The History and Delineation of the Horse, in All His Varieties

IV III I'll! iiini'i' ir:i II, II : 3 9090 013 401 209 Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tuft? Univcirsity 200 Westboro Road Norfh Grafton. MA 01536 ^11 pr 2^ A a' I ^î > \ THE HISTORY AND DELINEATION OF THE HORSE, IN ALL HIS VARIETIES. COJlPUElILKDIlsG THE Al'PROrRIATE USES, MAXAGEMEM', AND TROGRESSIVE IMPRO\-EMENT OF EACH: WITH A PARTICULAR INVESTIGATION OF THE CHARACTER OF THE RACE-HORSE, AND THE iSusmess of tjje Cutt ILLUSTRATED BY ANECDOTES AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF DISTINGUISHED SPORTSMEN. THE ENGRAVIKCS FROM ORIGINAL PAINTINGS. WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR BREEDING, BREAKING, TRAINING, AND THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSE, BOTH li\ A STATE OF HEALTH AND OF DISEASE. BY JOHN LAWRENCE, AUrilOR OF " A PHILOSOPHICAL AND PRACTICAL TREATISE ON HORSES," &c. &c. Sllbton Press: l-aiNTEU FOR JAMES CUNDEE, IVY-LANE, PATERNOSTER-HOW AND JOHN SCOTT, ROSO.MAN STREET, CLERKENWELL, LONDON. 1809. 9Lt5 p;i PREFACE. It is the object of the ensuing Work, to unite with the utiHty of description, the most finished eleg-ance of the graphic art. To pourtray the noblest and most beau- tiful of all animals, in his natural and improved form, in order to aid the comprehension and judgment of the reader, by an address to the eye, as well as to the under- standing. To blend both useful and ornamental decora- tion with solid instruction, and with such a degree of amusement, as may result from anecdotes connected with the subject. With respect to arrangement, a cursory, yet it is hoped, satisfactory view, is given of the Horses and Horsemanship of the earliest ages, and of this country especially, with an attention to the various species in use, and a delineation of the origin of the Race Horse, through the blood of which, the English breed has been generally ameliorated and elevated to its present state of perfection. This gradually progressive improvement, it has been en- deavoured to trace, and place before the eye of the Sports- man, IV PREFACE. man, by a selection of Horses of the earliest periods which could he procured, and of the hiohest form and blood, continuing' them through several periods to the present day. The most improved methods of treatment are pointed out, from the author's own long practical experience, as to breedings breaking, traimng, and general use ; with some hints of importance to every owner of a Horse, on shoeing, and the care necessary to he extended to the animal in a state of disease: and, above all, on the duties of humane and compassionate usage, to which animals are entitled by the same justice we claim for ourselves ; and In an especial manner, The Horse. fllS- HISTORY OF THE HORSE. SECTION I. ANTIQUITY OF THE HORSE NATURAL HISTORY CLASSIFICATION SPE- CULATIONS OV HIS ORIGIN HIS SPURIOUS PROGENY. X HE transcendeut consequence of the Horse, to man in eveiy possi- ble stage of human existence, has been the invariable theme of writers on the subject, from the earliest records of literature. Indeed it is impossible to conceive any other, out of the vast variety of animals destined by nature to human use, which can, with the least prospect of success, dispute with this favourite, the palm of his master's predi- lection and attachment. Throughout all those revolving ages, which the magical jjower of letters enable us to call up in review, there is not one, in which that axiom does not stand self-evident. It is an attachment of a truly rational nature, and to a most worthy object. The very idea of being supported at ease, by an auxiliary and bor- rowed animal power, and of being safely borne from place to place, at will, Avith a pleasant and gentle motion, or with the rapidity of lightning, must have impressed the minds of the first discoverers of the mighty benefits, with ineflPable delight. Such sentiments and feelings have been incessantly echoed down to us from the primitive times. The general beauty, the harmony of proportions, the stateliness and delicacy, of the superior species of this paragon of brute animals, could could not fail of inspiring admiration in the breasts even of savage and untutored men. Time and the improving faculties of man gradually developed the various uses and qualifications of the Horse. Endowed by nature with a portion of intellect, with a generous pliability of dis- position and fortitude of heart, Avith vast and energetic bodily powers, he was found capable of bearing a sort of social part in all the pleasures and labours of man. He was associated with his master in the pleasures of the journey and the chace; he shared willingly and witli ardour, in the dangers of the martial iield ; and with a sturdy prowess, partook in the humble labours of cultivating the