54 THE HORSE. 
horses could be collected for the cavalry; and, to procure these, a serious 
interruption was produced in the internal traffic of the kingdom, which 
was then carried on by means of pack-horses. It appears, however, that 
on board the Spanish ships there were a great number of the Andalusian 
horses, which were then considered the best in Europe ; and these being 
taken possession of by the victorious Admiral for his mistress, were of 
great service in improving the breed. In her reign coaches were in- 
vented, and this was another reason for encouraging the size and strength 
of the horse ; the depth of the ruts and the steep hills on all the roads of 
the country demanding much greater power than at present, and six 
horses being the smallest team in use. or the purpose of carrying the 
mail-clad men-at-arms, a powerful horse of great size had long been 
wanted, but not of quite the same colossal proportions as was required for 
the use of the heavy lumbering coaches which were now introduced. In 
course of time, however, after gunpowder was invented, armour became 
useless, and then a lighter horse was in request. Racing had Jong been 
established in a few small meetings every year; but no sooner was a light 
cavalry demanded than a double impetus was given to the amusement, and 
Arabs, Barbs, and Turks were imported in large numbers, for the purpose 
of breeding animals suited either to the turf or the saddle. This was in 
the middle of the seventeenth century, during which time a number of 
books on the management of the horse were published in France and 
England, showing the interest which was generally taken in the subject. 
Of these, the most celebrated is the magnificently illustrated work of the 
Duke ef Newcastle, who occupied himself in writing it at Antwerp, during 
his banishment in the time of the Commonwealth, between 1650 and 
1660. He describes the horses of his time as follows :—‘“ The Turkish 
horse stands high, though of unequal shape, being remarkably beautiful 
and active, with plenty of power, and excelleut wind, but rarely possesses 
a good mouth. Much praise is given to the grandeur of carriage of the 
Neapolitan horse ; and, in truth, they are fine horses, those I have seen 
being both large, strong, and full of spirit. I have not only seen several 
Spanish horses, but several have been in my possession. They are ex- 
tremely beautiful, and the most eligible of any, either to form subjects for 
the artist, or to carry a monarch, when, surrounded by the pomp and 
dignity of majesty, he would show himself to his people ; for they are 
neither so intemperate as the Barbs, nor so large as the Neapolitans, but 
the perfection of both. The Barb possesses a superb and high action, 
is an excellent trotter and galloper, and very active when in motion. 
Although generally not so strong as other breeds, when well chosen I do 
not know a more noble horse ; and I have read strange accounts of their 
courage—for example, when so badly wounded that their entrails have 
protruded, they have carried their riders safe and sound out of danger, 
with the same spirit with which they entered it, and then dropped dead.” 
From the engravings in this book, the war-horse of that period closely 
zesembled the Flemish or Hanoverian blacks which we now have, but of 
greater substance, the man in armour weighing between twenty anc 
twenty-five stone. But even supposing this to be the horse of the country 
in the time of the second Charles, a very few crosses of Arab blood would 
fine it down, till in appearance it would not be distinguishable from its 
Eastern progenitor. One-eighth of cold blood is not very perceptible, and 
this proportion would exist in the third cross, and would therefore occupy 
only ten oy a dozen years to produce it. Gradually a breed of horses was 
established, which has been celebrated throughout the world for the last 
