Horse sense

Front matter

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Preface

It is now quite a number of years since my friend, Mr. Woodworth, made a suggestion that I have since tried to follow. He said to me (after seeing the manner in which I handled a wild and nervous horse): "if you will note down from day to day what your experience justifies, in a few years you will be able to give us a book on the horse that will be just what we need." I hope this friend is still living, and if he will write me his criticism of the work, it will be taken as a special favor.

This book has been written at the suggestion of many strong personal friends, and at the earnest solicitation of hundreds of others by letter.

It must be borne in mind that the work has been done at odd moments and after the manner suggested above, consequently some may criticise it for the many repetitions or too much stress being laid on principles, natural laws and unerring methods, but it is the author's firm conviction that these very things will serve as monuments to his memory, with those who will read the book and comply with its suggestions.

For the want of a better name (at the suggestion of a personal friend), it is christened HORSE SENSE, and it is the most sincere desire of the author that the work or book fully justifies so good a name.

The questions and answers in the veterinary department are designed to meet the wants of many who are not favored with having the veterinary surgeon at easy call, but it should be understood that where competent veterinary skill can be had, the seriously sick horse should be in his hands.

A grateful acknowledgement is hereby offered to those who have assisted, encouraged and sustained the author in what they are pleased to call a commendable labor for mankind, our horses and the country generally.

J. C. CURRYER.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

It was not my good fortune to h^ve been born in a palace, nor with a "gold spoon in my mouth," but in a humble log cabin on a farm in the forest, one mile south of Palestine, Shelby county, Ohio, November 7th, 1837. My baby cradle was a sugar (sap) trough, and my advantages were such as nature furnishes in the timber. School sessions were of short duration and the teachers of the "beach-gad" order. My parental grand parents emigrated from near White Hall, Baltimore county, Maryland, about 1810, to Ohio, and my maternal grand parents came from Vermont. My association with and attachment for the horse, began very early in life. Father being a stock dealer in horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, I frequently accompanied him in gathering and taking his purchases to market.

I remained upon the farm until twenty-five years of age, when I studied medicine and dentistry and practiced the latter for nearly a quarter of a century, but during all the tim.e, was never without from one, to over one hundred head of horses. With the exception of about five years of all time, I have been closely connected with the farm, in breeding horses, cattle and hogs, but principally the first, as my interest naturally centered on the horse.

During 1887 I was prevailed upon to aid in the establishment of Minnesota Farmers' Institutes, with which I have been connected ever since. My first work in this respect was in representing the horse interests on the institute platform, in relation to breeding and educating the horse. And as our work was new to the people, more or less prejudice existed against it. I volunteerd to handle any unbroken horse during the noon hour to show the intelligence of the horse and how much could be taught him in one hour. Out of one hundred and fifty-three horses handled in this way, but one was made warm enough to sweat. The streets during these exhibitions were generally crowded with the people of the town and country to see what they pleased to term "the fun," but they were often disappointed in this respect, as it was the invariable rule to first gain the confidence of the horse, and the balance was so easy that there was but little or no excitement about it.

Much of my life has been spent in studying breeding questions and the means, and especially the methods of controling our horses in accordance with the natural laws governing their actions, with a view of aiding owners and handlers in getting along with their horses with the least trouble and punishment, as well as to relieve the faithful horse of much suffering from abuse.

Introduction

Horse Sense is the result of nearly a lifetime's association with the horse, in observing his character, the laws of reproduction, adaptation of his conformation and, nerve force for the varied uses required and the natural laws that govern all his actions.

■ The character of horses, like that of men, is as varied as ancestral endowment and environment can make their impressions on the organization. That the horse is an intelligent animal there can certainly be no doubt in the present development and training of the animal. That he is also endowed with propensities (if not sentiments) very similar to those of man, there is ample proof sufficient to satisfy the most incredulous. The evolution of ihe horse demonstrates that by a strict conformity to the laws of reproduction— "like begetting like or the likeness of some ancestor" — that we are able to produce the varied types of horses for the specific uses for which each is by nature best adapted. • While the character and breeding of horses is of great importance, that of a useful education is of eciual, if not more, value. Has it ever occurred to the reader that every duty, service, performance and requirement of the horse for our benefit, is the result of his education? Like his owner or handler, he must first be shown, taught, and have explained ill an intelligent manner, how to perform the required duties, before he can reasonably be expected to execute them well. He must not only be taught what to do, but how to do it, and we all know from personal experience, that we often have to practice a long time after we know what to do, before we can perform the duty well. Then, should we not have great patience with the horse in his education. When we stop to consider that the horse is a mute (not able to talk), and that his services require intelligence and education to be able to do them well, does not the situation in its broad sense appeal to the sympathy, and superior ability of man. to educate this most valuable servant of humanity in the best possible manner?

