Classes and JBreeds of British Horses. 185 



With the conquest of the Normans began a change in th6 

 horses of England. The communication with France, the 

 Low Countries, arid the neighbouring parts of Germany, be- 

 ing opened, horses superior to those of the ancient Britons 

 and Anglo-Saxons could be obtained. Then, too, was the 

 age of chivalry, of heavy-armed knights, and men-at-arms, 

 for whom horses of good strength and size were required. 

 The great black horse of Flanders and the plains of Germany 

 was in especial request ; and our earlier records shew that 

 the Norman princes largely resorted to these countries foi* 

 supplying their studs and armies. The crusades, too, had 

 conveyed a knowledge of those gay and elegant steeds 

 which happier climes and distant lands produced ; and by 

 degrees horses from Spain and Italy, Barbary and the 

 countries of the Levant, found their way to the land of the 

 Anglo-Normans. King John, during his troubled reign, 

 found time to devote his attention to the improvement of 

 the native horse. He imported at one time a hundred 

 stallions from Flanders. Edward II. imported horses from 

 Lombardy ; and Edward III. took yet more active means td 

 obtain the horses of foreign countries. The annals of his 

 reign shew that he was indebted in large sums to the Prince 

 of Hainault and other powers, for horses obtained for the 

 supply of his cavalry. He devoted the sum, great in those 

 days, of 1000 merks for the purchase of Spanish stallions. 

 While eager to avail himself of foreign horses to improve 

 the native races, and pursue his wars, he resolved that othef 

 countries should not reap a corresponding advantage. He 

 prohibited the exportation of horses from England under 

 h6avy penalties, and succeeding princes continued the sys- 

 tem ; and up to the reign of Elizabeth, it was felony to carry 

 horses even from England to Scotland. I^ these ages, then, 

 it appears that not only were the larger horses fitted for 

 heavy armour and the tournament brought into England, but 

 by degrees the lighter and more active horses of the South 

 and East ; and the employment of fusees in war, and the 

 gi'adual change of heavy armour, led to a more general pre- 

 ference of horses of lighter form and easy action. Henry 

 VIII. was th« last of the English kings who maintained the 



