PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF SCIENCE 175 



So many mistakes have been made in the application 

 of science to the breeding and improving of domestic 

 animals, particularly horses, and so much success has 

 been attained through careful and timely attention to 

 the details of feeding and surroundings by men un- 

 trained in science, that the fact is often forgotten that 

 their successes are due to the practical application of 

 science which they have unwittingly absorbed. This 

 has resulted in belittling science that is, ascertained 

 truth or knowledge duly arranged, and in giving the 

 credit to "common sense.' 7 



Such rapid advancement has been made within the 

 last thirty years in the breeding and rearing of horses, 

 that he who would now reap the largest reward must 

 not only master the most minute details of breeding, 

 but must also make himself acquainted with the many 

 laws and forces that are ever acting, modifying and 

 limiting each other, some of them knowable, some of 

 them unknown in our present state of research. 



Much valuable information may be gained by study- 

 ing the effects of laws with which we are only partially 

 acquainted, or of which we are totally ignorant. For 

 instance, we know that exercise or motion under certain 

 conditions produces growth and development; under 

 others the same exercise may produce weakness and de- 

 cay. If we exceed the limit of exercise too far, we may 

 not only fail to secure development, but may produce 

 lasting injury. Observing results from certain methods, 

 we try to formulate in part, at least, the laws with 

 which we are only imperfectly acquainted. We should 

 not discard or hold any knowledge lightly (because our 



