191

SUMMER RAMBLES.

BY CECIL.

Habits and arguments-Fishing-Improving the breed of horses-Performances of horses in olden times - Performances of horses of recent date-Incestuous breeding -Effect of handicaps- Increase of thorough-bred horses-Arab blood - Mr. Spooner's proposal --Well-bred horses only can live with hounds- The most effectual means of obtaining horses for the cavalry.

Mankind is gifted with various propensities ; they are governed by occult influences ; yet they emanate from the mind, which is to a great extent formed from examples ; and still there is an idiosyncracy innate in mortals, which can be traced as the result of circumstances engrafted on hereditary character. Thus various tastes are inculcated, habits formed, and our intellectual faculties assume their position. The skill of individuals is to a great extent concentrated to one focus, when the diversities of superior genius become available in social application. Controlled by these ordinations, individuals can seldom ascend to the highest rank of eminence in a variety of accomplishments. One man who studies a particular science, by contributing his fame to the general fund, assists in raising his country to the highest dignities, more so than a thousand who only gain moderate celebrity in divers pursuits. The artist who devotes his most ardent studies in acquiring the acme of perfection in the science of painting, seldom attains very great proficiency in music; or if a man be so talented and fortunate as to gain great renown for his acquirements in connection with two sciences, it is rare indeed that he can add a third. Many who can boast a multiplicity of accomplishments do not arrive at any approach to perfection in any. Similar faculties accompany us in our amusements : it is fortunate they do so ; otherwise, if all our tastes and abilities were devoted to one or even a few objects, others would be neglected. Our amusements are oftentimes calculated to promote social pleasures in connection with national prosperity. The artist who represents on canvass the portrait of a respected relative or friend, an animal, or the beauteous tints and characters of a delightful prospect, gratifies the senses of the age in which he flourishes, and confers benefit on future generations, by furnishing them with historical and other memento's of bygone times and customs. The musician who charms our ears with melodious strains, is stimulated to study his profession to the utmost extent of his ability, by the applause and emoluments awarded by his audience. The seasons present in their course many charms and delightful associations, which are refreshed as the periods return for the renewal of our favourite amusements. The winter and fox-hunting, the imperial sovereign of all other sports, terminating together, vernal pastimes succeed ; and however the allurements of the gay metropolis may be inseparable from the tastes of multitudes, there are many who can

beguile their time with equal felicity in search of rural enjoyments. Without possessing the fascinating powers among the finny tribe of a Walton or Ephemera, a man may occupy his leisure hours most agreeably on the margin of a river or stream, where delightful scenery and unsophisticated nature greet him on every side with their enchanting varieties, It is only within the last few years that I have enjoyed opportunities of participating in this sport, not having till lately resided in a country where streams prevailed ; but now living on the banks of a most attractive water, with the kind permission of the noble Earl through whose estate it passes, I am enabled to while away many pleasant hours, where enthusiastic admirers of the piscatorial art would gladly purchase the privilege with much toil and cost. A noviciate in the sport, I can offer no remarks worthy of attention, except expressions of surprise what extraordinary phenomenon can possibly exercise its influence on the appetites of the finny race; for there are many days which appear to be, according to the general opinion of experienced anglers, peculiarly seductive to their feeding propensities, when the fish are pertinaciously abstemious. One of the concomitants on this placid amusement is the opportunity it affords for contemplation, when wandering on the banks of the stream unaccompanied by a friend. Enjoying this quietude on several occasions, my meditations have been directed to the popular, interesting, and important engagement of breeding horses ; and with my note-book as my companion, I have dotted down my thoughts, and this is the result :

At the present crisis, an amazing impulse has been given to this subject, by the great demand for horses applicable for hunting, riding, and driving, and other useful purposes-an evident excess of demand over supply, and a consequent increase in value : these facts have given rise to opinions, somewhat dangerous in their promulgation, that our breed of horses has deteriorated. How such an assertion can be sustained by practical experience or correct data, it is difficult to define; nevertheless the opinion is maintained in some quarters with considerable pertinacity.