soil for mutual sub- . sistence. By the most illustrious nations of either ancient or modern times, the Horse has ever been esteemed of the highest wôrth and consequence, and treated with a distinction and attendance befitting his rank as the lirst of domestic animals, approximating in society and service to hirnian nature. It is among the most savage and debased tribes of men only, that the breed, condition and comforts of this noble animal have been neglected. To ascertain the period, or even to form a probable guess on the first domestication of the Horse, and determine to what nation of antiquity the honour of his subjugation appertains, although sometimes attempt- ed by the curious and inquisitive, has never returned any other Iruit, than the labour or anmsement of the enquiry. Notwithstanding Ave are convinced of the fact of his early subjugation, the date of it lies concealed bej'ônd the impassable horizon of a too remote antiquity. In line, it is one of those trutlis which stand not in need of proof. It is sufficient, that the earliest writers, w^hose -works have reached our times, describe the Horse as having been immemorially in the subjec- tion and servitude of man. Natural historians have agreed to designate the Horse by the fol^ loAving GENERIC character. Front teeth in the upper jaw, six parallel. In the lower jaw, six somewhat projecting. Canine teeth, one on each side, in both jaws, remote firom the rest. Feet, with undi\ ided hoofs. The r . The Horse genus seems to be susceptible of far less variety of form than our other domesticated animals, although applicable to a greater variety of uses. A native of every country in the old world, it forms matter of curious speculation, that he should be found in no part of the new, or America, abounding as that immense country does, both upon the continent and the islands, Avith soils and provision so well adapted to his support; and so amply as that fact has been proved by his multitudinous increase in those countries, since his first introduction by the Spaniards and other Europeans. Is it then, that there was one, or a limited number of spots upon the earth, on which the Horse originated, and whence he emigrated, or was selected to replenish other regions ? There is a very obvious reason which ought to set all such speculations at rest : there can exist no physi- cal possibility of reducing them to facts. The non-existence of the Horse in America, previously to its discovery by the Europeans, has however been disputed ; but I recollect not by whom, or upon what ground. In a division of the equine genus into its original and artificial varieties, and their appropriations, I shall propose the following con- cise theory, sufficient, 1 apprehend, for every useful or practical pur- pose. The Horse, then, may be rationally supposed to have consisted originally, of two grand divisions or species; the silken-haired, flat, and fine-boned Courser, and the full-bodied, coarse, and rough-haired steed, adapted to draught and the more laborious purposes. It is also, indeed, probable, that size may have been an original distinction, in these and all other animals, since we often see so much perfection and originality of form, in the smaller sizes, as to render it almost impossible to attribute such accident to degeneration. From the above original species, may fairly be derived, all those numerous varieties which we at this day witness in different parts of the world. Soil and climate must indubitably have considerable ef- fects, through a long course of ages, in producing varieties of form, colour, character, and properties. The largest animals are generally found to be the production of the rich lowlands of temperate climates, abounding in rich and succulent food. The fine-skinned, with elegant symmetry ; 8 symmetry, dry and solid bones, large tendons, and the highest degree of muscular energy, in lact, bearing the general characteristic of wild animals, are bred under warm and southern skies, upou a dry soil, on the hills in the desart. Ais we advance towards the uugeiiial northern climes, we find tlic domestic animals void of external symmetry, coarse in hide and flesh, and their bones, although of greater bulk, jwrousand comparatively deficient in substance and weight. We here approach the native regions of the Cart-horse, and we have just stated the natural characteristic distinctions between him and the Courser. I'here are doubtless anomalies or variations in this, as v»ell as in most other cases: the high northern latitudes produce small and active animals, whilst the dromedary and the elephant are bred in the arid and barren deserts of the south, soils, it might be supposed, the least adai)ted to the production and support of animals of such a Aast bulk.

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