IMPROVEMENT OF HORSES. 
171 
Generally speaking, it is true that the stallions of the best 
blood have not been large. 
The Arabian and the English Thorough Bred are notable 
examples. The finest specimens of the former are seldom more 
than fifteen hands high, and often less than fourteen ; and the 
English Thorough Bred rarely exceeds sixteen. Indeed, I do 
not remember a single instance among all the fleetest horses 
that ever graced the turf, either in the New or the Old World, 
whose height, under the standard was more than sixteen hands. 
A moderate size appears to be essential to the greatest activity. 
It is all the more essential, therefore, that the mare be pretty 
large—both on the account, that sufficient space is requisite for 
the full development of the young, and because by the impart¬ 
ing of her own characteristics to the colt, the proper medium 
size for general purposes would be better preserved. 
Ample illustrations might be made of this subject by refer¬ 
ence to some of our fine American horses, but time will not 
permit. 
2. Proper care is also a condition of improvability.— 
Should the Arab (although by no means the most tender of 
masters,) treat his horses as most Americans treat theirs, all 
his obedience to correct rules of breeding would not be suffi¬ 
cient to the production of that noble blood which is his pride 
and the admiration of the world. But he loves his horses— 
often more than his children, and makes them his companions 
by day and by night. The service to which he puts them is 
never more rigorous than is regarded essential to their proper 
discipline and development. 
In our country the case is very different. One can hardly 
walk the streets without having his humanity moved to sympa¬ 
thy with the miserable condition and suffering of the noble 
beast whose meek submission to do the drudgery of man, should 
ever strongly appeal to his most generous and kindly senti¬ 
ment. There are no anathemas in the language strong enough 
for the brutal man who will abuse his nobler beast. 
