1 
ON BREEDING. 
7 
soon discovered ; a new race was immediately established, which, 
by the cultivation and care of our ancestors, was soon rendered 
permanent. 
“ By gradual use, and long experience taught, 
Art a new race to fair perfection brought.” 
v 
A race, indeed, at the present day, that is the pride, the pleasure, 
and the boast of the land that gives them birth. 
The question is then, whether it would be advisable to cross 
again into foreign blood ? 
The argument held in favour of a cross is, that our present 
breed of blood horses are degenerating, and are not equal to 
those worthies of old, as Flying Childers, Eclipse, High-flyer, 
Matchem, Herod, &c. &c.; and as the Arabians, not only as to 
appearance, but in point of fact, possess the first claim to native 
purity of blood, it would be proper to resort to them again, in 
order to correct that luxurious tendency to increase of flesh, 
humours, &c. &c. the natural consequence of high food, and a 
clime less arid. 
Another argument adduced to prove the necessity of going 
back to the fountain head of life, whence they originated, is, 
that the horses of the present day are not able to carry so high 
weights over the course as those of former days; and therefore 
are certainly not so good. 
Now with respect to the first part of the subject adduced in 
favour of a cross, on account of their getting full of humours, 
owing to the richness of our soil, this, in the language of the 
Reviewers, savours a little of the fig'ure of speech ’yclept “ non¬ 
sense since it is owing to our soil that we are indebted to our 
present stock: it is the quality of our grass that gives them the 
superiority over all other horses of the world. 
“ In thee, fair land of liberty. 
Is bred the perfect horse; in strength and speed 
As yet unrivalled, while in other climes 
Their virtue fails—a weak degenerate race.” 
As it regards the present breed not being equal to those of 
former times, we believe the assertion to be incorrect; for where 
there was one good horse formerly produced, we possess a dozen 
at the present time. It is true, and “ pity 'tis so true,” that our 
present breed are not capable of carrying such heavy weights 
as those of former times ; but this does not proceed from any 
deficiency in our present breed, but from the destructive system 
at present practised of bringing young horses to the starting 
post. Yet, bad as they are represented to be by those who are 
advocates for a cross (supposing that a cross would be desirable), 
