234 



mare; other necessar^^ precautions not being neglected. As in all other 

 concerns of life, so we may in this, notwithstanding our most widely- 

 extended precautions, partially or totally fail of success, from the oppo- 

 sition of occult and inscrutable causes. But the average will be favour- 

 able, true form will result from the union of true form, in both sire and 

 dam ; and the next general result will be, that every Horse sufficiently 

 well-formed, and furnished in the grand points, will excel either in 

 speed or continuance, or will possess an advantageous mixture of 

 both. Blood is blood, but form is superiority. 



To proceed with our difficulties, and to solve or combat with them as 

 we can, the power of racing in a Horse does not depend on external 

 conformation, but on blood, and that blood must be improved from its 

 original source, since the indigenous southern Horse is unable to race. 

 But among Horses equally well bred, superior organization, external 

 and internal, will produce superior speed and power. In opposition to 

 this, we are often told, that all shapes and makes can race ; and of the 

 great performances of such as are called cross-made Horses. But these 

 cross-made Horses are formed to deceive superficial observers. Under 

 a gaunt, irregular, and rugged exterior, they may possess great com- 

 pass and power in the parts principally conducive to action. Or by 

 standing over a considerable surface, they may possess the necessarv 

 length, which may farther be made up to them in the dimensions of 

 the fore-arm and thigh, whilst the impediment of an upright and ilJ' 

 formed shoulder, may be counter-balanced by great ductility and elas- 

 ticity of sinew, Avith corresponding internal, or constitutional power. 

 Here we have the reason why the best shaped common bred Horses 

 can have no chance in the race, even with the worst among the tho- 

 rough-bred ; lor, relatively to their own species in particular, Race- 

 horses are equally liable to mal-conformation, as any other species. 

 One never need be at a loss upon the turf, to find plenty of examples, 

 of the animal being built clean contrary to act of parliament, that is to 

 83}% with the wrong end first,- or with the upright shoulder, sickle ham, 

 or crooked pastern. Chifney, I think, did not look deep enough for the 

 degeneracy or defects in our running cattle, Avhen he attributed them 



solely 



