood that it is
Indispensable to obtain beautiful specimens
of the sire only; certainly not. On the
contrary, my own experience goes to prove
the doctrine that the dam influences tie
form Of body, temperament. and otherwise
modilies :he general structure, more or
less. rs she is more or less possessed of
high nervous power. | have, also, in my
short eXperie nee, observed several marked
instances of mares that could not claim
very careful breeding; yet, | believe they
were of such high nervous power as to con-
troll the character Of the colt, they pro-
duced for several years in succession.
although bred to different and well bred
horses.
This leads me to remark upon the influ-
ences circumstances may exert upon mares
wholly disconnected with general laws of
reproduction, which may often lead one
astray if not carefully noted. and tends to
throw diScrcdit in some minds upon the
general law which govern reproduction.
lave noticed that Il marked departure
from the general rule, like produces like"
may almost always be traced to certain
causes not always the result Of consangui-
nifty, or tlaceable to like qualities in pro-
genitors. For instance, mares of high ner-
vous temperament are often very intracta.
lie and irritable during their periodical
heat. aud although well bred. and stinted
to well bred horse, may produce offspring
most unsatisfactory. the result of the stale
Of temperament which the dam was in at
the time Of stinting.
american Stock journal.
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