174 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



neglect and abuse of horses advanced in years. Men are apt 

 to imagine tliat as soon as a liorse is a dozen years old, when 

 he should be in his very prime, they must dispose of him to 

 the highest bidder, because he will soon become unsalable. 

 Being sold at a low price, the unfortunate animal generally 

 falls into the hands of a master deficient in both money and 

 intelligence, and consequently receives less grain and less care 

 in his declining years than he enjoyed in early life. He is, 

 also, often overworked ; his feet are neglected, and he becomes 

 lame ; his accustomed bed and blanket arc withheld, and he 

 becomes rheumatic; his teeth are allowed to get out of order, 

 so that he cannot masticate his food, and then his digestion is 

 impaired, his strength forsakes him, and he comes to an 

 untimely end. Who has not been saddened by the thought 

 of the lamentable fate of old horses ? 



Among the many valuable lessons taught at the Fourth 

 National Exhibition of Horses, held in Springfield, in Septem- 

 ber, 18G0, was an excellent one upon this subject. Lewis B. 

 Brown, Esq., of New York, has justly received great commen- 

 dation for showing to the public how much kind and judicious 

 treatment will accomplish toward the renovation and preserva- 

 tion of aged horses. He exhibited a four-in-hand team of 

 horses, whose average age was twenty-seven years, and whose 

 appearance and speed were well calculated to modify, very 

 decidedly, the common opinion respecting the capabilities of 

 horses in their teens, and to induce reflecting persons to doubt 

 the expediency of parting with valuable animals for half their 

 real worth, merely because they were advancing in years. The 

 nigh leader of this famous team was thirty-five years old, and 

 had been rescued, fifteen years before, by Mr. Brown, from the 

 hands of the man, who was about to kill him as worthless, on 

 account of his great age. The off-leader, though perfectly 

 blind from an accidental injury, and twenty-five years old, 

 displayed all the pride, courage and activity of a colt, and as 

 he came down the home-stretch amid the cheers of the delighted 

 multitude, was evidently conscious that he was the worthy 

 object of their admiration. These words of the poet respecting 

 th^ renowned racer, Lexington, may be aptly quoted with 

 reference to him : — 



