26 THE HORSE 



same result, the English thoroughbred horse maintaining his supremacy 

 in every fair trial of speed. 



When the earlier editions of this work were brought out, no large 

 studs of Arab horses existed in this country, but we have now the 

 advantage of seeing the effect of climate and conditions other than those 

 with which this breed is associated. Mr. Wilfrid Blunt of Crabbet 

 Park, and the Hon. Miss Dillon of Pudlicote, have bred Arabs for many 

 years, and probably possess greater knowledge on the subject than any 

 other two persons living. Both have favoured the editor with their 

 opinions, which we insert in extenso : — 



Mr. Blunt says, " In answer to 3'our question about the effect of climate 

 on Arab horses bred in England, I may say that my experience is that 

 where the breeding is carried on, on the same rigid principles of blood- 

 relation as in Arabia, the type remains unchanged and with it the 

 native advantages of the breed. I do not find any falling off in the 

 points of constitutional hardiness and freedom from disease. On the 

 contrary, the English-bred stock seems less liable in some ways to suffer 

 than the stock I originally imported. This is especially the case with 

 the eyes, where several of my imported mares have suffered from cataract 

 without their produce being at all so affected. 



" Of defects in the respiratory organs, roai'ing, whistling, and the like, 

 we have not had a single case, nor do I think there is the least 

 tendency in that direction. 



" My mares and young stock after the first year stand out in open 

 yards or in the fields all through the winter, and are none the woi'se for it. 



" As to speed and endurance, I do not put my colts into training for 

 racing, but as far as my experience goes there is little difference 

 between the home-bred and the imported Arab. On the road and in 

 the hunting-field they seem to have the same qualities. I have found 

 home-bred ones do as long journeys in harness as those I brought from 

 Arabia. Their action is certainly better than those bred in the desert. 



" I am, however, of opinion — and on this point I acknowledge to a 

 change of mind some fifteen years ago — that increased size and probably 

 increased speed can only be obtained by a sacrifice of qualities of greater 

 importance. The tallest Arabs are seldom those of the best blood, and to 

 choose a stallion for his height to breed from, or even as a rule for his 

 speed, is contrary to Bedouin practice, and in my experience is attended 

 with poor results. Every inch over 14 hands 2-|- inches takes away some- 

 thing from the purity of the type and the perfect organization of the 

 animal, nor would I breed from a stallion over 14 hands 3 inches. In his 

 own country it would be safer to put the standard two inches lower. The 

 blood and the type are the essential things in a sire, next to them thickness 

 (not height) and action. I find these two last qualities improve in England, 

 and weed out my tallest ones. It is a departure from this principle in 

 the search for superior inches for militaiy purposes that has caused the 

 decay of some of the once excellent Arab studs abroad, notably those in 

 Russian Poland. In the matter of courage and sagacity they are mainly 

 inherited with the skull formation, but are also due in some measure to 

 education. A horse brought up on the English system in paddocks and 



