HORSES. 61 



AGHICUT^TUaE. 



HORSES. 



We now publish the second part of the renfiarks on Horses, that 

 were promised in the last number of the Journal. The writer 

 " calculalcfP'' them for Massachusetts, hut they will apply (general- 

 ly s|)eaking) *■' to any of the adjoining States.''^ He describes the 

 foim of the Mare, which should be employed for breeding. Some 

 may feel disposed to differ with him, in this respect ; indeed, there 

 are scarcely two that think alike, respecting the form and "points" 

 of a good Horse. Almost every one has some 7vhim or caprice 

 which biases his judgment, more or less ; and very few, — compara- 

 tively speaking, look on him with that knowledge of the mechanism 

 of his frame, that ought to guide one in choosing. The fact is, 

 that a Horse is as " wonderfully," if not as *■' fearfully" wrought, as 

 a man. Perhaps there is no other animal, in which the principles 

 of many of the mechanical powers can be more easily and more 

 strikingly demonstrated. None, in which the advantages and dis- 

 advantages, arising from slight variations, or alterations in length, 

 position, or correspondence of the various parts, can be more clear- 

 ly and forcibly illustrated. He is a compound of levers and pul- 

 leys, and he makes scarcely a movement, that is not in accordance 

 with the (ixed and unerring laws of mechanical science. 



We would ask for no better object in nature, to prove the de- 

 sign — the wisdom, or even the very existence of a Supreme Intelli- 

 gence. Without stopping, however, to moralize on this subject, 

 we vs^ill pursue that with which we commenced. The writer very 

 justly observes, that, " breeding from many of our Mares is a cer- 

 tain loss." There can be no vcvy good reason assigned, why al- 

 most as much attention should not be given to the selection of a 

 Mare for breeding, as well as to the selection of a Sire. 



" Every one," an eminent writer observes, " exercises some de- 

 gree of judgment, in regard to the stallion j but there are few 

 breeders, comparatively, who hesitate to employ very ill-formed 

 and worthless Mares, and often solely, because they are unfit for 

 any thing else." A little reflection will convince any one of the 

 absurdity of this plan. " The price of the leap, the keep of the 

 Mare, and the care and kce[) of her progeny from the iiinc they 

 drop, to the time of sale, are the same," whether Ihey be sold for 

 more or less. 



