THE AUSTRIAN HORSE 47 



Before we quit the neighbourhood of Italy, we may perhaps notice another 

 curious mode of horse-racing, practised in Malta. The horses here are indeed 

 mounted, but they have neither saddle nor bridle. The riders sit on the bare 

 back, and have nothing to guide or to spur on their horses, but a small pointed 

 instrument, not unlike a cobbler s awl. These horses are small barbs, well 

 tempered, or they would resist this mode of management, and they certainly are 

 not swift. By pricking the horse on one side or the other of the neck, the rider 

 can guide him a little in the way he should go, and certainly he may urge him 

 to his fullest speed ; but still, although it affords a novel and amusing sight to 

 the stranger, the horse and the spectators are degraded by such an exhibition *. 



THE AUSTRIAN HORSE. 



The following account is given by the Duke of Ragusa of the imperial esta- 

 blishment for the breeding of horses at Mesohagyes, near Carlsburg in Austria : 

 Ck This is the finest establishment in the Austrian monarchy for the breeding and 

 improvement of horses. It stands on 40,000 acres of land of the best quality, and 

 is surrounded in its whole extent, which is 15 leagues, by a broad and deep ditch, 

 and by a broad plantation sixty feet wide. It was formerly designed to supply 

 horses to recruit the cavalry ; at present its object is to obtain stallions of a good 

 breed, which are sent to certain depots for the supply of the various provinces. 

 To produce these, 1000 brood mares and 48 stallions are kept ; 200 additional 

 mares and 600 oxen are employed in cultivating the ground. The plain is 

 divided into four equal parts, and each of these subdivided into portions, 

 resembling so many farms. At the age of four years the young horses are all 

 collected in the centre of the establishment. A selection is first made of the best 

 animals to supply the deficiencies in the establishment, in order always to keep 

 it on the same footing. A second selection is then made for the use of the other : 

 none of these, however, are sent away until they are five years old ; but the horses 

 that are not of sufficient value to be selected are sold by auction, or sent to 

 the army to remount the cavalry, as circumstances may require. 



The whole number of horses at present here, including the stallions, brood- 

 mares, colts and fillies, is 3000. The persons employed in the cultivation of the 

 ground, the care of the animals, and the management of the establishment 

 generally, are a major-director, 12 subaltern officers, and 1170 soldiers. 



The Imperial treasury advances to the establishment every year 118,000 

 florins, (the half rix-dollar or florin is in value about 2s. Id. English money,) 

 and is reimbursed by the sale of 150 stallions, which are sent every year to the 

 provinces at the price of 1000 florins each, and by the value of the horses 

 supplied to the cavalry. The other expenses of every description are paid for by 

 the produce of the establishment, which is required to defray, and does defray 

 all. This is, therefore, an immense estate a farm on a colossal scale with 

 a stud in proportion managed on account of the sovereign, and which produces 

 a considerable revenue, independently of the principal object which is attained, 

 the propagation and multiplication of the best breeds of horses. He can 

 always supply the wants of his army at a price almost incredibly small. For a 



and it makes one laugh to see that some of of some colour, to distinguish them from each 



them are so tickled by it as not to run at all, other." 



but set about plunging in order to rid them- This curious scene is described on account 



selves of the inconvenience, instead of driving of the strongly-marked picture it affords, not 



forward to divert the mob, who leap, and caper, of the poor horses, but of the inhabitants of 



and shout with delight, and lash the laggers Italy, once the abode of everything that was 



along with great indignation indeed, and with honourable to human nature; and, perhaps, 



the most comical gestures. I never saw horses also, of certain writers, when they sacrifice 



in so droll a state of degradation before, foi good and kindly feeling to affectation and folly. 



tlv;y were all striped, or spotted, or painted * Penny Mag., 1833, p. 426. 



