60 PHILOSOPHY OF TROTTING. 



and of resolution, and of that intellectual quality which we des!<rnat& 

 sense; and from all this it is apparent that in the horse all these organs 

 of the brain find a large development. They are largest, of course, 

 in man, and some of them are totally wanting in the invertel)rate 

 animals; but in the scale of brain and nerve force, it will be found 

 that in the animal creation the horse holds a rank close to his master^ 



PHYSICAL CONFORMATION. 



In the separate consideration of the individual stallions and fam- 

 ilies which form the chief subject of these chapters, it will be seen 

 that a large space is given to physical conformation. When we con- 

 sider the trotting horse in the aggregate, it may be that the mental 

 or nervous traits and habits or instincts deserve as much attention 

 as any other part of the subject; but in view of the highly advanced 

 state of our trottino; horses, and the advancement that has been made 

 in fixinsr his habits and mental characteristics, it will be found that 

 at present there is greater demand for study and judicious selections 

 in regard to form and physical defects and excellences, than with 

 regard to the unseen and hidden traits of the mind. We have gone 

 so long on the false maxim that trotting goes in all forms, that we 

 have learned to disregard that which at this day has more influence 

 on the excellence of our American trotters as a class, than their 

 mental constitution. 



The fastest trotting stallion of America has become a great trotter 

 through the sujieriority of his natural and acquired mental traits and 

 intense nerve force, in face of the most positive disadvantage result- 

 ing from a form that has at all times presented obstacles that could 

 only be overcome or obviated by great skill in the education or 

 training, and the highest degree of acquired dexterity on the part 

 of the horse. 



The American Star and Duroc-Messenger families have attained 

 to a great degree of excellence in all that pertains to high trotting 

 quality and a nerve force and organisn of unsurpassed tension and 

 power, coupled with physical infirmities and blood traits of the most 

 pernicious and damaging character, all coming from a single race- 

 horse that was himself the embodiment of the highest nerve organ- 

 ism, and the most deep-seated physical taints and imperfections. 

 We have overlooked the importance of the maxim sana mens in 

 sano corpore., and have eagerly sought for an engine that could show 

 tremendously intense steam power, without any regard to the strength 



