Page:A General History of Quadrupeds.djvu/23

Rh latter end of March till the beginning of June; but her chief ardour for the Horse continues only fifteen or twenty days. She goes with young eleven months and some days; continues to breed till the age of sixteen or eighteen years; and lives, on an average, between twenty and thirty years.

Although the Horse is endowed with vast strength and powers, he seldom exerts either to the prejudice of his master: On the contrary, he shares with him in his labours, and seems to participate in his pleasures; generous and persevering, he gives up his whole powers to the service of his master; though bold and intrepid, he represses the natural vivacity and fire of his temper, and not only yields to the hand, but seems to consult the inclination, of his rider.

But it must continue to be matter of regret to every feeling mind, that these excellent qualities should be often shamefully abused in the most unnecessary exertions; and the honest labours of this noble animal thrown away in the ungrateful task of accomplishing the purposes of unfeeling folly, or lavished in gratifying the expectations of an intemperate moment.