of England's horse interests. The Norman invasion of England by William the 

 Conqueror certainly contributed Norman horses of various varieties. We have 

 every reason to believe that there were many Norman horses introduced into 

 England after William the Conqueror's time, for the old-fashioned dapple-gray 

 Shire and Clydesdale breeds were but httle different from the old Norman horses. 

 Several importations of Spanish Jennet horses were received in England about 

 1182. 



King John imported one hundred Flemish stallions (1167 to 12 16) into 

 England. King Edward the Third's reign (1312 to 1377) was marked by the 

 importation of fifty Spanish horses, likely Jennets. The wars of 1346 seem to 

 have checked the improvement of horses and, Hke the Civil War of America, 

 undid much that had been previously accomplished. 



It is quite evident that there was a decided tendency toward the breeding and 

 production of a lighter, quicker and speedier horse in the fourteenth century, 

 which, however, was premature on account of the necessity of heavy and power- 

 ful war horses to carry the heavy armors then in use for both the warrior and 

 steed. Besides, the horseflesh of the lighter classes. Jennets, Normans, etc., 

 did not seem to have produced anything of much value or consequence. It is 

 most probable, however, that there was a gradual improvement which was accu- 

 mulated from the selection and rebreeding of the stronger bloods that were cer- 

 tain to become evident from even such a conglomeration of blood and breeding 

 that seemed characteristic of England up to the latter end of the sixteenth century. 



Carriages also came into use, which checked the previous custom of horse- 

 back riding as a means of locomotion. The debut of carriages naturally acted 

 as a new and permanent stimulant toward the encouragement of breeding a faster 

 and more blood-like horse in place of the ponderous war horse which, up to this 

 time, was the horse of England. (Latter end of sixteenth century.) 



Henry the Eighth's reign (1491 to 1547) was conspicuous for his good work 

 in the interest of the Enghsh horse. While some of his enactments were some- 

 what arbitrary, they were of an intelligent order and there is good reason for the 

 belief that gelding of stallions was originated by him as a means of encouraging 

 greater size, in the promiscuously bred horses, that in the absence of fences 

 seemed to pasture together at random. 



The following from Brittannica is an apt illustration of the bad condition 

 that existed as to horse breeding in England as recently as the sixteenth century, 

 in spite of the many importations of Spanish, Norman and Flemish horses prior 

 to that date. The following enactment went into force about 1523 : 



"For as much as the generation and breed of good and strong horses within 

 this realm extendeth, not only to a great help and defence of the same, but also is 

 a great commodity and profit to the inhabitants thereof, which is now much decayed 

 and diminished, by reason that in forests, chases, moors and waste grounds within 

 this realm, *little stoned horses, and nags of small stature and of little value, be not 

 suffered to pasture thereupon, but also to cover mares feeding there, whereof cometh 

 in manner no profit or commodity. 



*"Entire horses." 



44 



