34 THE HORSE 



weights it is astounding what a Hght-looking thoroughbred 

 horse can achieve, as may often be seen in cabs, omnibuses, 

 and tram-cars — though mechanical traction is so rapidly 

 usurping the place hitherto held by horses, that such spectacles 

 must inevitably become much scarcer in the future. There 

 is on record a match which took place at Dycer's Reposi- 

 tory in Stephen's Green, Dublin, about sixty years ago 

 (often related to me by my old friend, the late Mr. Joseph 

 Studholme, of Ballyeighan, King's County, who was well 

 cognisant of all the details, his neighbour, the late Mr. J. 

 Bennet, of Grange, having been chosen the umpire). The 

 question which was to be solved was whether a thoroughbred 

 could stand up under as great a weight as a low-bred horse. 

 Unfortunately I cannot give the actual details, through 

 having mislaid my notes of the occurrence, but substantially 

 what happened was this. Only two-year-olds could be 

 obtained at such short notice to champion each race, and 

 weight was piled up until the cart-bred animal lay down. 

 The thoroughbred not only stood up under the same burthen, 

 but also actually walked out of the yard with the weight on 

 its back, which amounted to nearly 24 stone. The pure- 

 bred horse is not, however, intended by nature for contests 

 of this description, nor is his active temperament adapted to 

 a long-sustained dead pull, for though his high courage may 

 induce him to do his best, the more phlegmatic nature of the 

 Shire, or Clydesdale, or Suffolk Punch, is better suited to 

 jobs of this description. 



The metier of the thoroughbred horse is speed, activity, 

 and a high state of nervous energy, and this especially 

 adapts him for the race-course, which is the most effective 

 test that could possibly be conceived ; while the animals 

 which pass this ordeal with credit are invaluable as pro- 

 genitors of the various light breeds of horses, whether 

 hunters, hacks, cavalry remounts, or light harness horses. 

 The training for a race searches out any weak spot in limb 

 or constitution, while the actual contest exposes the working 

 of the mechanism, and tests the courage to the last degree. 

 It is in this respect that the showyard system is weak, for a 

 great winner of prizes may never have done a day's work in 



