440 



BRITISH AND IRISH HORSES. 



if his legs were furnished with an abundance of " feather," 

 which has been obtained by artificial selection. 



The Great Horse was much employed as a cavalry 

 remount in the da3^s when the military man and his horse 

 were protected by heavy armour. After the introduction 

 of fire-arms, armour was discarded, and a lighter and faster 

 horse took the place of the Great Horse in our army. 



Photo by] [C. A. tadjian, stansted, Essex. 



Fig. 457. —Sir Walter Gilbey's Hackney Stallion, Hedon Squire. 



» 



The artificial evolution of the heavy cart-horse does 

 not appear to have commenced before the middle of the 

 eighteenth century. '' The pack horse was the chief 

 means of burden bearing, whether in the conveyance of 

 goods to market or of conveying friends from place to 

 place. As to the conveyance of goods, we find that as 

 late as 1789 even the farmers were only gradually getting 

 on wheels. " A few carts were in use, no waggons, and the 



