EACE-HOBSES.] MODERN VETERTNAEY PEACTICE. [nACE-HonsES. 



In the event of such a misfortune, we con- 

 fess we should have hailed with joy a national, 

 or any other establishment which might have 

 had the effect of preserving to us our present 

 breed. AVe will not say the time may not come 

 when the legislature may be called upon to de- 

 vise some plan to prevent a native degeneracy, 

 if needed ; because we feel convinced that that, 

 or any other measure, would be resorted to, to 

 prevent what would be considered a national 

 calamity, if not a real disgrace. There formerly 

 were, and still are, two opinions upon this sub- 

 ject ; and fearing that there may be some truth 

 in the degeneracy of the racing blood, although 

 not, we hope, to the extent entertained by the 

 projector of a national establishment, whose 

 plan was published some years ago ; yet, as the 

 subject has a certain interest, we preserve the 

 general features of the scheme propounded. 



If we admit, for the sake of argument, that 

 our horses, now-a-days, are neither so durable, 

 nor possess the speed of an Eclipse or a Chil- 

 ders, does it follow that the breed has become 

 degenerate ? Are the circumstances in other 

 respects so exact, that we have no other alter- 

 native than to place it to the score of degene- 

 racy ? Has the racing blood of this country 

 become so intermixed and assimilated, as to 

 have produced the inconvenience, and to have 

 become the opprobrium of good breeders ; in 

 short, has our racing blood arrived at that 

 pitch of relationship, which constitutes what is 

 called breeding " in-and-in ? " Is the manage- 

 ment of racers now as formerly ? 



Both Eclipse and Childers were about six 

 years old before they raced ; and at the present 

 day, horses run at two and three years old. 

 Is it to be expected that animals worked 

 at so tender an age, can be durable? "We 

 only ask whether the difference of manage- 

 ment between running horses at five or six, 

 and two or three, may not account, at least, 

 for their want of durability ? 



The following are the remarks of the pro- 

 jector of a National Establishment, upon 

 the course which should be pursued in reference 

 to this subject, should it ever be taken up by 

 government. 



A national establishment should commence 

 its functions by obtaining from the East a 

 considerable number of well-selected ponies. 

 The better portion would be found to possess 



much natural speed, stoutness under severe 

 exertion, with limbs and feet peculiarly adapted 

 for moving rapidly on a hard surface. It 

 would bo puerile to bring from so great a 

 distance, such ill-shapen and attenuated crea- 

 tures as those now usually imported under 

 the name of Arabians ; or to employ persons 

 to purchase, who have not had experience of 

 the best horses under severe exertion. They 

 would search in vain amongst Orientals for 

 those properties which are acquired under a 

 system of continued selection. Looking only 

 for natural qualities, they should select animals 

 as nearly in a state of nature as they can find 

 them ; having good symmetry, a full amount 

 of muscle, and whatever natural speed the best 

 animals of the best race are found to possess. 



"When brought to England a further trial 

 should be made. In this we should be content 

 with a degree of speed which is natural, and 

 an amount of structural power as nearly 

 natural as could be procured. The offspring 

 of these small horses should be tried in each 

 succeeding generation ; and we should be 

 satisfied, for a few years, to see the natural 

 speed of the race gradually augment ; retaining 

 only for breeding such as went through their 

 trials satisfactorily. 



It would be folly to buy horses of largo 

 structure in the East, as such would be found 

 to have less speed than the smaller ones ; while 

 factitfous structure can be given by ourselves 

 with only too much facility. 



"Whenever the public shall become alive to 

 the deteriorated condition of our saddle-horses, 

 and anxious to obtain such as are more usetul, 

 the first step must be a recurrence to nature 

 for those properties which art has destroyed. 

 It has been shown that, in the absence of 

 fresh blood, the elongated skeleton of the 

 modern racer can only be shortened by a 

 process which would render him a starveling. 

 The character of the whole race has been 

 reduced, in this respect, to a common level. 

 Some individuals may be more compact than 

 others ; but all have lost something which 

 fresh blood only can restore. If we rear them 

 at a reasonable expense, their growth is stunted 

 — if on rich grass, they lose their speed. 

 "Whether we try to renovate this exhausted 

 race, or substitute another, the objects we 

 seek are a more compact form and greater 



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