110 THE HORSE. 



In 1T50, the French of Illinois possessed considerable num- 

 bers of French horses, and, since that time, as the science of 

 agriculture has improved and advanced, pure animals of many- 

 distinct breeds have been constantly imported into this country, 

 which have created in different sections and districts distinct 

 families easily recognized ; as the horses of Massachusetts and 

 Vermont, admirable for their qualities as draft horses, both 

 powerful and active, and capable of quick as well as heavy- 

 work — the Conestogas, excellent for ponderous slow efforts in 

 teaming and the like — and the active wiry horses of the West, 

 well adapted for riding, and affording mounts to most of the 

 American cavalry. Although, however, these horses are readily 

 known — apart, and recognized by the eye of a judge, it is not 

 always easy or possible to assign the origin of each breed, or to 

 trace out the foreign family from which it is derived ; as, until 

 recently, a lamentable carelessness has existed as to preserving 

 the i^edigrees of animals, which has produced irretrievable con- 

 fusion — while now, since the value of blood and hereditary 

 qualities is every where admitted, a much worse evil is begin- 

 ning to show itself, in the manufacture of spurious pedigrees, 

 which is becoming unfortunately too common, and, owing to 

 the want of properly kept and authenticated stud-books, is 

 nearly impossible of detection. It would appear that there is 

 a growing necessity for the enactment of some highly penal 

 statutes, in all the several States, for the rej)ression of this 

 offence, which is not only a most infamous sj)ecies of swindling, 

 but, in fact, an absolute act of forgery. 



The unlucky absence of properly kept stud-books has also 

 rendered it impossible to prove the blood directly of many of 

 our most celebrated race-horses and stallions, the dams of which 

 have not been duly recorded. It cannot be said, however, that 

 their lineage is doubtful, though it may be unknown ; as their 

 own qualities of speed, stoutness, and their ability to stay a 

 distance, go far to show their claims to pure blood, while their 

 power of transmitting it to their progeny proves it beyond a 

 peradventure. For, although some horses, not perfectly 

 thoroughbred, have run well themselves, both for speed and 

 endurance, none such have been the sires and grandsires of dis- 

 tinguished winners. The power, therefore of transmitting high 



