BREEDING.
This is essentially an age of ladies on horseback. They are to be
met with everywhere, and at all seasons: in city, suburb, park, and
country, and with the advance of equestrian pursuits comes likewise a
desire on the part of those who take pleasure in them to be made in
some degree acquainted with the interesting subjects of breeding and
training young horses. So at least I judge from a number of letters
recently addressed to me, both at my own house and at the office of the
_Sporting and Dramatic News_, requiring information upon matters which
a few years ago were very little thought of by ladies, and certainly
commanded no amount of attention from them.
With a view to answering the many questions asked me, I propose to
offer a few brief hints on the best and most profitable method of
breeding good and useful racers and hunters--appending a chapter
on a system of training, which, having tried it myself with quite
satisfactory results, I can confidently recommend to ladies, as coming
entirely within scope of the resources ordinarily afforded them, both
by nature and surroundings.
Horse-breeding is a pleasant recreation for those whose tastes, means,
and residential qualifications enable them to carry it on, and at the
same time conduce to its success. Living in the country, for example,
in a house surrounded by good grass lands, a more delightful species of
pastime, or one of a more engrossing kind, can scarcely be sought for
or imagined, while the practical question of making money of it may be
met with the assurance that it can be done.
At the present crisis it is especially advisable that attention should
be given to horse-breeding, as it is a matter to which, when times are
bad and land-culture unprofitable, lady farmeresses and others may
turn their thoughts with greater chance of profit than when sheep,
cattle, and every description of farm produce brought more grist to the
agriculturist’s mill. Land rent is low, fodder cheap and plentiful,
and labour easily obtained. Some years ago, when seasons were good,
and farmers could sell their stock at a fair profit, horse-culture
might not under ordinary circumstances have been found to pay; but
it is entirely different now, and never perhaps was there a period
at which good horses, especially high-class hunters, were in more
substantial demand than at present. I know some persons, particularly
in Ireland, who are ready to cry “No” to this statement, but the most
substantial proof of its truthfulness lies in the fact that at sales,
as well as at the autumn horse-shows, almost everything that is good is
speedily bought up at fairly remunerative prices, while only those who
demand excessive rates for second and third-rate animals carry their
stock home with them, and grumble at the blindness of buyers and the
ticklishness of the times.
Without going into any unnecessary preliminaries, I may continue my
subject and say, that it will be well, when selecting a mare to breed
from with a view to the production of high-class hunters, to choose
one if possible that has herself been a good performer to hounds,--but
remember that this is not an indispensable quality, although it may
be, and is, an important one. The breeding of the animal chosen to
represent maternity ought to be a point much dwelt upon; it cannot
indeed be over estimated--as coarse-bred mares are, even when well
mated, certain to perpetuate unsatisfying stock. I am of opinion
that compactness of form, robustness of frame, and capability of
endurance, fatigue, and exertion, are far before actual beauty in the
brood mare. I like to see short stout legs, thick and bulging in the
upper portion, denoting plenty of strength and muscle--good, fleshy,
_sloping_ shoulders, a deep chest, high withers, a strong well-ribbed
frame, big broad loins, hips wide apart, substantial quarters, a high
arched crest, a good sound mouth, nostrils wide and healthy, and, most
important of all, a sound and well-formed foot. This last point should
be rigorously observed, for my experience has taught me that no outward
defect is more surely hereditary than small, narrow, ill-shapen, or
unhealthy feet.
The same precautions may in great degree be applied to the sire--and
as he is supposed to supply the locomotive power to his progeny, an
animal should be chosen that has good hunter-like action, and not one
whose paces are like those of a racer or park horse. His height will
not be of much consequence, provided that the mare be of suitable size,
but his general form ought to be most carefully weighed. A good sound
constitution on the part of both mare and sire will be of the utmost
importance in breeding, and for this reason I prefer young strong mares
for stud purposes.
It is with many a very vexed question whether or not a filly is
improved by having a foal. I maintain, even against much contradiction,
that she decidedly is; and I have met with a good many sound judges
who have agreed with me, while on the other hand some old-fashioned
horse-fanciers have told me that they would not have anything whatever
to say to a “widow.” I believe that the system of keeping a flock of
idle brood mares has contributed largely towards the impoverishing of
many a promising horse-breeding company, and a few who have had the
sense to see the folly of such a course have bred with much advantage
from fillies, without ever suffering a particle of loss by it. A young
robust three-year-old--one that has been “gentled” and taught to jump
in long reins _without_ being ridden--will prove a capital speculation
as a matron, and will at four have produced a foal which need not
detain her from her training beyond the weaning time.
