140 THE HORSE. 



comes dii'ectly under the objections which I have made 

 to violent crossing in general. It matters not whether 

 we are endeavoming to improve one point or the whole 

 body, we should never make the attempt by a violent 

 cross. K we do, we are nearly certain to fail. In 

 place of remedying the fault we have in view, we will 

 spoil the whole, for want of proportion through the 

 different parts. We cannot remedy defects by running 

 to opposite extremes. The improvement must be by a 

 gradual process, and earned out through a succession 

 of generations. If we want to increase the size of a 

 race of ponies, we will accomplish our object much 

 better by putting the mares to large-sized, strong-built 

 pony horses, than to horses sixteen or seventeen hands 

 high. The first plan would retain the good qualities 

 with an increase of size ; the last would totally ruin 

 the race. These observations are applicable in all 

 cases. Let our attempts at improvement be made on 

 a gradual scale, but never by an abrupt process. 



I believe there is no horse for heavy draught at all 

 to be compared to the Clydesdale. He is a fast 

 walker, a strong puller, and he has a very hardy con- 

 stitution. Cart stallions are more frequently faulty in 

 their middle-piece, and in their feet, than anywhere 

 else. If they are faulty on these points, they must 

 certainly be avoided. It matters not what perfections 



