36 THE HORSE 



In so vast a country as India, it might be expected that numerous 

 breeds of horses would be found, varying ahnost as much as the climates 

 and soils of Bengal and Cabool. In the immediate neighbourhood of 

 the three presidencies imported and country-bred Arab, as well as Persian 

 and Toorkoman horses are common enough, as also are importations from 

 the Cape of Good Hope, Australia, and Van Diemen's Land. 



EAST INDIAN HORSES 



The native horses are small and hardy, and should not exceed fourteen 

 and a half hands if quality and staying power are expected. They have 

 good fore-hands, are clever jumpers, quick in turning, and consequently 

 in request for sporting purposes as pig-sticking and polo. Though able 

 to sustain a lot of work their legs are often ugly from such defects as 

 cow-hocks, calf-knees, and turned-out toes. They can endure thirst and 

 hunger, long marches, and carry heavy weights in proportion to their size. 



THE AUSTRALIAN HORSE 



The Irishman's fifth quarter of the world is now abundantly sup- 

 plied with horses of the first class, in size, speed, and stoutness, though 

 less than a century ago the animal was altogether unknown there. At 

 first, from the proximity of India and the Cape of Good Hope, the horses 

 of these colonies, and those of inferior value only, were imported into the 

 new settlement; but about the year 1835 great efforts were made by 

 several enterprising settlers, both in the island of Van Diemen and also on 

 the continent of Australia, and several horses of good breeding were im- 

 ported from this country, especially by Mr. Wilmore in the former island. 

 It was soon found that the climate is admirably suited to this animal, and 

 there are now colonial-bred horses, adapted for the turf and the road, as 

 well as for agricultural purposes, superior in soundness and probably in 

 stoutness, even if they are deficient in pace, as compared with the British 

 thoroughbred. Still I am inclined to believe that as the soil and climate 

 are admitted to improve the appearance of the imported hoi'ses, as indeed 

 they do all our domestic animals, and as disease of all kinds is extremely 

 rare, so it will be found that in all good qualities the Australian horse is 

 at least on a par with our own. Their breeders are so spirited and deter- 

 mined that neither money nor trouble is spared in procuring the best blood, 

 an evidence of which is afforded by the fact that at the sale of Lord 

 Londesborough's stud, the large sum of 3120 guineas was invested for 

 Australia. This, probably, is the heaviest price yet paid at one sale by 

 any colonial breedei', but numerous smaller speculations have been going 

 on for years. Hence, the position attained by our friends over the water 

 they entirely owe to the parent country ; and I strongly suspect that 

 before long we shall have to go to them-^ to procure sound horses of high 

 breeding for our own studs. 



^ " In many parts of the interior of New South Wales and Queensland large mobs of wild 

 horses (or warrigals, as they are called) infest the outlying stations, to the great annoyance 