Horse Sense is intended to appeal to the good "common sense" of men in all they have to do with horses, and especially in relation to the "natural laws" which govern all the actions of horses. Unless we' comprehend these laws and comply witl> them, We will make a dismal failure of handling horses. Kindness, patience, perseverance, consistency of method, practical application of means of control, and a close observance of the nature of the horse to be dealt with, will produce surprising results. But if we opperate in opposition to these, natural laws and we

Vlll INTRODUCTION.

consider the horse only a "brute" to be yanked, kicked and beaten, at the pleasure or passion of the handler, the good "common sense" of any man would naturally decide that the results would be equally surprising in an opposite direction, viz.: that an unreliable, dangerous and possibly viscious animal was made so by his trainer, instead of a good, serviceable, trusty, faithful and reliable horse. One of two things should be done for the good of our horses. They should be taught in established schools for their education, as we have for our children's training, or everybody who expects to handle horses should study the horse; study his character; study the natural laws that govern his actions; work in conformity with these laws instead of against them, as when we put a halter on a colt's head and then expect to pull him after us without resistance. Everyone who ever "broke" a colt to the halter knows what the colt will do if the halter is pulled upon. He knows he will go backwards, but how many men ever stopped and candidly considered what made him pull backwards'' The colt thinks he has got his head into some kind of a trap and he knows but one way out of it, and that is to go backwards and pull it out. This lesson alone should be sufficient to demonstrate to us that we were working at the wrong end of the colt — in part at least — for we find when we attach something to the rear end of his body, he as naturally goes forward. Then is it not good "common sense" as well as Horse Sense, to operate on the rear end for forward movements and use the halter for direction? The pivotal point of the horse's action is the center of his body in opposite direction, and the sooner we learn this and always keep it in mind, the better we will get along with our horsfes.

My attenlion to the capabilities of the horse in an educational way, was when only a lad of ten years, with a strawberry roan mare that I used for driving the cows to and from pasture. The mare soon demonstrated that she had an interest in driving these cattle, as she seemed to watch their movements very closely and was on the alert for any "breaks" that any of them might make. She would stand and hold the cattle while the bars were being let down, and if any one of them offered to move out of the way she was right after them. She was always rewarded for her services with sugar, which she soon learned to relish. She would sidle up to the fence for me to mount upon her bare back, and she soon learned tn stand with her front feet upon the largest boulders to be found, and some were very large along the route.

When about thirteen years of age I accidentally discovered what has since proved to my entire satisfaction, the natural laws governing the actions of our horses, and it is surprising that it has not been well established long ago, when the facts are so apparent to every handler and trainer, that the horse always acts just the reverse from what is generally expected, and, notwithstanding this, almost all horsemen still persist in working along the same old lines, in opposition to this natural law and then wonder why horses do as they do.

I have worked many years in farmers' institutes along this line, and from the many kind greetings and the hundreds of letters received com-

INTRODUCTION. IX

mending my efforts and constantly urging me to compile my work of the Minnesota Horseman, Farmers' institute annuals and such other matter as would make a ready reference book, is what has stimulated me in the preparation of Horse Sense, with the sincere hope that those who will study its pages carefully and com.ply with the "law," will be benefited many times its cost.

The indulgence of the reader is solicited for the many repetition.s, crudeness of style, plain, simple, method and idiosyncrasy of the author, as no attempt is made towards a scientific classical or professional production, but a work of preventions rather than cures, that can be made beneficial to the farmers (who raise the horses) and those who handle horses, and especially for the comfort that may be rendered the noble horse by better understanding him, and thereby giving better treatment to man's greatest animal servant — the horse.

J. C. CURRYER.

FORMER HORSE-BREEDING ESTABLISHMENT OF DR. J. C.

CURRYER & SONS, S}4 MILES SOUTHEAST OF

LAKE CRYSTAL, MINN.

