65 



We confine horses and dogs not only to have them 

 at our hnmediate call, but to bring them into par- 

 ticular states, which are artificial. 



The wind, durability, and emulation of the race- 

 horse are increased by artificial means : the same art 

 is requisite to form the manage horse's cadences, 

 which could not be retained, was he permitted con- 

 stantly to run at grass. The speed, docility, and even 

 scent, of the sporting dog are, in a great measure, ac- 

 quired by his education and constant practice. 



Nature is always equal to her wants, but is never 

 lavish of her gifts. Horses in a state of nature are 

 strong and active ; they can tight w hen necessary, or 

 they can fly swiftly from their enemies ; but the 

 profoundest philosopher, and the strongest advocate 

 for nature, would confess that no Arabian, browzing 

 on the simple herbage of the field, would be equal to 

 the continued exertions of Eclipse : therefore, if we 

 expect peculiar and unnatural exertions, we must 

 also give unnatural powers ; and this we do by our 

 grooming and high feeding: but as this is a deviation 

 from Nature, so she always punishes it with a ten- 

 dency to disease, which we again counteract by art. 



Horses under strong exercise require full feed- 

 ing ; and so long as the exercise is proportioned to 

 their feeding, they seldom hurt ; but there are times 

 when we do not want to exert them, and yet we 

 ■wish to keep them in a state to be able to it when 

 we do want their exertions ; and it is at this time 

 that they frequently sutler ; for the necessity of ex- 

 ercise proportioned to their keep is not suificieiitly 

 considered, or the time cannot be spared, or servants 

 neglect them ; and thus the horse becomes pursive, 



G 3 



