62 



the world for that purpose. They content themselves with breeding 

 good oxen for draught, of which, Lord Somerville speaks favourably in 

 his ' System of the Board of Agriculture.' 



The Spanish resemble some of the English half and three-part-bred 

 Horses. The head rather large and coarse, sometimes Roman-nosed ; 

 long ears, line full eyes, mane thick and flowing, long forehead, 

 shoulders and breast large, also the carcase, the croup round and full, 

 yet the loins rather too low. Legs clean and the sinews distinct, pas- 

 terns often too long like the Barbs, feet long and deep like those of the 

 mule, with high and narrow heels. A Spanish stallion which I saw, 

 answered the above descriptions in most points, with the exception that 

 his pasterns were short and strong, and his feet of good shape and size ; 

 but he shewed no signs of action, I mean in a sporting sense ; for these 

 Horses abound in that curvetting, loftj^ species of action, calculated 

 indeed for the riding-school and the parade, but aa hich is quite out of 

 place, at least useless, on the course or in the field ; and on the road, 

 will not contribute much toward bringing a man to his journey's end. 

 There is yet, I believe, a finer bred variety in Spain, than the above, 

 and they are described as trussed and well-knit Horses, very active and 

 docile, of high courage yet temperate, and of the most generous dis- 

 position. Their chief defect, in point of form, is said to be the too 

 great length of their heads. The best of those are bred, as in ancient 

 times, in Upper Andalusia, and perhaps are to be reckoned the descen- 

 dants, nearest in blood, however degenerated, of the ancient Jennets. 

 Naples has always been renowned for its breed, both of saddle and 

 coach Horses, but has either within the last century degenerated, or 

 been eclipsed by the superior, or rather universal fame of the Horses 

 of this country. There have, indeed, been no opportunities for attend- 

 ing to the breed of Horses at Naples, during the troubles of the present 

 time ; and moreover Kotzebue tells us, that the best stallions of that 

 country have found their way to France. The chief beauty of the 

 Neapolitan Horses, consist in their lofty action, and their proud, spirited 

 and graceful carriage. It is said they excel all others in the piqff'er ; 

 and on these accounts, as well as from their size, they are calculated for 

 occasions of shew and parade. They have, however, generally large 



heads 



