15i BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



" In the domestic horse we l)ehold an animal equally strong 

 and l)cautil"ul, endowed with great docility, and no less fire; 

 with size and endurance joined to sobriety, speed, and patience; 

 clean, companionable, emulous, even generous ; forbearing, yet 

 impetuous ; with faculties susceptible of very considerable educa- 

 tion, and perceptions which catch the spirit of man's intentions, 

 lending his powers with the utmost readiness, and restraining 

 them with equal willingness ; saddled or in harness, laboring 

 clieerfully ; enjoying the sports of the field, and exulting in tlie 

 tumult of battle ; used by mankind in the most laudable and 

 necessary operations, and often tlie unconscious instrument 

 of the" most sanguinary passions; applauded, cherished, tlicii 

 neglected, and ultimately abandoned to the keeping of bipeds 

 who often show little superiority of reason, and much less of 

 temper." 



When and by whom the horse was first subjugated for the 

 service of man is unknown, but it is certain that from the re- 

 motest times he has been the most useful and most highly 

 prized of domesticated animals. 



He was at first, doubtless, employed as he is even to the 

 present day among many nations, exclusively for riding. In 

 the account given in the Bible of the destruction of Pharaoh 

 and his army in the Red Sea, is the earliest record of the har- 

 nessing of horses to vehicles of any description. 



Tlie ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, gave much at- 

 tention to the breeding of fine horses, and, as appears from 

 their writings, and from antique paintings and statues they were 

 by no means unsuccessful. Terrentius Varro, who lived more 

 than nineteen hundred years ago, wrote the following excellent 

 directions for selecting a good colt, showing that he, at least, 

 had very correct notions upon the subject. 



" AVe may prognosticate great things of a colt, if, when run- 

 ning in the pastures, he is ambitious to get before his companions ; 

 and, if in coming to a river he strives to be the first to plunge 

 into it. Uis head should be small, his limbs clean and com- 

 pact, his eyes bright and sparkling, his nostrils open and large, 

 his ears placed near each other, his mane strong and full, his 

 chest broad, his shoulders flat and sloping backward, his barrel 

 round and compact, his loins broad and strong, his tail full and 

 bushy, his legs straight and even, his knees broad and well-knit, 



