44 THE HORSE. 



the ^e^ligiee is lost in the uncertainty of an early period of breeding. If 

 the pedigree of a racer of the present day be required, it is traced back to 

 a certain extent, and ends with a well known racer; or if an earlier deri- 

 vation be required, that ends either with an Eastern horse, or in obscurity. 



It must, on the whole, be allowed, that the present English thorough- 

 bred horse is of foreign extraction^ improved and perfected by the influence 

 of the climate, and by diligent cultivation. There are some exceptions, 

 as in the case of Samson and Bay-Malton, in each of whom, although the 

 best horses of their day, there was a cross of vulgar blood ; but they are 

 only exceptions to a general rule. In our best racing stables, and, par- 

 ticularly in the studs of the Earls of Grosvenor, and Egremont, this is an 

 acknowleged principle ; and it is not, when properly considered, a principle 

 at all derogatory to the credit of the country. The British climate, and 

 British skill, made the thorough-bred horse what he is. 



The beautiful tales of Eastern countries, and somewhat remoter days, 

 may lead us to imagine that the Arabian horse possesses marvellous powers; 

 but it cannot admit of a doubt, that the English trained horse is more 

 beautiful, and far swifter and stouter than the justly-famed coursers of 

 the desert. In the burning plains of the East, and the frozen climate of 

 Russia, he has invariably beaten every antagonist on his native ground. 

 A few years ago, Recruit, an English horse of moderate reputation, easily 

 beat Pyramus, the best Arabian on the Bengal side of India. 



It must not be objected that the number of Eastern horses imported is 

 far too small to produce so numerous a progeny. It will be recollected, 

 that the thousands of wild horses on the plains of South America de- 

 scended from only two stallions and four mares, which the early Spanish 

 adventurers left there. 



Whatever may be the truth as to the origin of the race-horse, the 

 strictest attention has for the last fifty years been paid to pedigree. In 

 the descent of almost every modern racer, not the slightest flaw can be 

 discovered : or when, with the splendid exception of Samson and Bay- 

 Malton, one drop of common blood has mingled with the pure stream, it 

 has been immediately detected in the inferiority of form, and deficiency of 

 bottom, and it has required two or three generations to wipe away the stain, 

 and get rid of its consequences. 



The racer is generally distinguished by his beautiful Arabian head ; — 

 his fine and finely-set-on neck ; — his oblique, lengthened shoulders ; — well- 

 bent hinder legs; — his ample, muscular quarters — his flat legs, rather 

 short from the knee downward, although not always so deep as they 

 should be ;-— and his long and elastic pastern. These are separately con- 

 sidered where the structure of the horse is treated of. 



The racer, however, with the most beautiful form, is occasionally a 

 sorry animal. There is sometimes a want of energy in an apparently 

 faultless shape, for which there is no accounting ; but there are two points 

 among those just enumerated, which will rarely or never deceive, a well- 

 placed shoulder and a well-bent hinder leg. 



THE DARLEY ARABIAN. 



The Darley Arabian was the parent ol our best racing stock. He was 

 purchased by Mr. Barley's brother, at Aleppo, and was bred in the neigh- 

 bouring desert of Palmyra. The figure here given of him is supposed to 

 be an accurate delineation. It contains every point, without much show, 

 which could be desired in a turf-horse. 



