32 THE ORANGE COUNTY 



Various opinions have recently been expressed concerning 

 our breed of horses. It has been gravely asserted that the 

 race-horses of the present day have degenerated when com- 

 pared with their ancestors; that the customs of racing have, 

 indeed, led to this degeneracy, and that they are calculated 

 to increase it; morever, that the supply of horses for pur- 

 poses of utility is unequal to the demand. Theories have 

 been promulgated, and suggestions advanced, as to the most 

 effective means of correcting these alleged evils. One gen- 

 tleman who has written on the subject, proposes to resort to 

 the Arab blood to regenerate our racing stock, and recom- 

 mends in connection with that plan, the revival of races at 

 long distances as tests of stoutness, to promote a better 

 breed of horses. Another advocates the introduction of 

 three-parts bred sires to produce horses for particular ser- 

 vice. However well intended, they are entirely opposed to 

 improvement, or the attainment of the objects in contempla- 

 tion. For the purpose of forming correct opinions, it is ne- 

 cessary to consider each subject separately; and, as the 

 thorough-bred sire is the only parent stock from which the 

 other valuable kinds can be produced with success, some re- 

 search into his origin, and the lineage by which the breed 

 has been perpetuated, together with the agency namely, 

 racing by which his repute has been established, must ne- 

 cessarily form a portion of these observations. Comparing 

 the performance of the ancient worthies with those of modern 

 times, it is the only means of deciding on the question of 

 degeneracy. Bacing has been the foster-mother of the high- 

 bred racer, it is the test of his breeding, his speed, his power 

 of endurance, his courage, and his stamina. 



In the horse not perhaps to the same extent as in the 

 dog, but still to a great extent it is our own fault if we have 

 not a friend as well as a servant. "When well treated, he be- 

 comes sincerely attached to us; the utmost of his strength 

 and speed is at our call, and he is never happier than when 

 employed in our service. He even enters into many of our 

 enjoyments with as great delight as we ourselves. See 

 him following the hounds there never was a rider who en- 

 tered more thoroughly into the ardor of the chase than he 

 does. 



So great is the docility of the horse, that he is readily 

 trained to occupations adverse to the natural gentleness of 

 his nature. With kind treatment, there is little within the 

 comprehension of an animal which the horse is not capable 

 pf attaining; and no animal, not even the dog, more fully 