This beautiful location was selected many years ago by the author and his devoted wife, as a fitting place for the enjoyment of farm life, the proper environments for bringing up a family of boys, and devoting our future years to stock raising. Groves were planted, many wells for stock-water sunk, buildings erected, paddocks and pastures arranged, and the growth and development of the trees and stock were greatly enjoyed up to the financial panic of 1893, when the horse business came to a "stand still" — the very "bottom" of the enterprise "fell out," a disastrous business-house fire, and other embarrassments, put a sudden check to many of our cherished ambitions. But while the depreciation

MINNESOTA'S (PAST) HOME OF THE WILKES, in values were great, the losses heavy, the disappointment a severe blow, fondest hopes almost faded, nothing apparently "coming our way" for a long time, yet at last a "bright star" of hope is now seen farther northward, and we have secured what will serve our purpose better, where the grasses grow more luxuriantly, running water and plenty of it, timber ior buildings and fencing on the place, and located just half way between the two great cities of the northwest, with the advantage of two railroads.

The illustration gives the reader a good idea of the cherished old farm, its groves, fields, buildincgs, wind-mills and stock, where we so often greeted our friends and greatly enjoyed life. But it is still our sincere desire and cherished hope that we may in the future as in the past, welcome our friends to our new location (near Hinckley, Minn.), our iir-^^'de and farm table.

Chapter I

Scientific Breeding— Special Breeding for Uniformity of Conformation — Laws Controlling Service Stallions — Nature's Law, "Like Produces Like," the True Principle — Horse Breeding and Definite Object — An Ideal Product Should be Desired — Mental and Physical Characteristics — Defects are Transmitted — Adherance to Type I

CHAPTER n.

Conformation of Legs — Deformities of Front and Hind Legs — The Feet and Legs — Legs of Horses, Right and Wrong — Rear View of Feet and Legs — Side View of Hind Quarters and Legs 5

CHAPTER HL

Types or Horses — A Typical Arabian — English Thoroughbred — War Horses and Famous Chargers — The Morgan Horse — Potency in Morgan Blood — Green Mountain Morgan 2nd — Ideal Light Harness Horse — Security — Conquer Star — American Saddle Horse — Saddle Horse and Change of Gait — ^Black Squirrel 2nd — General Purpose Horse — All Purpose Stallion — All Purpose Brood Mare — Rose Chief — American Carriage Stallion — The Carriage Brood Mare — Comparison of Blood Lines — Coach Horse Types — French Coach Horse — American Bred Light Road Team — Pilot Boy and Amelia — American Bred Heavy Carriage Horses — American Coach or Carriage Team — The Draft Horse — Clydesdale Stallion — Crossing of Breeds — Clydesdale Brood Mare — Percheron Stallion — Gilbert the Winner — Percheron Brood Mare and Colt 10

CHAPTER IV.

Judging Horses 32

CHAPTER V.

Examining Horses — Sound Horses — Temporary Unsoundness — At Rest and in Motion— Watch For Habits — The Horse's Head — Discerning Defects — To Examine the Horse's Body 36

CHAPTER VI.

Examination For Lameness — Find Cause — Where it Affects 39

XU CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII.

Selecting the Stallion — Size and Form for Purpose Required — Individuality of Type Considered — Crossing Jack and Mare — Crossing Thoroughbred and Jenny 43,

CHAPTER VIII.

Wintering Stallions — Condition for Wintering — The Feet — Exercise — Stallion Barn and Lot — Harness or Saddle Work — Winter Food — Watering — Salt — Cleanliness — Management 45,

CHAPTER IX.

The Stallion in Season — Regulating Services — Feeding — Handling — Artificial Impregnation 50

CHAPTER X.

Government Ownership of Stallions — Breeders' Associations 53.

CHAPTER XI.

Selection and Care of Brood Mare — Conformation — Pedigree — In- Breeding — Haphazard Breeding — The Brood Mare and Stallion — Time to Breed — Early Grass — Examination of Womb — Trying the Mare — Treatment of Mare in Foal — Food For Mare in Foal — Time of Foaling — Care of Young Foal 54

CHAPTER XII.

Hereditary Traits of Horses — Habits 63

CHAPTER XIII.

Horses in the United States — The Number and Valuation of — Encouragement to the Breeders 65.

CHAPTER XIV.

Farmers as Horse Breeders — The Stallion Half the Herd — Mixing Breeds — The Farm Horse — Draft Horses for the Farm — Power —Draft Brood Mare 66

CHAPTER XV.

Intelligence of the Horse — Education — Memory — Sugar for the Nervous Horse — The Horse and His Instructor — Examples of Intelligence and Thought 69

CHAPTER XVI.