For the purpose of perpetuating the breed of the higher and most valuable class of horses, as a sire, the thorough-bred horse is decidedly the only kind of animal to which recourse can be had with reasonable prospects of success; and this is admitted by all who have had practical experience in the matter. It has been alleged that our thorough-bred stock has dete. riorated ; and in order to establish that argument, it is observed, that the horses of the present day do not run such long distances, or carry such high weights, as those of our forefathers ; ergo they are not so stout, sound, and possessed of equal stamina or constitution ; moreover, that the present usages of the turf, especially that of running horses at two years old, are calculated to promote a still greater amount of deterioration. It is true four-mile heats are out of fashion, and twelve stone is a weight but seldom patronized on the raoe-course. Here it must be remarked that the faculty of running a distance is not an invariable criterion of stamina. Many horses will run four miles with success, if brought out very fresh, and with long intervals between their races, yet cannot bear strong preparations or frequent races. But horses which can bear the strongest ordeals of the training stable, and run many times in the course of the year, although the distances of each race does not exceed two miles, are infinitely superior in point of constitų. tion to the former. Every horse has his distance: thus some evince superiority in short contests of only half a mile, while others excel in mile races, some at the end of two miles, and some can extend their powers of endurance to the end of three miles ; but as it has been just remarked, it is frequent running combined with a long continuance on the turf, which determines the soundness and stamina of the race-horse. With respect to weights, the existing fashion of light weights is more the effect of caprice than any well-founded principle. But it does not extend a prejudicial influence so expansively as may be supposed. With some exceptions, the horse that can win with nine stones on his back, can win with twelve, providing all the other horses carry proportionate exactions. The exceptions to this rule are the weedy brutes which scarcely ever win ; and it would be a boon to their owners if some means could be devised of excluding such animals from the course ; however, that cannot be done, and it is one of those evils which will frequently intrude, to impede the attainment of perfection. Owners of horses and trainers shew much anxiety to engage their horses in races where the weights are light, under the impression that there is less probability of their straining themselves or breaking down. This is rather a fallacious opinion, especially when the weights are so very light, that the horses must be ridden by boys--I may term them children-under whose guidance they are more likely to sustain injury, from the incompetence and want of power of their pigmy riders.

As in olden times horses were not engaged in racing till they were four or five years old, it is a frequently received conjecture that the present practice of running them at two-years old abbreviates the period of their performances. The racing calendar will dispel this error; but to save my readers the trouble of research, I will lay before them the performances of several horses celebrated in the early annals of racing, and compare them with others of more recent date. The gentleman who has written on the Deterioration of our Saddle-horses, introduces The Carlisle Gelding and Black Chance, as examples of superiority in the horses of the early part of the eighteenth century ; but has forgotten to compare their performances with those of horses of modern times. In his detail of the running of the last-named horse, he has omitted some of his races, and adopted incongruities ; but as the object of these remarks is not criticism, but an earnest desire to arrive at just conclusions, I shall give a correct abstract of each horse's performances, adding those of Arthur O'Bradley, Babraham, and Cinderwench, they appearing as the stoutest and most frequent runners of their respective periods. The Carlisle Gelding was foaled in 1713. He won twice in 1719; the following year he did not start, neither did he run in the years 1725 or 26: in all, he won twenty-two races, was beaten eleven times : he received two forfeits, paid one, and walked over twice. His last engagement was in 1731, the only race of that year, when he was beaten ; and although thirteen years elapsed from the commencement to the conclusion of his career, he was only ten seasons actually on the turf. The total distance of his running, as nearly as can be computed, was 228 miles. Black Chance, foaled in 1732, commenced running when five-years old, in which year he won two races : he concluded his career in 1746, but did not run in 1743, and only once either in the preceding and two succeeding years, and only twice the last year of his running. Thus his term can only be recognized at nine years, and three of these were very unimportant : he ran over about 200 miles of ground. Cinderwench, whose age is unknown, won thirteen races, and was beaten in nine: she continued on the turf five seasons, and ran over 192 miles : her first race took place in the year 1731. Balraham, a son of the Godolphin Arabian, made his appearance for a match at Newmarket in 1746, being then six years old ; he won four races, and was beaten six times ; and the distance which he ran over only amounted to 74 miles; he only ran four seasons. Arthur O'Bradley, foaled in 1738, came on the turf at five years old, won fifteen, and lost ten races, for which he ran over 140 miles, and was only four years in training. These are selections of the stoutest runners of their day. We will now compare those of more recent times. Euphrates, foaled in 1816, commenced running when three years old, won forty-two races, was beaten on fifty-seven occasions, and continued running ten seasons, during which he went over 308 miles. Liston, foaled in 1821, ran at three years old, and was kept in training eleven consecutive seasons, winning forty-six, and losing thirty-five races, to accomplish which he ran 232 miles. Independence began at two years old, was ten years in force, won forty, and was defeated in forty-four engagements, and ran a total distance of 185 miles, concluding his performances in 1835. Catherina, foaled in 1830, made her debut in 1832, and won the unprecedented number of seventy-nine races, and was beaten on ninety-eight occasions; the distance of ground she ran over amounted to 583 miles, and she continued running ten seasons. The game and honest Venison is worthy of notice ; for although he only ran three years, he began at two years old, and at three won twelve races, besides travelling 900 miles on foot-before railways or vans were in fashion-to meet his engagements. In the stud he had few equals. Without going further into details, it may be observed that Beeswing commenced when only two years old, and continued to run till she was seven, in which year she won ten races, and in the preceding one eleven. Indeed, a long list of horses might be enumerated, which commenced their performances at the early age of two years, and do not appear to have suffered from the precocious probation. To enumerate them all would be irksome ; but I may mention Halston, Boy Blue, Ballad Singer, Bessy Bedlam, Oppidan, The Colonel, Vanish, and others, which have honourably distinguished themselves on the turf and in the stud; not, however, omitting old Isaac, who, on the fat, over hurdles, and steeplechasing combined, ran some sixteen or seventeen years in succession, These examples are sufficient to corroborate most incontestably, that running at an early age does not impair the constitution, and consequently cannot be deemed as conducive to deterioration.

