220 



The British galloper, or thorough-bred Horse, is, beyond all ques- 

 tion, the most useful species of the whole genus, since he is applicable 

 to every possible purpose of" labour, in which Horses are used. Running 

 Horses are often bred up to great size and bone, and did any object 

 lead thereto, such sizes might be multiplied to any extent, and in fact, 

 the species might be bred with short legs, and a broad fixed shape, b}'^ 

 acting on the well-known axiom in breeding, like produces like. There 

 is no doubt, but the Race-horse, from the solidity of his bones, the close 

 texture of his fibres, and the bulk and substance of his tendons, is pro- 

 portionally, the strongest of all Horses, and able to carry the highest 

 weights, and to endure the greatest stress upon his bodily powers. His 

 superior speed and endurance originate in the superior ductility and 

 elasticity of his muscular fibres. His pliable sinews are susceptible in the 

 first degree of the manoeuvres of the riding-school, and we find that the 

 highest dressed Horses of Europe have always more or less southern 

 blood. There are racers calculated also for war, hunting, the road, or 

 quick draught, and even for the laborious services of the waggon and the 

 plough. I state this fact without the smallest view of denying the indu- 

 bitable merits, or decrying the services, of our excellent common breeds, 

 imbrued, as they universally are, in various degrees, with racing blood; 

 with the exception, however, of common Cart-horses, three |)arts at 

 least of which, I am thoroughly convinced, might be most advanta- 

 geously superseded by our active varieties of oxen. 



On a reference to what has been said, respecting the new blood, or 

 the lately-imported foreign Horses, it proves to be far the safest, and- 

 most eligible plan, for a sportsman to breed from English stallions and 

 mares, and those particularly which possess most of the blood of the 

 Darley and Godolphin Arabians. It is here necessary to resume the 

 subject of foreign Horses, (see page 64) and to attempt a farther eluci- 

 dation, in which I can at least contradict from experience, certain Aadgar 

 errors, if the same mean should fail me in the removal of other manifest 

 difficulties. 



In books of travels we perpetually meet with the superior and 

 unequalled speed of the Arabian and Barbary Horses, and of their 

 striding until their bellies seem to touch the ground. This was indis 



putable 



