THE RACEHORSE. 197 
an idolatrous regard, and will oftentimes spare an enemy merely on account - 
of his steed. 
The RACEHORSE of England is, perhaps, with the exception of the fox- 
hound, the most admirable example of the perfection to which a domesticated 
animal can be brought by careful breeding and training. 
Whatever may have been its original source, the Racer has been greatly 
improved by the mixture of Arab blood, through the means of the Godolphin 
and Darley Arabians. The celebrated horse Eclipse was a descendant, on 
the mother’s side, of the Godolphin Arabian, that wonderful animal which 
was rescued from drawing a cart in Paris, and which was afterwards destined 
to play so important a part in regenerating the breed of English Racers. He 
was also descended, on his father’s side, from the Darley Arabian. 
The best bred Horses are generally the most affectionate and docile, 
although their spirit is very high and their temper hot and quick. There are 
few animals which are more affectionate than a Horse, which seems to feel a 
necessity for attachment, and if his sympathies be not aroused by human 
means, he will make friends with the nearest living being. Cats are great 
favourites with Horses, and even the famous Chillaby, called, from his 
ferocity, the Mad Arabian, had his little friend in the shape of a lamb, which 
would take any liberties with him, and was accustomed. to butt at the flies as 
they came too near his strange ally. The Godolphin Arabian was also 
strongly attached to a cat, which usually sat on his back or nestled in the 
manger. When he died, the cat pined away and soon followed her loved 
friend. 
These examples are sufficient to show that the ferocity of these animals 
was caused by the neglect or ignorance of their human associates, who either 
did not know how to arouse the affectionate feelings of the animal, or brutally 
despised and crushed them. The Horse is 2 much more intellectual animal 
than is generally supposed, as will be acknowledged by anyone who has 
possessed a favourite Horse and treated it with uniform kindness. 
There is no need for whip or spur when the rider and steed understand 
each other, and the bridle is reduced almost to a mere form, as the touch of 
a finger, or the tone of a voice, is sufficient to direct the animal. We are all 
familiar with the elephantine dray-horses that march so majestically along 
with their load of casks, and which instantaneously obey the singular sounds 
which continually issue from the throats of their conductors, and back, stop, 
advance, or turn to the right or left, without requiring the touch of a rein or 
the blow of a whip. The infliction of pain is a clumsy and a barbarous 
manner of guiding a Horse, and we shall never reap the full value of the 
animal until we have learned to respect its feelings, and to shun the infliction 
of torture as a brutal, a cowardly, and an unnecessary act. To maltreat a 
child is always held to be a cowardly and unmanly act, and it is equally 
cowardly and unworthy of the human character to maltreat a poor animal 
which has no possibility of revenge, no hope of redress, and no words to 
make its wrongs known. Pain is pain, whether inflicted on man or beast, 
and we are equally responsible in either case. 
As an unprejudiced observer, with no purpose to serve, and without 
bias in either direction, I cannot here refrain from observing, that Mr. 
Rarey'’s method of bringing the Horse under subjection is a considerable 
step in the right direction, and a very great improvement on the cruel and 
savage method which is so often employed by coarse and ignorant men, 
and truly called “breaking.” Having repeatedly witnessed the successful 
operations of that gentleman in subduing Horses that had previously defied 
all efforts, I cannot be persuaded that it is a cruel process. The method by 
which it is achieved is now sufficiently familiar, and I will only observe that 
