HORSE BREEDING IN FRANCE. 
407 
horses for military use. The former have narrow chests and loins, 
and are “ delicate” from this cause, not from being “ artificially 
bred and trained to race.” 
The latter have broad chests and loins, better constitutions, 
easier put up flesh, and retain condition longer under the fatigue 
of military service, i. e.* It is breeding for different purposes. Here 
M. Richard is the practical cause of the unfavourable results in 
France by breeding from English stallions of the flat forms; whereas, 
the Arabs chosen (originally for the native chiefs of the contour 
forms, which is kept up by obesity, and on account of the manage) 
have produced the contour form suitable to the purpose for which 
only the French government required them, army use only; and 
this has given rise to your opinion in favour of the Arab. Now in 
India, although there are stakes for all horses,, yet English and 
Arabian imported horses, and the produce of these or country 
breds, run together in separate stakes, each variety weighted 
according to their capability of carrying it. The Arab, or produce 
of Arabs, carry light Asiatics lightly accoutred, but are ill adapted 
to carry European dragoons, though necessity may oblige their use. 
Besides the present people of Auvergne, the Limousin and 
Pyrenees will breed only that kind of horses they like. You are, 
M. Richard, like the French Maitre d’Hotel described by Sir W. 
Scott: the chateau remained; the establishment that existed before 
1790 could only be revived by carving the horses, &c. out of 
toast to decorate a dish of spinach. 
But the committee of which M. Duverney was the organ have 
no excuse; they are savans well acquainted with ancient and 
modern history, and the share horses had in it. 
We are informed, horses have been bred wild, subjected by 
man, used by him to overrun Asia, part of Africa, Europe, pro¬ 
tected by landed tenure, cherished by emperors, kings, princes, 
nobles, knights, down to the meanest vassal; at one time in- 
* Horses for particular purposes have in England always had characteristic 
forms and names. The blood breed, going the pace, influenced every thing 
with which they were connected, and there was a reaction to breed more 
blood horses, adapted to the changes in the sports, the improvement of com¬ 
mercial intercourse they had in great measure caused. It has now become a 
question what effect the steamers and locomotives will have upon the breeding 
of horses; at present it is supposed the direction of their uses only is 
diverted: the ultimate effect, however, can scarcely be doubted. The prin¬ 
ciple embodied in the expression used to the French minister Colbert, 
“ laissez faire et laissez passer,” however applicable it may be to free trade 
in inorganic articles of commerce, does not apply to living animals; for their 
well-being depends upon protection, even before they are gotten, in that of 
the sire and dam. It probably never entered the head of a Frenchman to 
estimate the cost of breeding horses in England, saying nothing about a colt 
or filly for the Derby or Oaks, or any other race. 