Horse Education — Horses are Naturally Timid and Sensative — The Horse a Slave to Humanity — The Horse Considered Only a Brute — The Horse Naturally Submissive — The Horse is Endowed with Intelligence and Passions — Useful Every-day Lessons Rather Than Tricks — Representative Heads of Horses — Extent of the Horse's Capacity for Learning — Fidelity of the Horse to His Master — Remembrance of Wrongs — Right Treatment — Underly-

CONTENTS. XUI

ing Principles— To Catch the Young Foal— Handling the Young Colt 74

CHAPTER XVIL

Horse Vocabulary 80

CHAPTER XVIII.

Get the Confidence of Little Colts 83

' CHAPTER XIX.

Fisrt Lessons in Harness — The Old Horse Teacher — Harsh Bits — The Kindergarten — ^^Driving — Early Lessons^Arrangement of Attachments of Colts 87

CHAPTER XX

Home Made Cart — For Driving Colts or Unruly Horses — For Handling the Runaway or Kicker — For Learning to Turn Round 91

CHAPTER XXI.

Controlling Horses Through the Mouth — Safety Bridle — The Bow- Bow-Line Knot — Adjusting Safety Bridle — Don't Drag or Saw the Rope Through the Horse's Mouth — The Yankee Bridle — Single or Double — Teaching Horse to Hold Head Low to be Bridled — Treating Horse with Sore Neck — The Hard-Bitted Horse — Different Forms of Rope to Head — Teaching Colt to Yield up His Feet 93

CHAPTER XXII.

Combinations of Three — Three Lessons — Three Tortures — Three ■Conditions of Feet — Three Enemies to Feet — Three Points in Care — Three Factors in Condition — Three Points in Getting the Good Will — Three Causes of Fear — Three Safeguards — Unreliable Horses — To Catch the Horse — Grooming the Horse — Standing When Hitching Up — Stand After Hitching — Nervous After Hitched — After a Hard Drive 102

CHAPTER XXIII.

Use and Abuse of Over-head Check — Aa Nature Made Us — Grace and Beauty Spoiled — A Lesson in Contrast — Applied as Punishnient to Criminals — Horses Suffered — A Sermon to Horse Owners . 105

CHAPTER XXIV.

A Good Mouth — Tender Mouth — Tongue-Lolling — Crossing Jaws — Effects of Bad Mouths— Bridle Bits— Carefully Select the Bridle and Horse — The Teeth — Caps cf Temporary Teeth — Wearing of Teeth 109

XIV CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXV.

Fitting Collar to Horse — Each Horse Should Have His Collar — Large Collars — Form of Collar — Adjustment of Hame-Tug — Soaking Collars — Hame-Straps — Clean Shoulders and Collar 114

CHAPTER XXVI.

Natural Foot of Horse — The Frog and Sole Protect the Foot — Ground Surface of Good Feet — Ground Surface of Contracted Feet — Ground Surface and Wall of Foundered Foot — The Colt's Feet 118

CHAPTER XXVn.

Shoeing and its Effects 121

CHAPTER XXVni.

Feeding Horses — Variety of Food — Too Much Hay — Must be Fed with Care — Rations for Horses in London — Feeding Cavalry Horses — Mortality from all Causes — Muscle-Making Food and Exercise for Colts — Idleness and Fat — Ration for Weanling and Older Colt — Bran and Bran-Mashes 127

CHAPTER XXIX.

Fattening Horses for Market— Corn — Glauber Salts — Oil Meal — Floating the Teeth — Stuffing Process — Feeding Work Horses — Water Before Feeding — Over-Feeding — Idle Horses — An Experiment — Economic Feeding — Feeding and Health — Feeding Little Colts — Grow Frame-work of Colts — Weanling Colts and Water — Exercise the Colts — Weaning Colts — Skim Milk 131

CHAPTER XXX.

Devices for Controlling Horses — Education in the Stall — The Halter- Puller — A Mere String — Kicking and Pawing — The Horse Shackeled in His Stall — Backing the Horse 138

CHAPTER XXXI.

Controlling Horse by His Tail — Run-away in a Circle — Poling the Horse — Fastening Tie-Strap to Tail — Tying Halter-Strap to Tail — Making Horse Familiar with Objects — Shackeling — Tieing Legs .- 14^

CHAPTER XXXII.

