96 THE HORSE 



harder since the introduction of macadamization, and thus, in proportion to 

 our greater demands, is the absence of the material to meet them. A hack 

 that is not pretty well bred is now neglected, except for high weights, 

 because his paces are not soft and pleasant, and he does not satisfy the eye. 

 But how many of the fashionable sort will bear constant use on the road 

 without becoming lame 1 And how many sound horses are there to be 

 met with out of a hundred, taken at random from the ranks of any kind 

 tolerably well bred? Every horse proprietor will tell you, scarcely five 

 per cent. ; and some will even go so far as to say, that a sound horse is 

 utterly unknown. In considering the principles and practice of breeding, 

 I shall again refer to this subject ; but I wish now to impress upon my 

 readers that while the race-horse is as fast as ever, as stout as ever, and as 

 good-looking as ever, he is made of more perishable materials in proportion 

 as he comes to maturity at an earlier period. Any of our modern two- 

 year-olds would probably give 2 stone and a beating to Eclipse at the 

 same age, but if afterwards they were put to half-bred mares for the 

 purpose of getting hacks, chargers, or hunters, the stock of Eclipse or 

 Childers would be much more valuable than any which we have at present. 

 We are sadly in want of sound and well-bred stallions for general purposes, 

 and if the Government l of the country does not soon interfere, and adopt 

 some means of furnishing these islands with them, we shall be beaten on our 

 own ground, and shall have to import sound useful horses from Belgium, 

 France, Hungary, or Prussia, whichever country can best spare them. 

 The old-fashioned and sound thoroughbred horse has been the means of 

 improving the above three breeds ; and even now we possess horses which 

 are perfect in every other respect but soundness, being excellent hacks, 

 hunters, and light carriage-horses, and often all in one. This last kind is 

 the perfection of the horse ; and if many such could be produced it would 

 be a great advantage, because most people would like a horse which could 

 " make himself generally useful," if such an animal could be obtained. 

 Without high-breeding, however, this is impossible ; and yet with most 

 of our purest strains, though it is attainable for a time, the condition in 

 which it exists does not last long, in consequence of the effect of the hard 

 road upon their soft legs or contracted feet. Consequently, as I have already 

 remarked, there is a necessity for Government interference to produce 

 such a breed of thoroughbred horses, by careful selection, as shall give us 

 the above three kinds of horses useful in civil life, from which may be 

 culled a plentiful supply of cavalry horses, whenever wanted ; for the 

 very same qualities are demanded in all, and what will suit the one will 

 be equally advantageous to the other. 



But even though the thoroughbred horse is well fitted to compete with 

 others in all cases where speed is the chief point of trial as in flat-racing, 

 steeplechasing, hunting, etc. yet he is not so well qualified for some 

 kinds of harness-work, or for road-work of any kind, as the horse expressly 

 bred for these purposes. There is no doubt that thoroughbred horses might 

 be selected and bred expressly for this kind of work, and would excel all 



1 Thoroughbred horses which have undergone a rigid veterinary examination now enjoy 

 a Government premium on certain conditions, being required to serve mares in prescribed 

 districts and at certain fees. This and other causes have contributed to a largely increased 

 number of good horses bred in the British Isles, and our cavalry is in no serious danger. 



