THE HORSE. 



rent from that of any other country in Europe, had 

 an early commencement ; but, as might well be ex- 

 pected, was confined to the superior, chiefly to the 

 sporting classes. This system has been gradually 

 and progressively improved to the late times ; during 

 which we have produced specimens in every variety 

 of the animal, bordering on attainable perfection : 

 such however, it must be acknowledged, have been, 

 even in our latest and most vaunted periods, rarce 

 aves, sufficiently scarce ; and our numbers of scientific 

 and judicious breeders have at no period formed the 

 majority. The average, however, of English horses, 

 has possessed a fair proportion of the English princi- 

 ple. Hence, their constant demand for foreign studs. 



This national principle of horse-breeding, consists 

 in matching the horse and mare, in respect to size, 

 substance, blood, and a certain conventional symmetry, 

 so as to obtain a form in the foal, in which may subsist 

 a union of strength and ability for labour, with the 

 powers of activity, and speedy progression. We pro- 

 ceed on the principle that, generally, and subject to 

 the natural and unavoidable dilemma of exception, 

 Mike produces like.' So said, and so found, that 

 renowned cattle breeder Bakewell, who modernized 

 the ancient adage, " most commonlie, such sire and 

 damme, such colt." 



As we imported foreign horses, invariably improv- 

 ing upon those models, so we originally imported 

 the art of farriery and veterinary science from the 

 schools of Italy and France, improving upon those 

 likewise. In the early periods above quoted, the 

 farriers of note and the riding-masters in England, 