Picketing Horses — Controlling Hind Feet in Shoeing — Inducing

Horse to Hold Leg Up — Position in Shoeing 153

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Handling Mature Horses — Handling by the Head — Stallion Bridle — Manner of Adjusting — A Good. Cheap Riding Bridle — Handling Umbrella on Horseback 158

CONTENTS. XV

- CHAPTER XXXIV.

Power of Man Over Horse — Laying the Horse Down — Making a

Circingle with Rope — ^The Horse in Trouble — In Greater Trouble 164

CHAPTER XXXV.

Handling by the Legs — Reins to Legs Better Than to Bits — Applied to Kicker — Hitching Kicker to Wagon — Driving Kicker Double ■ — The Vicious Kicker — Kicking Attachment for Single or Double Harness — Halter Attachment for Kicker, Trotter, Pacer or Runaway 173

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Switcher and Rein-Catcher 185.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

The Balky Horse — How to Treat Him 188.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Mischief in the Stomach — Too Much Water After Feeding — Water in the Field — Too Much Water at a Time — Dieting Horses — Rest When Ailing — Drenching Horses — The Horse and Injection — Watch the Feet — The Hay Manger — Where to Feed Grain 194

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Miscellaneous Receipts — For Colic — Flatulent Colic — Diarrhoea — Scours — Scours in Young Foal — Slavering — Expulsion of Bots — Indigestion — Worms— Pin Worms — Dry Cough — Chronic Cough — Bran-Mash — Cough Mash — Sprains and Old Swellings — Swelled Legs — Foot-Sore Horses — Fevered Legs — Cracked Heels — Removal of Warts — Body Wash— Disenfectants for Wounds — Charcoal Tar — Sugar as an Antiseptic — Fence Wire Cuts — Scratches — Wash for Old Sores — Wash for Mange — Grease Heel — Thrush — For Splint — Itching Humor — Lice — Galls — Carriage- Top Dressing — Kerosene Emulsion for Harness — Old Straps Made Soft — Care of Harness 200

CHAPTER XL.

Questions and Answers at Farmers' Institutes — Questions Answered by the Author — Hitching Horse by Tail in Fly Time — When to Break Colt — To Harness and Drive the Colt — To Handle Viscious and Tricky Horses — Why Have Horses Bad Legs? — Treatment for Scours — Care of Colt's Feet — Cutting Frog and Sole — Rasping Horn of Hoof — Spring T. vs. Straight Pasterns — Stall — Check-Rein and Blinders — Why Use Over-Head Check Tight? — Biting — Crowding Keeper in the Stall — Make Horse Hold up H'isA — Preventing "Bucking" — Teaching to Back — Tieing Head and T^i! — The Halter-Puller — Handling the "Broncho"— Calts at Weenir.g Time — Colts the First Winter — Wild Hay for Horses —

XVI CONTENTS.

Ground Barley — Water when Warm — Raising Colts at a Profit — A Frightened Horse 210

CHAPTER XLI.

Questions Answered by Dr. M. H. Reynolds — Grain Rations for a Working Horse — For an Idle Horse — Hay for Horses — Kick on Hock Cap — Colts Dying Soon After Birth — To Kill Lice on Horses — Heaves — Cure for Poll-Evil — Colts and Lice — Oat Straw for Idle Horses — Colic — Moon-Eyed Horses — Is Cob Meal and Oats for Horses — Millet Hay for Work Horses — Barley for Colts — Barley Straw for Horses — Should Hay or Grain be Fed First? — Bleeding Tumor on Foot near Fetlock — Sampers — Condition Powders — Watering While Warm — Ring-Bone and Spavins — Incipient Spavin — Cooked Food for Horses — Feeding Work Horses — Paralysis — Collar Galls — Mange — Stocked Legs — Knawing Feed Boxes — Feeding Salt — Chronic Grease Heel — Feeding Mare in Foal — Bit for Hard Mouth — Lice on Colt — Sore Eyes — What is the Cause and Cure — Rubbing tails 215

CHAPTER XLII.

■Questions Answered by Dr. S. D. Brimhall — Contracted Feet- Sweeney — Ring-Bone — Heaves — Glanders 200

CHAPTER XLIIL

Questions Answered by Dr. R. M. Dodds — Ulcerated Tooth — Pufifed and Swollen Shoulder — Azoturia — Barb Wire Cut — Puffs on Hock Joint — Puff on Pastern Joint — Bog Spavin — Running Sore on Horse's Neck — Sweeney — Splints — Scratches — Shoe Boil — Wind-Galls — Warts — Grease Heel — Ring-Bone — Bone-Spavin — Quarter-Crack — "Prick" of the Sole — Hoof-Bound Feet — Stomach Worms 222

CHAPTER I.

