GALLOWAYS.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[galloways. 



which were known by the name of Galloways. 

 The best of these sometimes reached the height 

 of fourteen hands and a-half. One of this 

 description he possessed, it having been bought 

 for his use when a boy. In point of elegance 

 of shape, it was a perfect picture , and in 

 disposition was gentle and compliant ; it moved 

 almost with a wish, and never tired. Tlie 

 Doctor rode this little creature for twenty-five 

 vears ; and twice, in that time, rode a hundred 

 and fifty miles, without stopping, except to 

 bait, and that not above an hour at a time. 

 It came in, at the last stage, with as much ease 

 and alacrity as it had travelled the first. The 

 Doctor says, he would have undertaken to have 

 performed on this animal, when it was in its 

 prime, sixty miles a day for a twelvemonth 

 running, without any extraordinary exertion. 



A Galloway in point of size, whether of 

 Scotch origin or not is uncertain, started when 

 coaches were running, from London with the 

 Exeter mail ; and, notwithstanding the nume- 



rous changes of horses, and the rapid driving 

 of that vehicle, it arrived at Exeter — one hun- 

 dred and seventy-two miles — fifteen minutes 

 before the mail. A gentleman who saw this 

 animal about twelve months after his wonderful 

 performance, described him as being wind- 

 galled, spavined, ring-boned, and a lamentable 

 picture of the ingratitude of man towards a 

 willing and faithful servant. 



In 1754, Mr. Corker's Galloway went one 

 hundred miles a-day for three successive days, 

 over the Newmarket course, and without the 

 slightest distress. 



A Galloway belonging to Mr. Sinclair, of 

 Kirby-Lonsdale, performed at Carlisle the ex- 

 traordinary feat of one thousand miles in a 

 thousand hours ! 



Galloways have greatly decreased in point 

 of numbers. Many of those which are now in 

 use, are obtained either from Wales or the 

 New Forest. The Galloway ia supposed to 

 have originally been of Spanish extraction. 



CHAPTER III. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE HORSE ; THE SUPPOSED DEGENERACY OF THE RACING BREED, ETC. 



Before considering our Eacers, and their 

 kindred breeds in this country, it may be as 

 well to make a few general observations on 

 the racing animal, and the supposed deteriora- 

 tion of his blood. The subject is one of 

 great interest, and merits the thoughtful con- 

 sideration of all those who are more especially 

 connected with the genus equidce. Some 

 have supposed that the deterioration may have 

 arisen from the fashion of the present mode of 

 breeding for lengtli of stride, and for short races. 

 This, however, might be easily altered by our 

 present stock, without proceeding to the neces- 

 sity of employing fresh blood to invigorate it. 

 There are others, again, who insist that nothing 

 less than a national establishment will prevent 

 our horses from becoming sorry jades. 



The English horse is so identified with the 

 glory of the country, that we could hardly look 

 56 



upon any one as possessed of patriotic feelings, 

 who would see, without a sigh, the degeneracy 

 of our native breed. 



There is, at present, one circumstance, how- 

 ever, which places us in a novel situation in 

 respect to the horse, which time only can de- 

 velop. "We allude to the eflect that railroads 

 may have had upon the breed. It is a well- 

 known fact, that, at the commencement of the 

 railway system of travelling, many spirited 

 coach-proprietors gave almost hunters' prices 

 for their cattle, and that there was a regular 

 demand for horses of any size for the use of 

 coaches. This traffic having in a considerable 

 degree ceased, it will become a matter for con- 

 sideration whether there will be any stimulant 

 for breeding sufficient to carry it on with pro- 

 fit and spirit ; or whether it will be abandoned, 

 and treated with indifierence. 



