508 
ON THE INFLUENCE OF EXERCISE 
animal. His whole species has submitted to notable modifica- 
tions. Now-a-days, man directs the intercourse of the sexes. 
Our present breed of domestic horses is, in truth, man’s own, 
making allowance for the instinct of self-preservation, modified by 
domesticity. The horse no longer breeds but at our command. 
Since, then, man has made himself absolute master over horses, it 
is his duty to find means to make amends for the privilege he has 
deprived them of; and this compensation will be found in work. 
It is in well-regulated exercise alone that the domesticated animal 
finds any guarantee for a long and supportable life. 
Let us recall to mind what Lord Russell has said in regard to 
horses, touching the influence that exercise and well-regulated 
and sustained work has upon them : — ‘ c The foal,” says he, “ in- 
herits direct reciprocity of qualities from its parents; but the attri- 
butes of the mare descend most directly, and have the longest 
duration : those which, with the most certainty, descend are a good 
constitution and endurance of work. Want of exercise, and too 
long standing in the stable, causes the blood to grow vicious, and 
the muscles to lose their elasticity and energy. The horse in health, 
using his strength in the open air, and thus exhausting his powers, 
breathes with expanded lungs : every muscle, every fibre of his 
body, is on the stretch, ready ever for renewed efforts; so that it 
is not the muscles only that become augmented by a well-regulated 
exercise, but the organs of respiration as well benefit by it. The 
lung of the working horse presents a healthy aspect; it is volumin- 
ous, and plays its part with freedom ; while, on the other hand, in 
the stallion, on whom too much indulgence has been bestowed and 
too little activity required, we find a lung shrunk and doughy, and 
without energy. In the growing colt which we deprive of exer- 
cise, we stifle the most promising qualities ; and he, having them 
undeveloped in himself, in his turn robs of them all his posterity. 
Thus it is that we have, step by step, arrived at the deterioration 
of such excellent stock, the original of which exists no longer but 
in our imagination. Nevertheless, we must take care not to breed 
from mares of dilapidated constitutions, worn out by work. No- 
thing is better for mares kept for breeding than the work they get 
out in the open fields. The intelligent farmer may, in this way, 
breed from mares up to their twentieth year. Not only can the 
mare do work during gestation, but does so both to her own and 
her offspring’s welfare ; and the success of the breeder will be the 
greater as he proportions the feed of the mare to her work. This, 
well ordered, it is that constitutes the whole mystery of breeding 
the domestic horse.” 
Our aim is to develop the utmost strength and celerity of which 
a horse is capable ; and it is by well-regulated exercise that these 
