462 THE HORSE. 



to yield up their powers to human service, the Goat, the 

 Sheep, the Ox, and the Hog, was acquired and subdued in 

 different parts of the world where he was found. 



The Horse, as he is presented to us in the state of domes- 

 tication, is not more remarkable for the grace and nobleness 

 of his form, for his strength, agility, and swiftness, for his 

 boldness and spirit, than for the docility with which he re- 

 signs his vast powers to the service of mankind. The sub- 

 jection of this noble creature is complete ; but it is not the 

 degradation of unwilling bondage, but the instinctive sur- 

 render of physical powers for the purposes for which they 

 were given. If we can read design at all in the functions of 

 the animal economy, we must believe that the Horse, how- 

 ever we may have abused his powers, has been formed for 

 the service of mankind, and has had the faculties assigned 

 to him which are fitted for that end. His vast strength, his 

 courage, his powers of rapid progression, would avail us 

 nothing, were he not endowed with a temperament which 

 causes him to submit his actions to the control of superior 

 reason. Were he like the Zebra of the African mountains, 

 or the Dziggithai of Tartary, he would be the subject of per- 

 secution and the chase, instead of being an instrument of 

 civilization, by augmenting our means of mutual intercourse, 

 and increasing our command over the objects which surround 

 us. Nature has not formed this powerful creature to shun 

 entirely the control of man, but has linked him by his natural 

 wants and instincts to our society ; and it is only when under 

 human guidance that his most useful faculties are exercised, 

 and that his full maturity of strength and form is attained. 



The Horse is distinguished from all the others of the 

 Equine genus, by the superior expansion of his chest, the 

 larger development of his muscles, the greater strength and 

 lateral distance of his limbs, the elevation of his withers, the 

 long and flowing hairs of his mane and tail, and his loud and 

 sonorous voice. His hoofs are round at the base, whereas, 



