92 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



than that, that amiability of temper, without which a liorse is 

 the meanest beast known ou earth. I agree with Mr. Murray, 

 that a kicking, ill-natured mare ought never to be used in 

 breeding. That is perfectly true. You do not want to trans- 

 mit any such disposition. But that we have established right 

 principles of breeding here, and can maintain them, I have 

 not the slightest doubt in the world ; and I think if you Avould 

 go to Mr. Murray's stable, you would find that he himself is 

 applying exactly those rules which I have designated to the 

 production of a good, level-going, square-gaited, sound, sen- 

 sible American horse. I should not agree with him entirely, 

 that he is going to beat the world driving his colt as he says 

 he does. I know, if he has a colt that will do what he says 

 he will, with that kind of driving, it is because he put into the 

 business of raising the colt what most of us have to put into 

 the business of driving; viz., Avisdom and good judg- 

 ment. I have no doubt that horses are injured by pulling, 

 and are so disturbed by it that they lose seconds of speed, 

 whereas, if they could with advantage be left more to them- 

 selves, they would do better, which suggests that, to a certain 

 extent, we should let the horse alone, and not trouble him, 

 if you would bring him to the height of his speed. The 

 qualities of Avhich Mr. Murray speaks as so valuable in a 

 horse, are really the result of Avise and judicious breeding, 

 and if you have these qualities you may drive as he does. 

 This amiable and sagacious animal is the American horse, and 

 this is the point at which he and I were aiming in the realm 

 of horses when we united in the authorship of " The Perfect 

 Horse " ; probably, you will allow me to say, the best book on 

 the horse ever written ! 



And now, in conclusion, I have told you Avhat are the 

 qualities of the American horse, and hoAv we can produce them ; 

 now I propose to come to the commercial value of the horse, 

 as a part of the general product of th^ farm, and entering 

 into the trade of the world as do cattle and sheep and SAvine ; 

 because that, after all, is the solid business of the whole 

 matter. You may breed, if you have good fortune, a few 

 horses that are worth six hundred, seven hundred or a thou- 

 sand dollars apiece for home consumption ; but Avhere are the 

 horse-raisers, growers and breeders of this country to find 



