THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



CHAPTER I. 



Domestication of the Horse. Horse Furniture. Various Breeds. 

 Blood Horses. Ponies. 



THE reduction of the horse to the domestic state, as 

 Buffon justly observes, is the greatest acquisition from 

 the animal world ever made by the art and industry of 

 man. Every one knows and admires the graceful 

 symmetry, the speed, vigor, docility, and endurance 

 of that noble creature ; but few, perhaps, have re- 

 flected on the important part he has played in the 

 history of our race ; few are aware how much we 

 owe it to him, that we at this day are not as rude 

 and wretched as our barbarian forefathers, but live 

 surrounded by those countless blessings which are 

 the birthright of every child born in a civilized land. 

 We fear that there has been little gratitude or hu- 

 manity evinced in our general treatment of the horse ; 

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