47 



SECTION. VII. 



THE MODERN BREEDS, OR VARIETIES OF THE HORSE RUSSIAN Alf D TARTAR 



HORSES WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES — WILD HERDS TARTAR METHOD 



OF RIDING— VETERINARY IMPROVEMENT IN RUSSIA. 



HAVING given a concise general view of the history of the Horse 

 in ancient times, and of the progress which had been made by the 

 ancients, in equitation and management, it remains to proceed with the 

 same subjects, and to describe their actual state in various countries, at 

 the present day. 



The finest and most valuable races of Horses, are still found in those 

 countries, which were distinguished by the same superiority more than 

 two thousand years ago. From thence have the breeds of all other 

 countries been improved, and the most valuable properties of the 

 genus have been derived from the south-eastern Horse. Occasional 

 recourse is still had to the Levant, for stallions, by every nation in 

 Europe, desirous of improving or preventing the degeneration of their 

 breed, the case even in our own country, although we have long 

 since excelled in figure, size, form, and every valuable quality, the 

 best models which the original breeding countries could produce. 



To begin with the Russian Empire — The native Horses of Russia, 

 according to the Duke of Newcastle's treatise, were small, of ordinary 

 shape, and quite disregarded by other nations ; yet active, hardy, and 

 of great strength of constitution, like their neighbours of Norway and 

 Sweden. But the Horses of Russia have been greatly improved, 

 within the last century, not only by the admixture of superior races 

 from the eastern provinces of that vast Empire, but by the establish- 

 ment of large studs in various parts, in which Turkish and Persian 

 stallions have been introduced, as well as Danish and Holstein; but of 

 late years, English thorough and half-bred Horses have been generally 



preferred 



