PERSIAN HORSES. 



609 



in a mountainous country. Although he is generally 

 lacking in blood, as we may see by his coarse head and 

 sickle hocks, there are many good specimens of this breed. 

 They are short in the body, thick in the neck, have good 

 bone, especially below the knees, are willing workers, 

 and are well up to 14 stone. They are admirably suited 

 as remounts for mounted infantry or irregular cavalry. 





r/ioto by] 



Fig. 588. — Shirazi horse (Gulf Aralj). 



[M. H. H. 



and make good polo ponies, for which purpose they are 

 often used by the members of the Teheran Polo Club. 

 Unfortunately, many of them have very hard mouths, 

 which fact is due to the abuse of the Persian bit, and to 

 want of training. This is the most numerous of all the 

 distinct breeds of horses in Northern Persia. 



The Shirazi Horse (Figs. 587 and 588), which is known 

 in India as the " Gulf Arab," is the offspring of Persian 

 country-bred mares and Baghdadi Arab stallions. They 



