THE SADDLE BREEDS OF HORSES 149 



a different character at different periods. The originals, 

 called Turcoman, were probably offshoots from the pony 

 types native to the mountainous districts of southern Asia. 

 They were first reported in Turkestan, but became gen- 

 erally distributed later in Turkish Asia and Persia ; there 

 are few horses in Turkey in Europe. These original ponies 

 do not represent the Turk as he is referred to in recent 

 times, however. Their type has been so completely modi- 

 fied by the Arabians with which they have been crossed 

 as to leave little evidence of their former characteristics. 

 However, plain heads with Roman noses, ewe necks, light 

 middles and long legs are still noticeable, and are charged 

 to the Turcoman foundation. These modified Turkish 

 horses are of fair size, bay, black or gray in color, with 

 uniform white markings. In those parts of Turkey 

 nearest the Arabian border, many pure Arabians are found. 

 Captain Hayes reports that the horses in ordinary use in 

 Turkish towns at the present time are small, hardy ani- 

 mals, gray or bay in color, and are produced by Arabian 

 stallions out of Kurdistan pony mares, the latter being 

 similar to the Turcoman ponies already referred to, and 

 typical of the horses indigenous to Turkey. Probably 

 the best Turks, so-called, were not Turks at all, but Ara- 

 bians or Barbs. 



Literature. E. Daumas, The Horses of the Sahara, London 

 (1863). 



HUNTER HORSE. Fig. 22. 

 By W. C. Bacon 



179. The Hunter, as bred in America, cannot yet be 

 called a breed of horses. The Irish Hunter, however, has 

 been recognized as a distinct breed for a hundred years or 



