To the estimation in which this noble animal is
held by all civilized and by many barbarous nations, it is unnecessary to do more than allude.
Many breeds have peculiar excellences; those of
this country, through long continued attention,
combined with skill and science, may probably be
considered with fairness, as inferior to none in the
world. Domestication has produced its usual result in forming widely different varieties of this
useful creature, from the diminutive Shetland
pony, strong and hardy, though scarcely larger
than a dog, or the taper-limbed Racer, to the massive and gigantic Dray-horse of the metropolitan
brewer. "In this country," observes Mr. Bell, "the horse has always been an object of the
highest interest; and our ancestors were, from the earliest period, celebrated for the excellence of their breeds of this useful animal. When Cesar
landed on the shores of Kent he was received by the cavalry and war-chariots belonging to the defending army. How long before this period the
barbarous inhabitants of our island had known the
use of this powerful constituent of the material
of an army, is of course beyond the limits of conjecture; but from this time, occasional mention is
made of the excellence of British horses."
The horse is capable of strong attachment to man, and to other animals. Many interesting anecdotes are on record of this. Mr. Jesse relates the following. "A horse and a cat were great friends, and the latter generally slept in the manger. When the horse was going to have his oats, he always took up the cat gently by the skin of her neck, and dropped her into the next stall, that she might not be in his way, while he was
