184 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



far as he is concerned, selfishness supplied the actual 

 motive at every stage of the proceeding ; but, never- 

 theless, selfishness cannot appropriate the result. The 

 motive was not generous ; but the result is noble. He 

 has ministered to the enjoyment of many ; he has added 

 to the possibilities of social intercourse and domestic 

 happiness. He will be paid for his labor in dollars; 

 but the profit which he has brought to the world can- 

 not be estimated in currency. Commerce will add 

 another sail to her squadron, the rail-car have a heavier 

 freight, the social room a fuller company, and the house 

 of God a larger audience, because of the animal that he 

 has so successfully raised and trained for human use. 



We will now pass on to consider the higher educa- 

 tion of the horse : by which I mean those processes and 

 methods of proceeding by which the more characteris- 

 tic traits of his nature, chiefest among which is speed, 

 are brought forward, under wise management, to per- 

 fection. Let us, therefore, inquire how a colt should be 

 treated in order to develop in him the highest degree 

 of speed. We will take an animal at two years of age, 

 let us say, and inquire into the best method of cultivat- 

 ing the faculty and power of rapid motion. 



The first thing to attend to, be it observed by all, is 

 the luncjs. Lung-power is the best kind of power a 

 horse can possibly have, because it alone can make 

 other kinds of power of avail. Muscular power is very 

 desirable ; but muscles can never bring a horse to the 

 wir-e in time, unless his lungs are good. Nervous force 



