Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-05-03

Nlcdu0uS.
11MPRoyRMENT IN THE BREED OF HORSES.
It win be found on inquiry tina. goodhnr.
ses have been becoming gradually scarcel
in our fairs for the last twenty years; and
we find that many, Of what was considered
the mos. useful sort have now entirely dis.
appeared. The breed is quite exlInct.-
Where for example, do we now find the
fine short legged handsome cob, whose &C.
ton and strength enabled him to 60 any
pace. and to carry any weight that could
ride? How few Of the splendid carriage
horses which were met with fifteen or TWEEN.
ty years ago are now TO be seen! Nay, how
few of anything really good is there to be
met wi,h2
The breeders having pared with their
best mares, are now under the necessity OF
eemploying those which remain. For these,
perhaps, they look out for a good horse ;
but whatever may be the good qualities of
the sire, the produce will, in greater or
less degree, receive the impression Of the
dam. If she want size, or is defective in
;, her formation it is hundred to one if the
foal does not exhibit many or most of her
defects. The stock, however, is reared, and
may it is thought, turn out good horse /;
and certainly we are sometimes agreeably
surprised in the progress towards perfection
which some badlike foals make but, in
general We are disappointed.
In the selection, therefore, Of breeding
stock, fine sound eye, pleasant counte.
nance, with the organ of bcnevolence (as the
phrenologis,s speak, fully developed in the
breadth ofthe forehead, is not 10 be over
looked as an indication Of m:ldness Of dis
position but the previous history, fknown,
is the best criterion to found an opinion on.
The most conspicuous degeneration IS 10
be found 10 the strength and due proportion
of the different parts +; the LIMBS ano body
are not in harmony with each other, and in
almost all there is want Of strength. Let
size and strength, therefore, be kept IN
view; but let all have proportion. In
the form Of the body we have strong
index Of the constitution! on the form
of the chest depends in great degree the
bottom and durability OF the race.horse; it
is the essential OF his wind. The exterior
of the chest, the ribs and their muscles, and
the diaphragm, are the active agents in re-
spiration the lungs themselves are passive
Upon the mechanical formation, therefore,
of the ribs, depends in a great degree the
powers of respiration; they must be long
and circular at the posterior part to form a
large thorax. Unless the chest thorax) be
large and easily acted on BY the muscles,
when the animal is making great exert'ons,
us the blood is then flowing through the lungs
with a velocity increased according to lhe
degree Of exertion, il must either pass
through in an impure state, and be sent to
other paris of the system unfit to fulfill IFS
proper office, thus allowing the body to be-
come fa,igued for want Of due nourishment ;
or otherwise by the chest not being capable
Of sufficient enlargement! to admit Of the free
flow of blood through the lungs. the animal
becomes almost choked, by the inability OF
the muscles 10 enlarge the chest sufficiently
and is thus on the poin, ofbeiug suaocated /;
here lies the connection between the blood
and the mechanical formation.
A capacious ches, is, therefore, essen,i.
ally necessary to enable tho animal to con-
tinue any protracted and severe exerlion.--
But there is form also necessary for speed.
Ia order that every part may contribute TO
the same end, VIC find. in al we".tormec
animals for speed, that the anterior Of the
chest is somewhat Aa,tened on the Sides
in order that the anterior extrenlties may
be allowed to approximate, which is ndls'
pensably necessary in rapid progression.-
Without this arrangement there would be o
constant changing of the centre Of gravity
during motion, and instead Of moving in
smooth gallop OF trot, the horse with wide
chest would be waddIing like duck.
A natural elipss should be presented IN
the from. view. On the other parts OF the
trunk need offer few remarks. Of length
we generally have enough, bu, the breadth
is often scanty. The !oins should be broad
and muscular, in which case length is an
advantage ; the whole trunk should describe
a sweeping natural outline formed by two
gentle curves, the pos,erior being tho slight.
est, which is formed by the tail unless we
have the tai! we'll up, it is rarely set, and
animals with too low set tail are rcver
good gocrs. But we may see well.formed
trunk, and still find some important parts
deficient; we may see well.made body,
with legs un6. 10 carry il. The legs and
fee, are the most important parts 10 be at
tended to in the whole machine. Blu. It is
these parts that are most frequently oyer