IN SEARCH OF A HORSE. 65 



hands, and it required the span of one hand, aided 

 by a finger of the other, to encircle it. I believe 

 Terrare was yet larger in the bone. 



When the term thorough-hred is used in its strict 

 acceptation, in reference to the pedigree of a horse, 

 it means, that for five generations back, its purity of 

 blood can be deduced without uncertainty ; and by 

 purity of blood is meant a lineal descent from the 

 Barb, Turk, or Arabian. The pedigree of our cele- 

 brated race-horses being matter of record in the stud- 

 book, it is always sufficient to trace any horse to an 

 ancestor of acknowledged breed, such as Eclipse, 

 Childers, &c., and if this can be done, on the side 

 both of the sire and the dam, no further pedigree is 

 necessary. This brief explanation of the term " tho- 

 rough-bred" is ofi'ered to those who are not in the 

 habit of breeding stock ; for I must repeat that my 

 book is not designed for the edification of practical 

 and experienced men. 



If the object is to get an animal of considerable 

 power and fair speed, and the price must be re- 

 stricted to forty or fifty guineas, I should recom- 

 mend one of the cob make, between fourteen and 

 fifteen hands. If activity and wind are more coveted 



