95 



From that Avell-informed writer, indeed, we learn the exact state of the 

 ease, as it stood in the middle of Elizabetli's reign. Improvement had pro- 

 ceeded with considerable vigour amongst the great landed proprietors, 

 who had continued to breed from, and cross with German, Flanders, 

 Friczland, Hungarian and Neapolitan stock, for purposes which requir- 

 ed substance and weight, and with Turks, Barbs, Spanish jennets, and 

 Irish hobbies, for delicacy and speed. The two last, Blundeville 

 observes, were the best adajited to produce ambling nags, and the hob- 

 bies of Ireland, it seems, were a light species, with considerable shew of 

 blood, derived from the jennets of Spain. The English Horses were so 

 far improved, that this author quotes the circumstance of one winning 

 a wager by travelling four score miles in a day, and also notices the 

 fine form and appearance of some selected cart-horses, in which a con- - 

 siderable degree of emulation had began to shew itself On the whole, 

 however, the general breed was yet mean, there was still a want of 

 saddle-horses able to carry weight, and Queen Elizabeth, on the 

 threatened invasion, found the utmost difficulty in mounting a small 

 body of cavalry. " Great trotting Horses," as we have before seen, 

 were in much request, which Blundeville says, Avere the only species 

 adapted to war, the amblers being for pleasure and ease solely. He also 

 strongly recommends the produce of the Barb, both from speed and 

 stoutness, best calculated " to continue in such extreme exercises, as to 

 gallop the buck, or follow a long-winged hawk," which exercises, he 

 remarks, killed yearly in the realm, many a good gelding. Running 

 for wagers too is noticed by him, a practice which was soon after des- 

 tined to receive a regular and permanent national establishment. 



Running Horses were not yet kept exclusively for such purpose, but 

 gentlemen matched their hunters or hacknies, usually riding the race 

 themselves. The most fashionable trial, however, for the speed and 

 goodness of their Horses, was hunting red herrings, or the train scent, 

 as it was then called, from the body of some animal which had been 

 previously drawn across hedge and ditch. Here the scent was certain 

 and hot, and the hounds would run upon it to the end, with their 

 utmost speed. The matched Florses followed these hounds, and to be in 

 with them, was generally accounted a very satisfactory proof of goodness. 



Markhatn 



