ON THE HORSE IN GENERAL. QQ 



fyftem. The reader will perceive, that I leave, 

 out of the queftion the few judicious and in- 

 telligent breeders, from whofe laudable exer- 

 tions, at different periods, we owe all that is 

 valuable in our various races of Horfes. The 

 bufinefs of flock-breeding, which is properly 

 fcientific, and therefore requires the aid of 

 philofophy and reflection, is from neceffity, as 

 it fhould feem, the far greater part of it, in the 

 hands of the moft ignorant and untutored, 

 perhaps the moft prejudiced and obftmate of 

 mankind. It is a mere chance-medley affair. 

 Does a countryman wifh to breed a Horfe? His 

 folicitude and attention, feldom extend farther 

 than to the fize of the animals he choofes for 

 thatpurpofe; provided they be high enough, 

 large enough, and at hand, the bufmefs is 

 done; the fpecies, and conformation of the 

 mare in particular, and her aptitude for the 

 intended purpofe, are confidera tions which 

 feldom occur; or if they do, are ufually thrown 

 afide, as if they really bore no relation what- 

 ever to the queftion. Now this happens to be 

 the moft important point of all others, without 

 recurring to the general idea of the fuperior 

 confequence of the female in the affair of pro- 

 creation, for granting the ftallion to be tho- 

 rough-fhaped and proper (and it is much like- 

 lier for a common breeder to find a good 

 ftallion, than to poflefs a good brood-mare) 



h 2 yet 



