THE THOROUGHBRED 69 



time is any criterion, there is no comparison between 

 the horses of today and those of former years." 



While the most general use of the thoroughbred 

 horse now is for racing, it is true that he is capable 

 of a much extended utility. As a cavalry -horse a 

 stout thoroughbred cannot be excelled. In pursuit 

 or retreat his speed and endurance make him superior 

 to all others. In Kentucky and Tennessee, where the 

 thoroughbred is more common, he is often found doing 

 excellent service as a driver and as a saddle-horse, 

 and sometimes even in the cart or at the plow. Race- 

 horses that have been broken down on the tracks 

 around New York City are sold and put to all manner 

 of uses. In a fine carriage team at Woodburn Farm 

 a few years ago was a thoroughbred gelding whose 

 mate was a standard trotter. Colonel Brodhead declared 

 the former to be far the best carriage -horse of the 

 two. The favorite driving horse of the wife of Gov- 

 ernor Stanford was a thoroughbred son of Don 

 Victor. 



It can be truthfully said that the blood-horse has 

 almost reached the highest state of possible improve- 

 ment, and is the most perfect of the horse kind. For 

 beauty, intelligence, courage, speed and endurance 

 nothing approaches him. The tribute of Job justly is 

 his : 



"Hast thou given the horse strength ? hast thou clothed his 

 neck with thunder? 



Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper ? the glory 

 of his nostrils is terrible. 



He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he 

 goeth on to meet the armed men. 