Wealthy horse-owners, who wish to go in for breeding racers, ought
to keep their best and most promising foals entirely for breeding
purposes; and I believe that such a speculation would answer admirably
as a means of making money, and would in time astonish the world of
the turf with a show of youngsters that would bid fair to sweep the
land. Well-nurtured animals--those that had never been subjected to any
sort of training--would be certain to bring forth finer and healthier
specimens of horseflesh than aged quadrupeds, who were only put to the
stud because they had met with accident, or had broken down. I cannot,
for my own part, believe in such animals perpetuating a valuable
or healthy stock; and experience has amply proved that it is only
after long periods of repose--during which the waste and exhaustion
consequent upon training and running have become mitigated, if not
absolutely cured--that racing mares and sires attain celebrity through
the progeny that they produce.
Turfites might pick up many a good and paying thing, if breeders would
only relinquish some of their standing prejudices, and be induced to
set apart a certain number of untrained animals for stud purposes,
selecting the best of the foals produced by them, and keeping these
apart until their sixth year; by so doing, they would generate a
company of clippers that would make fortunes for their purchasers,
and fairly open the eyes of the racing world. Strange to say, the
system finds but little acceptance--a fact shown by the bad, weedy,
and mis-shapen lots that are sent out to contest many of our leading
races. More of them break down in the training than ever actually go
to the post; and, even among the starters, how few are found in the
run home really contesting the race. The horseflesh of the country
has degenerated under the pursuance of a wrong system; and yet, it
is asserted that racing is kept up to improve the national breed of
chasers throughout the land. How far it succeeds in its so-called
purpose, the public markets daily testify. Wretched blood stock is
everywhere to be found, and when not absolutely what could be called
wretched, it is at all events decidedly poor. A number of the foals
born never return the first expenses of their existence, much less of
their education. Their worthlessness is soon discovered, and after
awhile they are to be met with in riding-schools and job stables,
between the shafts of cabs and carts, and engaged in a variety of other
work for which they were never meant--their very fitness for such
demeaning labour proving at once their utter lack of value for higher
callings, and testifying the hollow ignorance of those who, from blind
prejudice, or some other inexplicable cause, tend to perpetuate this
pitiable waste and degradation.
So-called “blood stock” is fast contaminating the pure native breed
of the country. There is, every season, a glut of worthless bloods;
the refuse of the stud farm is sold away to the highest bidder, and he
in his turn seeks to make temporary profit out of it, with the result
of impoverishing and deteriorating such chances of good things as he
may happen to have among his stock. Thus it goes on from one year to
another, and looks, by its continuance, as though it were meant to go
on to the very end of time.
My advice to would-be breeders of _racers_ is, to discard as sires and
matrons all animals that have been trained for the turf; carefully
select those of good blood, pedigree, and qualifications; reserve
the best of their progeny, when brought forth, and breed from these
again, ere ever they are allowed to pass into a trainer’s hands. In
this way, and in this alone, will strength, stamina, courage, speed,
endurance--all that is most necessary in a racer--be absolutely ensured.
To turn back to the subject of breeding a good class of hunters--a
matter which I hope will interest ladies, for whom I write--I have
already given my ideas respecting the best sort of mares to select
for the purpose; and I may add that an animal during the period of
gestation ought not to be by any means kept and fed in idleness. Gentle
regular exercise, and plenty of it, will be good and healthful for a
mare that is in foal. Her prospects of maternity dating from May, she
can with advantage be lightly worked about a farm, or in any other
way--_provided that she has been accustomed to it_--until Christmas;
and even when actual work is suspended, daily exercise should be
carefully continued.
Dry uplands, and grassy ground of a hilly nature, are excellent
pasturage for brood mares, who should be kept perfectly cool, and
free from excitement of all kinds. An abundance of fresh water should
be allowed them--as much indeed as they care to drink--together with
a _varied_ supply of light nourishing food of a cooling nature. The
shelter-shed ought to open to the south, the entrance to it being wide,
and the flooring hard and very dry.
[Illustration: PREPARING THE STABLE.
_page 287._]
The mare should be left quite to herself when foaling, except in
extreme cases, which fortunately very rarely occur. It will, of course,
be necessary to see that she does not make her way to any dangerous
place--such as an ugly ditch, or cutting--a thing very commonly
attempted in the country--but otherwise she ought not to be subjected
to any kind of interference. This, I should observe, applies as a
matter of course to strong healthy animals, such as are accustomed to
pasturing out in almost every sort of weather; in other cases, it will
be well to have a box at hand, thickly littered over, and lined about
the walls with piled-up trusses of straw.
