The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-03-27
rSe-Breeding.

am pleased to say that | notice greater
interest in the breeding of horses on Long
Island, and steps in the right direction are
being taken, and the progress is noticeable.
Farmers generally see that there is demand
for horses ofthe right stamp, and if you will
breed for purpose, and properly blend the
available blood you have, you are bound TO
be successful. From our farmers we hear
the question, What can we do to make the
farm more profitable? The same question
was asked in Orange county some years ago,
and some of the long-headed farmers came
TO Long Island and selected some of our best
strains of blood, to our loss and their profit.
The result was success, and Orange county
made herself famous as horse centre. But
after awhile the same question arose in Ken
lucky, and the people were in q condition
where something of profit must be done, and
they came into Orange county and selected
some OF the most approved strains, regardless
OF cost, and a profitable result followed. The
same Industry is meeting with equal success
throughout the West. These people are
breeding what is known as the trotting strain
of blood, and while they are successful in
getting trotters, they are still breeding in the
same way the generalpurpose horse when
they fail. | believe the trotting strain comes
closer to a general-purpose horse than any
other strain of blood in existence, and ad-
wise you as farmers to breed in that line, and
in so doing you breed for a purpose, and
should you fail to get trotter you are bound
to get general purpose horse, and he can be
utilized better than any other class. If for
tune should favor YOU and the trotter should
come he will pay for good many general
purpose horses.
Let the farmer who contemplates breeding
select with the greatest of care his brood
mare, as here lies the most vital point if he
wants success. She should be standard and
fashionably bred, good color, from 154 to 16
hands high, sound, young, well-made and of
good disposition. Ifyou are in possession of
such an animal so much the better, but if not
visit some breeders sale where you have con-
fidence that the horses sold you are as repre-
sented and buy one. If you have TO pay five
times what she might be worth for farm SER
vice, don't consider it extravagant, as it will
be the best investment you ever made, and it
doesn't cost any more to raise a good horse
than it does poor one. By having her IA
shionably bred her colts will be more sale
able.
Let this mare be your starting point and
build up your stock farm in this way. Be.
cause you have good family horse and she
has proven kind and the ladies are able to
drive her about and she is good roadster
don't think you have the proper brood mare
unless she has the breeding. l have never
heard of good family mare being great
producer. Go TO the breeder who has been
success and get some of his successful blood,
and you have the embryo of future success.
The mare should have your best box stall,
and moderate use will be beneficial to her.
Study her blood lines carefully, so that you
may be able to properly select the best cross,
as there is great deal in the picking of the
blood as shown in the history of all our sue
cessful sires. Hambetonian, with all of his
greatness, would not have had the fame had
he been deprived of the American Star cross.
His son, George Wilkes, would not have been
as phenomenal had it not been for the mat
rons by Mambrino Patchen.-- Carl S. Burr, Jr.