Unlike the
others its value depends upon the work it can do. Hence vigor and
endurance are the prime essentials of a good horse. But as man has
lessened the vigor and endurance of the hog, ox, and sheep, so he has of
the horse. This is the invariable result of human art. Whenever man
tampers with the work of nature he is certain to lessen bodily vigor. It
could not be otherwise. For the course of nature, undisturbed and
undeflected, is always towards the greatest health. Man changes the
course of nature and the result is lessened vigor and endurance.
Man has improved some qualities of the horse. He has increased its
speed, perhaps, but only for short distances. Our race horses of to-day
would make a sorry record with those of days no longer past than those
of the "pony express," to say nothing of the couriers of centuries ago,
because they have been made to deteriorate in vigor and endurance. We
have ponderous, heavy horses to-day; but they can not do as much work
before the plow or dray as those of the eighteenth century. We can not
point anywhere to horses produced by breeding that are the equals of the
horses of the days of chivalry.
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