418 
BREEDING HORSES. 
been subject to the chapter of accidents, whether a breed of 
horses has been brought into a country by conquerors — the 
most frequent result — or by sporting enterprise, or by com- 
merce in exchange for goods. In England, the support of 
government was given to the encouragement of breeding 
racers as the source only of improvement of the breed ; the 
increase of varieties, that might be required at different 
jieriods for domestic uses of the country or the army, is a 
subject distinct from the abstract question of improvements 
of breed merely, and if varieties are not produced, the fault 
is solely with the breeders, in not attending to form and 
action instead of pedigree ; and which the introduction of 
Arab stallions of the highest caste would not rectify, if 
breeding be pursued as it frequently now is, with neglect of 
form and action, for whatever uses the produce are intended, 
for caste only cannot give this. Arabs vary in shape like other 
breeds of horses, and it rests with the breeders if either the 
kinds of horses we shall have at any time, for any purpose of 
domestic use or for the army ; and they look to profit only , as 
may be seen. 
A late writer, Cecil, vide No. 46 Veterinarian , p. 500, has 
distinctly shown them “ the difference between breeding for 
the turf, the chase, and the road.” 
In our own time even, the great change has been in that 
of speed ; that was found most remunerative to the breeder, 
whether for the turf, chase, or road ; it increased the com- 
mercial intercourse of the country, which was found so 
advantageous that the breeders of horses for the road w 7 ent 
still more into the blood breed ; and if anyone refers to the 
parliamentary papers on this subject, the answers of the mail 
and post masters will show that increase of speed was 
attained only by enormous expense for horses of high blood. 
The result on horse breeding was, that the lower bred yet 
very useful varieties of horses, at the close of the last and 
beginning of the present century, were gradually bred out by 
the speedier horses, better fitted for the increased commercial 
intercourse of the country, when 300 post coaches changed 
horses in one day at Daventry. 
The introduction of steam-locomotives* on railways in the 
* “ Mr. Mechi affirms that every farmer with 200 or 300 acres, who has 
not a steam engine, has a great lesson to learn, since an efficient engine of 
four horse power will tire any sixteen real horses, the comparative cost 
being £150 against £600, besides eating nothing when not at work, and 
economising an immense amount in various ways, in casualties and dis- 
ease, attendance and food.” Now some of the sixteen would be mares, out 
of which are bred horses for the army, this is entirely overlooked, till the 
scarcity of horses and the higher prices that must be paid has to be voted 
