THE HORSE. 371 



are frequently found with the best horses. Hard-mouthed 

 horses, when accompanied with great spirits, are ohjectiona- 

 blc, as they require peculiar bitting and the utmost vigilance. 

 The paces and action of a horse are important, for if good, 

 they give a much greater capacity for performance. Some 

 of these depend on form and structure, and are unchangable; 

 others are the result of breaking. All horses should be 

 taught to walk fast, as it is their easiest and most economical 

 pace, and it will help them over a great deal of ground in a 

 day, even with a heavy load, and with comparatively little 

 effort. A horse that steps short and digs his toes into the 

 ground, is worthless as a traveller, and suited only to a ferry 

 boat or bark mill. It is important that a horse be good tem- 

 pered. If inclined to viciousness, he should be gently yet 

 firmly managed when it is first apparent. A resort to great 

 severity will be justified, if necessary to conquer him ; for if 

 once allowed to become a habit, it will be difficult to cure 

 him. Grooms and mischievous stable-boys frequently do 

 much injury by their idle tricks with horses, and when 

 detected, they should be discharged at once. Some horses 

 are nervous, easily excited, and start at every unusual noise 

 or object. Others are restive and fretful and ever anxious 

 to be on the move. Kindness and firm, yet mild treatment, 

 by which their motions and will are at all times controlled, 

 and their confidence secured, are the only remedies. Others 

 are inclined to sluggishness. These should have stimulating- 

 food, and never be overloaded or overworked, and then kept 

 well to iheir paces. Whatever they are capable of perform- 

 ing, can in this way only be got from them. Habit has 

 great influence with animals, as with man; and when within 

 the compass of his ability, he may be habituated to any rea- 

 sonable physical exertion. 



BREEDING. Agreeably to the general principles before 

 enumerated, such animals should be selected as most emi- 

 nently possess those points which it is desired to propagate, 

 and these they should not only exhibit in themselves, but 

 should inherit as far as possible from a long line of ances- 

 try. For the perpetuation of particular points in progeny, 

 it would be safer to rely on the latter quality than the for- 

 mer. The selection of a mare, relatively larger than the 

 horse, is an important rule in breeding, and it is believed 

 that much of the success of Arabian and other Eastern horses 

 as stock -getters, has resulted from the application of this 

 principle. They possess valuable traits, but condensed within 



