THE RACE- HORSE. - 585 



race. The argument is not perfectly satisfactory. The 

 race is a trial of the power of the horse, and of the skill of 

 the rider, and we diminish the claim of superiority in both 

 when we reduce the contest to a furious gallop. Is it no- 

 thing to take from the interest and curiosity of the spectacle, 

 to lessen its value as a trial of the powers of the animal, and 

 to reduce to the mere determination of a bet that which can 

 be rendered subservient to the gratification of public taste, 

 and to purposes yet more useful ? But if an argument can 

 be used in favour of this innovation upon the ancient prac- 

 tice of the turf, with respect to the distances to be passed 

 over, what shadow of an argument can be produced to justify 

 the practice of employing horses in this severe exercise, and 

 in the laborious training which it demands, before they shall 

 have acquired their natural powers 1 The growth of the 

 Horse is indeed very rapid for so large an animal, but yet a 

 few years are absolutely required to allow his fine form to 

 acquire its full expansion and adjustment of parts, his bones 

 and cartilages to attain their due solidity, his muscles, liga- 

 ments, and tendons, to arrive at their natural toughness and 

 strength. The slightest knowledge of the physiology of the 

 animal makes us acquainted with these truths, and shews 

 that he undergoes from his birth to maturity of youth a 

 series of progressive changes, which we ought not to inter- 

 rupt. Why should we anticipate powers which will be so 

 soon at our command without reproach ? What is a year, 

 or what are two years gained, of services from the young 

 and immature animal, when we consider how many more we 

 may deprive ourselves of when he is more fitted to render 

 them. Nothing is better established in the practical ma- 

 nagement of the Horse, whether intended for the chase, for 

 the carriage, or for the labour of heavy draught, than the 

 importance, with relation to his future services, his health, 

 and longevity, of never over-taxing his powers of action 

 when young ; and in the case of the horse designed for the 

 turf, the error is, if possible, yet more palpable. The powers 



