Avery's own farrier. 37 



while cultivating the finer feelings of his nature (as he 

 must, in order to control the horse properly), arrives to 

 that degree of refinement in his mind which is so neces- 

 sary for a member of good society to possess. 



I have known men to buy a pair of horses, paying 

 from three to four hundred dollars for them, which was 

 considered by many an enormous price. The purchaser, 

 after keeping them a few months, would sell them again 

 for double the price he paid, to the astonishment of those 

 who considered the first price extravagant. This may be 

 attributable to the knowledge of the dealer of the market, 

 and his skill in training and improving their condition 

 while they remained in his hands. So we see, too, that 

 the study of the horse is calculated to elevate the mind 

 of man, as well as to replenish his purse. 



How offen do we see young men whose almost first 

 act in life is to buy a horse, and sometimes before they 

 are able to pay the purchase money; and even part with 

 the last cow and every other valuable before they will 

 part with their horse. This shows the great attachment 

 man has for the horse, which can be traced back through 

 history to the ancient nobleman, as well as the wild Arab. 

 This will be made more apparent hereafter. 



*' Soon after the time of Alfred the Great, or about 

 A. D. one thousand, it was decreed" (and from this 

 something may be gathered of the relative value of the 

 horse at that time) that if a horse was lost, or negli- 

 gently destroyed, the compensation should be thirty shil- 

 lings; a mare or colt, twenty shillings. About this time 

 laws were passed which fixed the price of a foal at four- 

 pence; at one year and a day old, at forty-eight pence; 



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