C84 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



will the bones be fine in their texture, ivory -like, and lasting. The muscles, also, will be 

 influenced, and become wiry, compact, and elastic as spiral wire. If the temperament, on 

 the other hand, be sluggish, heavy, lymphatic, the bones will be spongy and porous in their 

 structure, the muscles flaccid and coarse, and the nervous organization low, dull, and inoperant. 

 I am well aware that size, all else being equal, is a true gauge of power ; but let it never be 

 forgotten by the breeder and purchaser of the horse, that all else is not equal. Size alone 

 is no measure of power; for all can see, even with the most casual examination of the subject, 

 that the slightest alteration in temperament makes a corresponding alteration in the power 

 and efficiency of every individual part. 



A horse does not draw by virtue of his weight, nor in proportion to his size. The pub 

 lic scales and the measuring-tape can never assure us how much a horse can draw, or how 

 many miles he can pull a wagon and its owner in a day. Muscular action and nerve-force 

 must be considered ; and these are both closely allied to, and dependent on, the temperament 

 of the animal. The well-bred horse, inch for inch, and pound for pound, is far stronger than 

 the dray-horse; and old Justin Morgan, the founder of the most wonderful family of horses 

 (all things being considered) this or any country ever saw, could draw logs that horses of 

 twelve and thirteen hundred pounds could not even start, albeit he weighed only about nine 

 hundred pounds, and stood barely fourteen and a half hands high. It is the amount of vital 

 force that, at the end of a stick of timber, or on a weary day s journey on a heavy road, tells 

 the story.&quot; 



There are four distinct temperaments generally recognized, which are, however, but 

 rarely found separate, being usually blended and mingled in a greater or less proportionate 

 degree. They are the nervous, bilious, sanguine, and lymphatic. &quot;When not separate, one 

 will be found to so predominate over others as to stamp its characteristic upon the animal, 

 and be easily recognized. 



Nervous Temperament. A horse with a nervous temperament will have an ani 

 mated expression of face, quick-moving ears, and will be characterized by quickness in all 

 his movements, nervous excitability, and extreme sensitiveness. Combined with these, he 

 will have a large brain. Such a horse will chafe under restraint, like being forced to do 

 work that requires slow movements, as plowing, for instance, and when allowed to test his 

 strength in drawing heavy loads, or doing hard work of any kind, will be liable to over-work 

 himself and be permanently injured. A horse of this kind will suffer extremely from harsh 

 treatment of any kind, even harsh tones of voice, and will be liable to take fright and shy out 

 quickly when on the road, unless the driver is on his guard. The &quot;Vermont Black Hawk&quot; 

 has been instanced as one of the best types of this class of horses. 



Bilious Temperament. The bilious temperament is characterized by a well-devel 

 oped muscular system, and a horse of this class will have large bones and muscles, and be 

 capable of great strength and powers of endurance. Such a horse, possessing great muscular 

 power, will be able to perform a vast amount of hard labor, without breaking down. 



Sanguine Temperament. Next follows in order the sanguine temperament, which 

 is associated with a large development of the vital organs the heart, lungs, etc. An animal 

 possessing this temperament will be what is called &quot;long-winded,&quot; and whatever he does will 

 be done with ease, and but little appearance of panting or exhaustion after being driven fast. 

 Having large and well-developed vital organs, his digestion will be exceedingly good and the 

 food he eats will be assimilated and appetized, so that food and rest will be to him truly 

 nature s repair shop,&quot; and day by day he will go forth fresh for a trial of speed or strength. 



Lymphatic Temperament. A horse with a lymphatic temperament will be lazy 

 and dull. He will generally be a heavy animal with a surplus of fat. and slow-moving and 

 stumbling in his gait. Such a horse is scarcely worth the whip that drives him, and the 

 driver will well earn the work he gets out of him. 



