126 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE CAUSES OF DECLINE IN OUR 
STOCK OF GOOD HORSES, ON BREEDING, AND ON 
QUEEN’S PLATES AND RACING. 
By W. J. Godwin, M.R.C.V.S . , Birmingham. 
To the Editor of " The Veterinarian .” 
Sir, — Your last Number contained some remarks by Mr. Good- 
win, Veterinary Surgeon to the Queen, on Breeding of Horses, and 
on Queen’s Plates, as connected therewith (apparently called forth 
by a pamphlet on the same subject by Mr. Cherry, Principal 
Veterinary Surgeon to the Army), in which that gentleman appears 
to look upon the make and shape of a horse as no criterion 
whereby we may judge of his qualifications for racing or other 
purposes, and to consider it inconsistent for breeders to turn their 
attention to strength, shape, temper, action, &c. ; adding, that 
“ neither can Mr. Cherry nor any other man in the world give an 
estimate of the character of a horse by looking at him.” Now, if 
he means, pick out a winner of the Derby by such mode, I agree 
with him, otherwise I must dissent from him in opinion; notwith- 
standing, I am ready to admit that Nature, in her vagaries, will 
often lead us wide of the mark. And since this is a subject enter- 
tainable by veterinary surgeons, I cannot refrain offering my views 
thereon ; and especially am induced so to do, seeing they differ 
materially upon some points from an authority which, I fear, might 
be considered as laying down a principle, an established fact, 
should such be allowed to pass without comment. 
I shall attempt to shew that the different breeds of horses in this 
kingdom, employed as hunters, carriage, or cavalry horses, or as 
hacks, are fast degenerating ; and that the system adopted in the 
present day of breeding for the turf to contend in short distances, 
and with light weights, has a tendency to produce this effect, by 
reducing the necessity of the race-horse being the large powerful 
animal that, I contend, is advantageous to this or any other country, 
to improve the breed of horses for general purposes. I am of opi- 
nion, with Mr. Cherry, that some means should be adopted by 
Government to enable farmers and other breeders of horses to 
obtain the use of stallions of a good class, free from defects likely 
to be entailed on their progeny ; and that, if some plan for this pur- 
pose is not employed, the breed in this country will be on the 
decline, if it be not at present. Look at the names of first-rate 
stallions in days gone by, and find, if you can, any common horse 
in appearance whose descendants have been successful to the 
