Outing (1885) (14589688190) - Public domain book illustration

Identifier: outing58newy (find matches)
Title: Outing
Year: 1885 (1880s)
Authors:
Subjects: Leisure Sports Travel
Publisher: (New York : Outing Pub. Co.)
Contributing Library: Tisch Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries



Text Appearing Before Image:
hedraft horse and all other types mustalways be considered if we are to under-stand fully his possibilities and limita-tions. In all other types, however modi-fied to suit such different uses as riding,driving, and racing, the development hasbeen mainly along the lines of the ani-mals natural traits and qualities—as hisspeed, endurance, and beauty of contour.Even in coach horses, which have oftento pull a considerable load, this holdstrue. But the draft horse is so modifiedas to serve a totally different purposefrom that which nature intended, andsize and strength, rather than speed, en-durance, and grace of outline, have al-ways been the chief things aimed at inhis development. This great change is very often as-cribed wholly to the art of man. Butit is well to remember that the art ofman alone, without the right environ-ment, could never have brought it about.The draft horse is peculiarly the productof the temperate zone, and then of onlyits comparatively level and fertile sec- 97
Text Appearing After Image:
GRAY PERCHERON STALLION, OWNED BY W. S., J. B., AND B. DUNHAM. tions. In the far North, in a mountain-ous country, or in the tropics, his de-velopment would have been impossible;nor can he, even now, be bred in suchregions and made to retain his standardsize—a fact that should always be keptin mind by all who contemplate breed-ing him. Now, in departing so far from thepurposes of nature, in bringing about achange in the animal in which not onlythe skill of man, but the influence ofsoil and climate, have been pressed intoservice, there have been certain great andunavoidable losses—for it must be re-membered that the loss of grace, of ac-tivity, and of endurance at other gaitsthan the walk, have all been incidental,and were not matters of intention withthose who developed him. It was simplythat, if all these things had been consid-ered, it would have taken a great deallonger to breed him to his present size,if it could ever have been done at all ;and so, in making size and strength