If you are the mare’s owner, and that she knows you and is comforted
by the sound of your voice, keep close by her, and banish all others
to a distance when her sufferings begin. These will most likely be
short, but severe, and she will not in all probability bear them very
patiently. Lead her quietly into the box that you have prepared; and
on no account permit any fuss or excitement, or any _peeping_, to
take place about her. In cases where much heaving of the flanks has
occurred, I have seen small doses of sulphuric ether and cold water--an
ounce of the former to three pints of the latter, well blended--given
with seeming advantage; but I do not undertake to advocate _any_
physicking whatever at so excessively trying a period, preferring
for my own part to leave Nature to herself, except where danger is
anticipated: in which case it will be best to send at once for the most
skilled assistance possible.
As soon as matters are safely over, leave parent and offspring to
themselves, ensuring for them the utmost quietude, as well as perfect
freedom from even the very slightest noise. All that the mare will
stand in need of at the conclusion of her troubles will be a pail of
warm gruel, with a dash of old ale, or a little brandy introduced--the
latter only in case of great exhaustion. The foal will require no
care, except from its parent. Should the natural nourishment prove
unprolific, the young one may be supplied with cow’s milk that has been
skimmed, sweetened, and slightly warmed. An infant’s feeding-bottle
will serve admirably for purposes of nutrition, or if such be not
available, a hand may be dipped in the milk, and the tops of a couple
of fingers lifted up. The hungry foal will very soon seize upon them;
but it is, in my opinion, better not to feed at all, except in cases
where the youngster shows signs of evident weakness, or that the mother
is unable to fulfil her natural functions.
I always advocate holding up the feeding-pail when nourishment is
supplied to the parent. It gives confidence, allays suspicion, and
helps to tame the little one, which, after a while, will venture to
pick from the hand.
The nursing-stable should be airy and well ventilated, without being
subject to draughts, and the feeding for the matron should consist
of moist mashes, composed of bran and scalded oats, varied with an
abundance of cooling vegetable food, and a constant supply of fresh
soft water.
Four days after foaling the mare may be put to light exercise: it will
do both her and her colt a vast deal more good than being idle, and
the little youngster (owing to the constant proximity of his dam’s
attendant) will soon grow quite tame. His timidity will vanish, he will
suffer himself to be handled and caressed, will pick food out of his
mother’s manger, and will, when October comes round, and he has to be
weaned, be as docile and full of confidence as any animal in the stable.
[Illustration: FRATERNIZING.]
When that special time arrives, give him (if possible) a companion of
his own age to bear him company: because he must be separated from his
dam, for the benefit of both--and he will pine if not provided with
society. If one of his own species be not conveniently obtainable,
procure a young calf, and let the two youngsters fraternize together;
they will soon be the best possible friends, and the colt will thus
keep up his condition and not waste, as he certainly will if left to
pine alone.
Turn him, after weaning, into a good piece of pasture land, and feed
him twice a day with oatmeal-porridge mixed with a quart or three pints
of good sweet milk. The cost of this is more than doubly repaid by the
increased strength and power that it affords: such feeding being far
in advance of the customary crushed beans, oats, hay, chaff, and other
strong meat (totally unfit for babes) which grooms find such delight in
giving.
Hunting colts should be kept during their first three summers on good
rich grass land, and be provided with a suitable shelter, to which they
can retire when the sun is overpowering, or the weather severe. In the
winter time they should have warm boxes to rest in at night, but had
better be kept out of doors during the day, for air and exercise. Where
this treatment is adopted, there will seldom be roarers in the stable.
Excellent feeding for youngsters that are meant for hunting purposes
is sliced mangel or swede turnips mixed with hay that has been cut
into long chaff. Crushed maize added to the roots is also very good;
and oats, peas, and beans may be given to ensure variety. Carrots
are, I think, far before all other vegetable diet, where the soil is
favourable to the growing of a good crop; but, where they are scarce,
mangel will make an excellent substitute. Feeding on roots alone is not
advisable, even for a short period, seeing that such are composed of
20 per cent of water, and if not mixed with a proper quantity of grain
or chaff, are apt to produce a variety of ailments which may be found
troublesome to cure.
I like to see a colt, even when a yearling, handled nicely and lightly,
and dressed every day of his life by the attendant who has the feeding
of him. Such a course fits him for breaking-time, and prepares him in
great measure for what he has to go through in his training.
I am an advocate for paying close and vigilant attention to the feet,
from the very beginning. I like to see toes nicely shaped by judicious
paring, and, if disposed to chip or splinter, provided with suitable
tips.
[Illustration: GOOD FORM.]