394 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



loose upon that occasion for want of forage. In 

 South America, on these immense plains extending 

 from the shores of La Plata to Patagonia, immense 

 troops of horses are found, sometimes to the extent of 

 ten thousand individuals. These are the offspring of 

 emancipated horses which were taken to that con- 

 tinent by the Spaniards : for it is quite certain that 

 the horse was unknown in America when that con- 

 tinent was first discovered. Indeed, the natives 

 considered the horseman and horse as one animal. 

 There great troops do not always feed in company, 

 but are dispersed into smaller herds, and only con- 

 gregate when they are alarmed. These animals are 

 impelled by a natural instinct, which looks remarkably 

 like reason, for they are invariably preceded by a 

 leader in cases of alarm, and are sensible that their 

 safety consists in united force, and a principle of 

 subordination the first things to be attended to, even 

 by man himself. 



In a domestic condition the horse is found in 

 every country, such being the pliability of his physical 

 constitution, that he thrives in very opposite ex- 

 tremes of temperature, except within the limits of the 

 Artie circle itself. But in Great Britian he seems to 

 have acquired the highest degree of symmetrical 

 proportions and powers of speed ; as our race-horses 

 are universally admitted to be the finest and fastest 

 gallopers in the world. 



The celebrated race-horse, known by the name of 

 Flying Childers, was the fleetest horse that ever ran, 

 having repeatedly accomplished nearly a mile in a 

 minute ; and, carrying nine stone two pounds, has 

 been known to perform the course at Newmarket 

 which is three miles and three hundred and sixty 

 yards in six minutes and forty seconds, or at the 



