Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-01-28
More Study of the Principles
of Breeding Needed.

portance ana the business increasing
rapidly it doesnot receive the care
full study requisite to the most
profitable results, and in no branch
is this more apparent than in horse
breeding. Fabulous sums have
been expended during the past fiji
teen years, in the importation and
patronage of bloOdcd stations, and
yet comparatively little progress
has been made in a general i'm
provement outside the trotting class,
and even in that class quite as
much is due to skill in training as
in breeding, This slow progress
results from several causes; pro-
minent among them is the mex
cusable ignorance of breeders IN
regard to the characteristics OF the
different so-called pure breeds, to
which they are looking for improve
ment, and also the general prlncl5
pies of breeding, and consequently
fall an easy prey to INSCRIPTIONS
impostors or owners Of stations.
Another cause is the little a.:
tention given to the selection OF
mares. ANY old. used up unsala-
able mare is by many considered
good enough to turn out and Breed
and the good ones are allowed to
60 away to the cities because tie
"buyer offered good round price "
Injudicious crossing is very com
mon, and often results in the loss oil
valuble mare. Both these mis-
takes result from ignorance OF the
principles of breeding. The owner
of a small light brood mare wishing
to raise larger stock, goes in search
OF the largest stallion to be had,
supposing he can gain the desired
weight and proportions as certainly
as he can a particular shade OF
paint by mixing black and white
The weight being the main point
considered, other requisites receive
little orno attention, and thus the
most serious faults in the stallion
are overlooked or easily argued
away by the glibtongued owner
A gain, very few breeders have
any system in breeding. They are
continually changing from one STALL
ion or breed to another, with no
defnate reason unless it be TO save
few dollars in service, or a few
miles travel.
No one interested in this subject
can travel through the West to any
extent and not be surprised and
Disguised by the large per cent. OF
unsound and worthless horses that
have resulted from breeding small
nativs mares to high-priced import
ed stations, shockingly deficient in
every requisite except weight.
The first consideration Of the
hrooder should he q GOOD mare, if
for breeding draft or gcneral-pur-
pose horses. The mare should be
broad and roomy, not too close rib
bed, strong in bone, muscle, and
sinew, and not high on legs. She
should be free from blemishes, un-
less the result ofaccident; Of great
courage and strong constitution. 10
produce this sort from small mares,
one must use great care in the Sc
lection of a stallion.
Bringing two extremes of weight
together will almost invarlable pro-
duce unsound and ill-proportiOned
colts, especially if the sire is the
heaviest. This style Of breeding has
been extensively practiced in the
West oflate years, and has result
ed in many farmers losing faith in
"blood," simply besause they have
not studied the matter far enough
In choosing stations to increase
the size of stock, be particular to
select only those having a develop
ment of bone and sinew in proper
ton to their weight, and to insure
proper proportions in the foal, there
must not be too great disparity
in weight between sire and dam,
Suitable brood mares once secured,
horse raising may be made very
profitable in the West. Without
them, the cry, "there's no money
in horses" will continue.
A tempting price should never
allow a good mare to leave the farm
for the city; if circumstances com
pei the sale of one, it is the owners
duty to find some farmer for buy
err, and thus retain her services.