EACE-noRSEs.] MODEEN VETEKINARY PEACTICE. [uACE-uoRSKa. 



running for wliich premiums might properly 

 be granted ; and great tasks might again be 

 performed on the race-course without any of 

 the cruelty which attends the present modes 

 of running. 



The stallions, whose stature had been ade- 

 quately enlarged in the establishment for sup- 

 plying the demand of the farmers in the great 

 breeding counties, should be let out under 

 strict regulations, or, in those counties, main- 

 tained by the establishment in a condition best 

 calculated to preserve their vigour. Mucila- 

 ginous food, and other expedients, had recourse 

 to, by private individuals, to make the animals 

 very fat, should not be resorted to. The 

 stallions of a national establishment should 

 make their way to public favour by the good- 

 ness of their stock. No horse should leave the 

 establishment, as a stallion, labouring under 

 any essential defect. If a public establish- 

 ment supplied the breeding counties with the 

 best class of stallions at a cheap rate — bred 

 within its own precincts — the public would be 

 eulightened by example ; and, becoming gradu- 

 ally accustomed to see the best forms, would 

 no longer be satisfied with bad ones. 



In determining the utility of some such 

 plan as here proposed, the reader will do well 

 to ask himself the following questions. Is 

 there a strong disposition in every fine race of 

 the horse, whose structure has been enlarged 

 by unnaturally rich food, to become either 

 coarse or weedy ? Are the plans adopted on 

 the race-course, to prevent coarseness, more 

 than palliative ? And are not some of them 

 objectionable ? Is it not better to recur to 

 nature, when art has disposed a domesticated 

 race of horses to coarseness, than to such a 

 palliative as that of breeding on one side 

 from old parents ? Is not this substituting 

 weediness for coarseness ? If we adopt a 

 system under which both coarseness and 

 weediness are avoided, by recurring, when 

 necessary, to I'resh blood, we should be able 

 to rear and work horses at the least possible 

 expense. Under this system any essential 

 loss of vigour would be instantly repaired by 

 the most economical means. In maintaining 

 vigour in a race of horses without coarseness, 

 we should have laid the best foundation for 

 giving to it those artificial qualities which 

 result from ajinual trials, and continaed selec- 



tion. It is in our power to modify greatly the 

 acquired, as well as the natural, properties of 

 Oriental horses ; but we cannot combine the 

 highest degree of transient speed with the 

 compact skeleton and muscular power dis- 

 played by the earlier horses, and required 

 when great distances are to be traversed, or 

 much weight to be carried. 



The practical utility of the projector's plan 

 and speculations may create doubt in some 

 minds as to the propriety of ever adoptin"- 

 them to the extent of his views. They may, 

 however, stimulate inquiry, and, at some 

 period, be productive of all the benefit the 

 most sanguine may anticipate. It is a subject 

 of vital importance, and of grave deliberation. 



We hear of much despondency expressed 

 that our breed of horses will die out, and that 

 its advantages, some of our continental neigh- 

 bours are of opinion, will not long remain with 

 us : they are fully aware of the source whence 

 we derived this superiority, and, in con- 

 sequence, have endeavoured to establish races 

 on the English plan, which, together with a 

 more careful selection of stallions and mares 

 than we observe in England, will very soon, 

 they say, enable them, to excel us ; and they 

 anticipate a day, not very distant, when we 

 must send to the continent, if not for speedy, 

 at least for sound horses. This hint aboui: 

 soundness may be worth attention ; but, for 

 the rest, there can be little to apprehend. 



The following account for the demand of 

 the racing blood of this country, would, how- 

 ever, make it appear that, in foreign countries, 

 the English race-horse was, at no distant day, 

 held in great estimation. 



England, where, during the last century, 

 the improvement of her breed of horses has 

 been cultivated with unwearied zeal and a 

 lavish expenditure, is now reaping a golden 

 harvest in return for her enterprise and spirit. 

 Purchasers arrive from the four quarters of 

 the globe. America has taken up the specula- 

 tion with an ardour worthy the scion of " the 

 old country;" and .b" ranee, more especially 

 under the reign of JS^apoleon the Third, 

 seems to think it even of national importance 

 to encourage the breeding of horses upon a 

 better principle than that of crossing the 

 Flanders mare with the Norman stallion. 

 With the view of turning the attention of tho 



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