'The views and opinions of Brigadier General John Jacob, CB. Aide-decamp to the Queen; Aide-de-camp to the Governor General of India, &c. &c. &c.; late commanding in chief the British forces in Persia; at present commanding the Sind Irregular Horse, and Political Superintendent of the North-West frontier of Sind.' [‎197] (228/481)

197
centuries. Arab horses should alone have been used to
breed from after the first start, which must necessarily
have been made with a sufficient number of mares,
the best procurable of any breed, as Arab mares are not
obtainable.
The qualities of individuals should have been carefully
and scientifically studied before bringing them together.
On this depends the whole success of the scheme. To
ensure a good produce, it is by no means sufficient to put
a good dam to a good sire. The excellencies of each may
be great, but may be neutralised in the produce by similar
defects in each.
Both parents may be generally good, but may possess
peculiarities, which, if exaggerated in the produce, would
render it useless. Many breeders suppose that a sire and
dam, being both winners of races, ought to produce win
ners ; but their excellencies, though great, may he unlike, and
their defects, though small, may be alike; in which case it is
next to certain that in the produce the excellencies will
have disappeared, and the defects be enormously increased.
Were all stallions of other breeds now in the studs at once
sold off, and none but the best Arabs used to breed from
in future, no mare or horse of any other breed being here
after admitted. Government might reasonably expect in
twenty years' time to possess the finest breed of horses in
the world—so quiet and docile that they might be used
entire, without any of the evils now complained of. But
the physiology of the business and individual incongruity
must in every case, and with every breed, be most carefully
attended to, or the result will be a failure. A stallion
originally vicious should never be employed. One be
coming so should immediately be removed from the stud.
Keally good Arabs are never vicious.