ENGLISH THOROUGHBRED 19 



these were the first English animals to be bred pure the word has 

 been virtually preempted to this use, to the exclusion of other kinds 

 of live stock. And it is not now considered in good form to use 

 the word thoroughbred with any class of animals except this breed 

 of horses. 



This is a very old English breed and dates from before the time 

 of William the Conqueror, who became king of England in 1 066. 

 It was the outgrowth of the sport of hunting and running horses 

 under the saddle. Saddle racing, while quite different from the 

 lance combats of mounted knights in armor and requiring a different 

 type of mount, was little if any later, and perhaps even earlier, in 

 point of time. At all events, as early as the eleventh century horse 

 racing was a common pastime among the gentry. That this sport 

 enhances the value of swift runners admits of no question. The 

 fleetest horses wherever found were in demand. Mares of the 

 running type in England and France were the foundation upon 

 which the modern breed has been reared. 



The great improving factor in this breed was Arabian or Bar- 

 bary crosses. It is likely that the crusades were the cause of the 

 Arabian horses first coming to western Europe, and though the exact 

 time is uncertain, it was probably near the beginning of the twelfth 

 century when the first disastrous crusade, led by Peter the Hermit, 

 took place. Many returning crusaders in later years must have 

 left their chargers' bones on the battle field or the line of march, 

 and returned with steeds from the lands through which they 

 passed. At all events the value of the Arabian cross became ap- 

 parent at a very early date. 



Even before the crusades a Moslem army from Spain under 

 Abderame III was defeated in southern France by Charles Martel 

 in 732, and again in 743. The defeated Saracen armies numbered 

 over three hundred thousand men and a large force of Arab cav- 

 alry. Many of the horses of the defeated Moslems fell into the 

 hands of the French and have had an important influence upon the 



When training a colt, drive him with a fast waller. 



