316 REARING AND FEEDING OF ANIMALS. 



if not in many instances, equal to them in point of excellence and 

 value. This mighty change has been wrought in a few years. 



Although we have many different breeds of horses, all of 

 them possessing their peculiar valuable properties, yet they are 

 not distinguished or known from each other by peculiar names, 

 as distinct breeds, as is the case in Europe. We have the race- 

 horse the saddle-horse the coach-horse the family-horse 

 the road or stage-horse the cart or draught-horse and the 

 farm-horse. Those used in transportation of goods, called team, 

 and sometimes wagon-horses, are generally heavy, fine spirited, 

 noble looking animals, regular in their gait, steady in their 

 pull, performing their daily task with apparent cheerfulness 

 and good will. 



The improved breeds in the United States, are derived prin- 

 cipally from the Turkish horse, a regular descendant from the 

 original Arab, crossed by the best Persian blood. Several of 

 our consuls, residing on the borders of the Mediterranean, de- 

 serve great credit for the pains they have taken to send over 

 to their native country horses of the best breeds and the purest 

 blood. 



With the improvements already noticed, a great change has 

 taken place in the rearing and subsequent management of 

 horses. The former practice was not only seriously defective, 

 but absolutely injurious. The mode of breaking a young horse 

 was not merely absurd, hurtful to him, and dangerous to the 

 person performing the operation of taming, but cruel in the 

 extreme. Frequently, without being accustomed to the bridle, 

 or any incumbrance, he was mounted. If he refused to comply 

 with the wishes of the rider, the young horse, ignorant and 

 alarmed, was unmercifully beaten he was jerked by the head 

 backwards and forwards, until, becoming wild with fright, he 

 dashed off, and frequently unseated his rider at a single bound. 

 We have known many instances in which, at the outset, the 

 animal has gone off kindly and the injudicious rider con- 

 tinued the exercise until the horse was completely jaded down 

 and dispirited. A horse if taken early can be rendered per- 

 fectly tractable and docile by tender and kind treatment. The 

 proper method of breaking will be hereafter noticed. 



The following observations respecting the form rearing and 

 feeding with copious remarks as to the general management 

 of the horse, are taken from Professor Low's work. It is more 

 full and comprehensive than any we have heretofore met with, 

 and so brief withal, that we cannot abridge it to advantage. 



1. Form. An examination of the form of the horse requires a cursory one 

 of his anatomical structure. 



The bones of an animal form, it may be said, the foundation on which is 

 erected the edifice of the living machine. They mainly give to it its form and 



