ENGLISH BREEDS 141 



money devoted to the King's premiums would be much better applied 

 if the judges were to select the horses that were to travel each district 

 from the whole of the competitors, and not class by class, as there 

 would then be increased prospects of having the money distributed 

 anion o; all the best animals, which would be a distinct benefit to the 

 breeders of horses. Besides this, it is quite possible, under the existing 

 order of things, for a stallion to be given a premium as a sire to travel 

 a district for which he is totally unadapted by his shape, size, make, 

 and breeding. Thus a small-bred, little horse may be selected to serve 

 mares in a pony-breeding part of the country, or a big coarse one in a 

 district where the mares require quality put upon them. Consequently 

 it is certain that the King's premiums would accomplish more good if 

 the judges were empowered to select the stallions which in their ojjinion 

 were best calculated to serve in each particular part of the country. 



The desirability or the reverse of introducing the Arab cross into 

 Hunters is one that has often been debated. No doubt the reputation 

 of the Arabs was considerably aflected by the ignominious figure they 

 cut at Newmarket some years ago, when they finished behind some very 

 moderate Thoroughbreds over a distance of ground ; but under any circum- 

 stances it is difficult to see in what respect the Arab is superior to the 

 English horse, provided that the latter is carefully selected for the purposes 

 of a Hunter-breeder, and therefore if a sire lias to be found to cross with 

 half-bred mares, it surely would be safer to cross witli an animal that has 

 been a good performer himself, or else comes of running and of staying 

 blood. The latter qualification is probably more powerful than the 

 former, but it too frequently happens that horses which have passed 

 throua;h a long turf career come down to the level of a Hunter sire 

 only because they lack the quality of endurance. It is also quite possible 

 that a good performer on the course may be found to be incapable of 

 begetting race- horses, although his off'sjjring may be quite fast enough 

 for work across country. A second objection that is not infrequently 

 raised against using horses that have done much work upon the turf for 

 Hunter - breeding is, that these animals have been forced from a very 

 early age, and have been generally subjected to conditions of life which 

 are likely to have impaired their energies for begetting staying stock 

 that are capable of carrying weight to hounds, and lasting out a long day 

 beneath it. A considerable time ago, as the history of the turf informs 

 us, the Thoroughbred of the period had to run over long courses under 

 welter weights and in heats, and in feet was subjected to treatment 

 that their descendants of the present day could not stand. Such animals 

 were far more likely to produce Hunters than the modern race-horse; 



