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 for the horse to travel, to hunt, and to race, it is useful to lighten him of every incumberance. And as it is necessary for him to travel through dirty roads, it is useful to rid him of an instrument, which is continually collecting dirt, and lashing it over himself and his rider.

To ease your horse of every incumberance in travelling, is certainly right. You should see that his bridle and saddle, (which are his great incumberances) are as easy as possible: and that the weight he carries, or draws, be proportioned to his strength. But depend on it, he receives no incumberance from nature. It is a maxim among all true philosophers, that nature has given nothing in vain: and there can be no reasonable doubt, but that nature has given the horse his tail to balance, and assist his motions. That this is the case, seems plain from the use he makes of it. When the animal is at rest, his tail is pendent: but when he is in violent action, he raises and spreads it, as a bird does in the same situation. Would the swallow, or the dove be assisted in their flight by the loss of their tails? or the greyhound in his speed by docking him? For myself I have no doubt, but if the experiment were tried at Newmarket, the horse, with his long tail, however the literati there might laugh at him, would not be in the least injured in his speed; and would certainly answer better, in all his sudden turns, to the intention of his rider. He would extend, and spread his helm; it would steer his way; and we should seldom hear of his running out of his course, or on the wrong side of the post. Besides, his tail probably assists him even in his common exertions, and balances his body, when he trots, and prevents his stumbling. I have heard a gentleman, who had travelled much in