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Article THE HISTORY OF A RACEHORSE. ← Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The History Of A Racehorse.
and exercises , which jocund nature in early youth inspires . Thus passed the first period of his life ; but noAv his state of servitude and misery commenced . To render him more tame and passive , a painful operation was performed upon him , by which the size and firmness of his muscles were impaired , his spirit Avas depressed , and he lost , with the distinction of his sex , one essential power of usefulness and tailAvhich
enjoyment . Nature had furnished him with a floAving , Avas at . once an ornament , a covering for what should be concealed , and aAveapon of defence against the flies in summer . But false taste decreed the extirpation of it ; and several joints Avere taken off by a coarse instrument and a blundering farrier . Tlie blood gushed from the ' woundand to stop the dischargethe tender part was seared
; , with a red hot iron . When the tail Avas thus reduced to a ridiculous shortness , it was thought that a turn upwards would g ive additional grace to it : And to produce this effect , several deep cuts were made on the under side of it ; and the tail was drawn by a cord and pully into a most painful position , till the granulation of the flesh was comletedHe Avas HOAV trainedor brokenas it is usually termedfor
p . , , , riding ; and during this season of discipline , he underwent all the severities of the lash and the spur . Many a time were his sides covered Avith blood , before his aversion to the ass could be fully subdued . The dread of this animal he derived from his sire ; for in the state of nature , the ass and the horse bear the utmost antipathy . to each other : And if a horse happen to stray into the pastures where
the Avild asses graze , they attack him Avith fury ; and surrounding him to prevent his flight , they bite and kick him till lie dies . When rendered perfectly tractable , he was sold to a gentleman , whom he faithfully and affectionately served during ten years ' . He Avas a companion to him in various journies ; bore him with ease and securitymany thousand miles ; contributed to restore him from sickness to health bthe gentle exercise which he afforded ; and by the SAviftness
y of his feet twice rescued him from robbers and assassins . But growing old , his joints became stiff ; his wind failed him ; and , urged beyond his speed , on a sultry day , he fell breathless on the course . In a few hours he recovered himself , and the owner disposed of him , at a low price , to a master of post horses in Manchester . He is now to be ridden as a common hackney , or to be driven in a chaise ; and
he will be at the mercy of every coxcomb traveller , who gallops , nio-ht and day , through different countries , to acquire a knowledge of mankind , by the observation of their manners , customs , laws , arts , police , and government . It is obvious , that the horse will soon be disqualified for this violent and cruel service ; and if he survive , he willprobablybe sold to grind in a mill . Jn this situationhis
exer-, , , cise will be less severe , but almost Avithout intermission ; the movement in a circle will produce a dizziness of the head ; and in a month or two he will become blind . Still , however , his labours are to continue ; and he may drag on years of toil and sorrow , ere death close . s the period of his sufferings .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The History Of A Racehorse.
and exercises , which jocund nature in early youth inspires . Thus passed the first period of his life ; but noAv his state of servitude and misery commenced . To render him more tame and passive , a painful operation was performed upon him , by which the size and firmness of his muscles were impaired , his spirit Avas depressed , and he lost , with the distinction of his sex , one essential power of usefulness and tailAvhich
enjoyment . Nature had furnished him with a floAving , Avas at . once an ornament , a covering for what should be concealed , and aAveapon of defence against the flies in summer . But false taste decreed the extirpation of it ; and several joints Avere taken off by a coarse instrument and a blundering farrier . Tlie blood gushed from the ' woundand to stop the dischargethe tender part was seared
; , with a red hot iron . When the tail Avas thus reduced to a ridiculous shortness , it was thought that a turn upwards would g ive additional grace to it : And to produce this effect , several deep cuts were made on the under side of it ; and the tail was drawn by a cord and pully into a most painful position , till the granulation of the flesh was comletedHe Avas HOAV trainedor brokenas it is usually termedfor
p . , , , riding ; and during this season of discipline , he underwent all the severities of the lash and the spur . Many a time were his sides covered Avith blood , before his aversion to the ass could be fully subdued . The dread of this animal he derived from his sire ; for in the state of nature , the ass and the horse bear the utmost antipathy . to each other : And if a horse happen to stray into the pastures where
the Avild asses graze , they attack him Avith fury ; and surrounding him to prevent his flight , they bite and kick him till lie dies . When rendered perfectly tractable , he was sold to a gentleman , whom he faithfully and affectionately served during ten years ' . He Avas a companion to him in various journies ; bore him with ease and securitymany thousand miles ; contributed to restore him from sickness to health bthe gentle exercise which he afforded ; and by the SAviftness
y of his feet twice rescued him from robbers and assassins . But growing old , his joints became stiff ; his wind failed him ; and , urged beyond his speed , on a sultry day , he fell breathless on the course . In a few hours he recovered himself , and the owner disposed of him , at a low price , to a master of post horses in Manchester . He is now to be ridden as a common hackney , or to be driven in a chaise ; and
he will be at the mercy of every coxcomb traveller , who gallops , nio-ht and day , through different countries , to acquire a knowledge of mankind , by the observation of their manners , customs , laws , arts , police , and government . It is obvious , that the horse will soon be disqualified for this violent and cruel service ; and if he survive , he willprobablybe sold to grind in a mill . Jn this situationhis
exer-, , , cise will be less severe , but almost Avithout intermission ; the movement in a circle will produce a dizziness of the head ; and in a month or two he will become blind . Still , however , his labours are to continue ; and he may drag on years of toil and sorrow , ere death close . s the period of his sufferings .