Moreover, it has been asserted that the horses of the present day are bred incestuously, and that they have degenerated in consequence. The pedigrees of celebrated horses winners of the Derby, Oaks, St. Leger, and other important races, so frequently appear in these pages, that it is unnecessary to repeat them for the purpose of confuting that assertion; and those who require more extensive evidence can refer to the Stud Book, where they will find that great care has of late years been devoted, to avoid the effects of consanguinity. Unfortunately for those who have adopted the argument, many horses, in the early ages of breeding for the turf, were produced by the union of blood very closely related. Rachel, the mother of the celebrated Highflyer, was by Blank, dam by Regulus, both of which horses were sons of the Godolphin Arabian. Fox, a good runner of his day, and the progenitor of several distinguished horses, had for his dam and grandam mares which were the offspring of one sire, namely, the Leedes Arabian. Flying Childers, said to be the speediest horse ever trained, was by Darley's Arabian, dam Betty Leedes, by Careless, grandam sister to Leedes, by Leedes Arabian, great grandam by Spanker and a Barb mare, which mare was Spanker's dam ; consequently the great grandam of Childers was the issue of mother and son. This horse only won two matches, the first in 1721, the second in the following year : he also received forfeit in three matches ; so that there is nothing remarkable in his running, or any evidence to establish the characteristic of constitutional stamina. It is related that he gave Fox 121b. over the course, and beat him a quarter of a mile in a trial; but we often hear of wonderful performances in trials, which are not repeated in public. Goldfinder, foaled in 1764, was a son of Snap, his damn by Blank, grandam by Regulus, the consanguinity of whom has been already noticed.

The opinion that the existing customs of racing are conducive to the production of weedy stock, must not be taken in an abstract sense. Handicaps certainly afford opportunities of winning with inferior animals, and thus there is encouragement to breed a greater number; and from those numbers a greater portion of superior animals are produced than there could be if the numbers were limited. The increase of horses bred for racing purposes is greatly augmented within the present century, although with respect to those of inferior blood, suitable for hunting and general services, if they have not decreased, the supply is unequal to the demand. We have therefore an ample sufficiency of the parent stock, and it only remains to make use of them judiciously in order to meet the requirements of the country. A careful research through the Stud Book furnishes a list of only 265 foals in the year 1800, 612 in 1825, and in 1853 941 were entered in Messrs. Weatherby's books, as the produce of that year, out of which there will be doubtless many of superior character. Every breeder is anxious to rear the best horse in his power, and for that purpose selects the blood which, in his judgment, he conceives most likely to accomplish that end. The combinations of speed, endurance, and soundness, are as necessary to constitute an animal of value as they ever were, and are as much sought for.

With the best intentions, no doubt, and anxious to suggest any course by which an improvement might be effected, the Arab blood has been recommended : for racing it is known to be utterly worthless. For riding horses it may be admissible; but the principal defects of those animals may be recognized in their shoulders, and deficiency of bone below the knee. Their showy action is generally a recommendation ; although, in several which I have ridden, it is wanting in that delightful smoothness which is met with in some of our best thorough-bred horses. Another suggestion has recently been announced, which coming from high authority cannot be received without startling emotions. In a report of the proceedings of the Royal Agricultural Society, we find the following notice : “ IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE BREEDING. Mr. Spooner, of Southampton, recommended the council to take measures with the Government, as well