SCIENTIFIC BREEDING.

Science involves methods of acquiring knowledge; methods of organizmg knowledge acquired with experience. Methods demonstrate the digested experience of men and result in what is known as "common sense," the accumulation of which can properly be called knowledge arranged in order-science.

Common-sense breeding is as nearly applied science as we can define the subject. Webster says, applied science is a knowledge of the facts or phenomena as produced by means of causes or laws. The laws of generation, in the very nature of things, are not, and can never be reduced to a mathematical science. Scientific breeding, therefore is simply keeping within the lines possessing the strongest demonstrated inheritance of all the qualities desired in the offspring, and when we come to understand the matter, there will be nothing regarded as mysterious about scientific breeding. It is common-sense breeding or the production of what is wanted fiom animals possessing the desired characteristics for many generations back with the least variation.

SPECIAL LINE BREEDING FOR UNIFORMITY OF CONFOR- MATION.

Two hundred and fifty years' breeding (never out-crossing) from the survival of the fittest in the running-horse line, has demonstrated that we have attained the greatest degree of perfection that the world has ever known, both in quality of animals and production of speedand when we consider the development of the American trotter and oacer, and the close application of that great natural law of "like producing like, ' our production of performers is simply an astonishment to all other countnes-and all this has been accomplished practically within the past quarter of a century. But if the question is asked, what particular horse was able to transmit this wonderful inheritance? no one IS to be found who is able to answer satisfactorily Yet the accumulative force along the same line increases in its onward course, as the htde brook in its wanderings towards the mighty ocean becomes a great river. To make further improvement in size, style, action, color or any other desirable quality, the same rules and common sense must be complied with, within the type, line of performance, or breed Crossing any of the different types or breeds with a view of scientific improvement IS tampering with uncertainties, and should be characterized as attempted science without sense, logic without reason; a move backwards, instead of forwards; a tearing down of the work of improvement that those before have labored for generations to establish. Very serious, if not irreparable, damage is often done by one injudicious out-cross. Then how important it is that we should have some systematic way of investigating all of our breeding problems.

STATE OR GOVERNMENT LAWS CONTROLLING SERVICE

STALLIONS.

If the principles of common-sense breeding cannot be maintained by mutual consent, through a state breeders' association, or other societies, then we should have an enactment of law that will prohibit the us of any but the best of sires for public service. The public demands horses of size, style, substance, action, symmetry of conformation, with as nearly perfect feet and legs as possible, and how are we to comply with this demand unless we make a strenuous efifort to breed what is wanted? To do this, no unsound, blemished, ill-shaped, irregular-gaited or bad-dispositioned stallion should be permitted public service. We have enough good sires and dams to make a great showing, if they were selected and brought together in their proper relation; but so long as the force of this matter is not fully considered, the crossroads, nondescript stallion will be used, and the country, as well as the individual, must sufifer the irremediable consequence.

NATURE'S LAW OF "LIKE PRODUCING LIKE," THE TRUE

PRINCIPLE.

That fundamental natural law of "like begetting like, or the likeness of some ancestor," must never be lost sight of in any of the lines of breeding. The most common error committed is, that the remote ancestral inheritance is lost sight of by most breeders; they confine themselves to an examination of the immediate ancestors only, when an acquaintance with the remote progenitors is of much greater importance in what they are trying to accomplish. ,

If the progeny would always take after the immediate parents, thea the question of breeding would be easy, and almost anyone could make progress. But when we see the produce taking back after some remote ancestor possessing undesirable qualities, then it is that we often hesitate, and even doubt our own observations.

HORSE-BREEDERS MUST HAVE A DEFINITE OBJECT IN

VIEW.

Breeders to be very successful must know positively all about the breeding animals that they are using, and to do this successfully they must be familiar with the records and performance of these animals. Many a breeder, from neglect to register his animals, has lost untold advantages to himself and others who would like to use his breeding stock. The registry is the only safe means of perpetuating the good qualities of the breeds, and is the only safe guide to purchasers in tracing the antecedents of their own or others' animals; and until we direct our attention to this, as well as to the merits of the individual, we will be making but little headway in improving any of our breeding stock.