Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-06-13
A NESTOR AMONG HORSES.
Hers Is One Which Is Said to Have Been
Sixtyf four Years Old.

In many recent prints there have
been remarks on tho ago and longev-
ity of the horse which some readers
may consider very amusing. In
"Skeavineton's Modern History of
Farriery,' now before me, I find II
record of a horse at that time-1S22
to DO in his sixty. fourth year.
Tho horse at that period belonged
tIo Mersey and Iswell Navigation
. pany. He was bred by Edward
Johnson of Willgrave farm, in
Woolston, u short distance from
Warrington. When young-and in
deed until he reached the age of SO
the animal manifested an extreme
ly vicious disposition, not only to
human beings, but also to dogs and
any other creatures that happened
10 oppose his progress or stood sin
his way. This temper was partisu
larly shown when at the dinner h6ur
OF other periods cessation of labor
took place. He was impatient to get
into the stable on such occasions
and would use his heels audi teeth
to remove any impeachment placed
in his way. s@F-'
The writer says his front teeth
were perfect, but very long, while
his bride teeth were tusks, which,
after growing to an unusual length,
became half inverted and described
an uncouth semioircle, conveying to
the upper jaw. His lower lip was
neither so loose nor so pendulous as
is generally seen in very old horses.
His eyes We're described as being
very remarkably placed in the socket
and We're at the same time so bright
and clear, presenting altogether so
perfect an appearances as to afford II
strong presumption that his sight
was as good as that which il usu-
ally found in horses at the age of IL
or II years.
Thirty years of his life, it seems,
were spent in mill, and the re-
mainder principally in tho Mersey
and lswcll Navigation company tow
ing boats When in full flesh and in
the vigor of life, he would scarcely
|. havo measured Is hands high. He
grazcu in summer on the banks of
the Mersey and in winter was taken
into the stable and fed on nashes
and soft feed. He then possessed
the uso of all his faculties in tolera.
BILE perfection; was able to lie down
and rise with case, and when in the
meadows would frequently play and
oven gallop with some young colts
that grazcd along with him.
At that time there We're no symp-
toms of an early dissolution. The
great age of this horse would con.
vince us that he had been kindly
treated, and we naturally suppose
he was never put to any violent
work. Between the rounds OF q
wheel and on tho banks of tho Mer.
sey, this animal seemed to have spent
his life, doing such labor as would
only amount to wholesome exercise.
1t is, therefore, these circumstances,
kindness of treatment and modera-
ton of labor which were the causes
of his extreme longevity.
We would very much like to see
this principle of moderation extend.
cd more generally to the horse at
present. We know that all horses
are not employed in mill, nor can
they be expected to do the slow la
Dor of drawing Il boat, which gives
them and their driver a gait that
once seen can never be forgotten,
especially the driver, who never
seems to be in II hurry. Still we feel
convinced that too many horses are
sacrificed in a shameful manner,
which very little consideration
might prevent, ard it is for this we
wish to plead.-Amerioan Horse
Breeder