The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-03-11

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TO Horse RaiSsrs.
H. d. Cunningham, Of steubenyille, o.
has the following essay in the Pittsburgh
Soctman on horse breeding:
The first point TO be considered in thu
breeding OF a horse Is to fix In your owl
mind an image OF what you want TO pro
duce-that Is, to have specific object II
view, and then work towards II, as well a
you can with the materials at hand, max
ing use Of all the light you can get, II
preference to working in the dark or q
random. II Is generally accepted as re
suit OF the observation OF all successiu
breeders, as well as Others who have in
vestigated the subject, that like begetl
like, or the likeness OF some ancestor
This, II not absolutely true, Is nearer to Il
than any other known truth, and is the
foundation rock on which improvers o
live stock must build, II they expect L
succeed; and failure will always be the
reward OF those who neglect or depart
from It in any considerable degree.
Accepting this as the starting point fol
success, the use and advantage OF the
thoroughbred at once suggests itself
What We understand to be thoroughbred
Is an animal whose parentage has been 80
bred through and for generations as TO es
tablish fxity OF type, and prepotency
for transmitting this fixed characteristic
to other generations with the least known
variation. And 1t is well to note that
while the stud book is useful as a record
OF pedigrees, and is a proper and accepta'
Bile proof OF purity Of blood, 1t should moi
be the only standard Of selection; as in
addition to purity OF blood, we should al
ypays require individual excellence in the
animal himself. Ifforspeed, performance
by himself, his ancestors, and above all
his progeny, should be made matter fol
inquiry and have due weight In the selec-
ton OF both sire and dam.
The selection OF 0 thoroughbred animal
for at least one OF the parents Is desirable
hit il possible to obtain II. Ifthis cannot
be done, the next best selection for a sire
is horse known to possess the qualities
you desire, end II possible from family
distinguished by like qualities; and II he
has been inbred in the family he is all
the more valuable, as his prepotency for
transmitting his own qualities is enhanced
thereby.
Look well to soundness, as all blemishes
and unsoundness, unless the results OF acct
dent, are as likely to be transmitted as any
other characteristics OF the horse. But II
had q choice between horses otherwise
equal, I would reject the one with acct.
dental blemishes or unsoundness, deem
ing il much the better course TO pursue.
His powers Of endurance should also be
known. Aud do not neglect to inquire
carefully into his mental and moral" en-
dowments, for vices and the want OF good
"horse.sense" are as much the heritage OF
the equine as the human race, are as trans.
missible as his physical conformation, and
90 as far in making up his value. II the
best sire obtainable Is not perfect in all
his parts land few are), see that those in
which he is most at fault are not the same
points in which your mare also fails; for
In such case the defect would not only
be likely to be transmitted, but would
probably be exaggerated in the offspring.
A point in which your mare is deficient
would on the contrary be benefited, II not
bred out, II the sire was at fault in the
opposite direction.
| believe Il to be an advantage to select
a stallion rather under than above the
average size in the class to which he be-
longs, and, above all things, I would avoid
an overgrown specimen; for in such an
animal the growth is abnormal. Sire has
been attained at the expense OF more desir-
able qualities, and would tell uniayorably
in the offspring.
The possession OF few points should al
ways be insisted on in the size and can be
found in all breeds OF horses. Thete are a
kind disposition, tractability, plenty Of vi.
tality, energy and activity, or ease and
grace in movement No mere physical
beauty will compensate for dizziness, slug
gish movements or vicious disposition, or
even stubborn one. A horse full OF ami
NAL life and energy Is almost certain to
transmit these qualities, even when bred
to sluggish, stupid mares, while one OF IN
opposite nature is likely to beget his own
character even with mare OF opposite
disposition, and is "dead sure" to do 30
with ono OF his own temperament.
Second in importance only to the selec.
ton Of tho sire is that Of the dam; and II
the object in breeding is TO obtain the
highest possible results, to approximate as
It were TO absolute certainty in breeding,
It is OF equal, II not greater importance,
than the choice OF sire. The best re-
suits in breeding race horses, as shown by
race winners land that Is the crucial test
Of the breezy have been obtained by
breeding winning mares to winning sires
themselves the progeny OF winners. But
as in common practice we are compelled
TO use such mares us we have, the best
thing TO do under the circumstances in
which We are placed Is the proper thing
TO do. And in this regard would simply
say to breed only from sound mares, and
OF proper age, neither too old or too
young. would breed no mare under
1--we years OF age, or over eighteen, as
a general rule, although I see no reason
for applying It in all cases, as much de-
ponds on the individual animal. Some
mares develop earlier than others, and old
age comes on much sooner In some In.
stances than in others; and this being the
case, / would suggest an intelligent appli-
cation to the above rule. Old mares, or
those afflicted with unsoundnes9, or trans
Missile blemishes, or those OF bad form,
and likely to perpetuate in their offspring,
l would either not breed from all, or
would breed to Jack, and obtain an
animal more profitable to myself than 0
horse from such a dam, and which would
not transmit To its offspring through gen.
erations 10 come the undesirable traits Of
its maternal ancestor.
1t appears 10 be an opinion generally
conceded by Psychologists that the mental
and physical character OF the offspring is
determined by the mental and physical
condition Of the parents at the moment
conception takes place. Conceding this
TO be true land the weight Of evidence In
clines that way, we have light TO guide
us that should not be neglected; and the
matter Of the condition Of both animals
at time Of population becomes an affair Of
no small importance. Here reason and
common sense teach US that both should
be In the highest possible condition oil
health, and the mental condition o nor.
NAL one, free from excitement or irrita-
ton. The highest condition Of health, as