OUR SADDLE-HORSES. 69 



with animals of the same race, which have 

 been less removed from a state of nature, is 

 the only remedy. These facts prove that no 

 domesticated race of animals whose natural 

 habits have been much changed by human 

 interference, long escapes deterioration in re- 

 spect to some of its natural qualities, unless 

 renovated by fresh blood. 



Seeing, then, the course taken with our 

 cattle, we cannot doubt that our farmers would 

 pursue the same course with our saddle-horses 

 if they could. 



We have no power over the qualities given 

 by nature to animals, save that which results 

 from long-continued selection of individuals 

 for propagating their race, which possess, in a 

 pre-eminent degree, the qualities we want. 

 Horses of the same race are not equally 

 speedy, or equally enduring. If, then, the 

 object of the breeding of saddle-horses be 

 speed alone, we select for that one quality ; 

 but if the object of the breeder be en- 

 durance as well as speed, he must breed 

 from animals that possess that union of 

 qualities. It is the same in cows; such as 

 naturally afford more milk than others we 



