204 VARIETIES OF THE HORSE 



appear in the Hackney Hor.se Stud-book, namely, Movement and Magpie, 

 strain back on their dam's side to an Arab — and even upon these grounds 

 it should be impossible to ignore his merits. Nor has the Arab been 

 subjected to a course of treatment and training, such as that bestowed 

 upon the Thoroughbred, which is calculated to impair his soundness. In 

 the desert he is brought up hardy enough — Lady Anne Blunt reports 

 having seen the choicest mares of the Hail stud standing in the open 

 tethered by one foot to brick mangers, and covered with rugs, no shelter 

 of any kind being provided for them; and in this country, to their 

 credit, owners rarely coddle their Arabs. Consequently, when a breeder 

 is anxious to impart quality, stamina, and constitution to his horse, speed 

 and height at shoulder being secondary considerations, the Arab is more 

 likely to produce these, and less likely to transmit infirmities than the 

 Thoroughbred. As a sire of Polo ponies the Arab has done very well 

 indeed, his stock having pace, alertness, intelligence, and manners to 

 recommend them, whilst his first crosses with Suffolk horses have proved 

 themselves big-framed, neat-headed, good-quartered, very useful animals, 

 which look like carrying weight to hounds. 



The head of an Arab is of good size so far as the upper portion is 

 concerned, being rather long from the ears to the eyes, and wide across 

 the forehead, which should be convex and not flat, this being regarded 

 as a fault. The ears are fairly long, fine, and pointed; the eyes not too 

 full and soft in expression, but capable of showing excitement when 

 aroused, the face often denuded of hair for a small distance round them, 

 which gives them the appearance of being circled with rims of dark- 

 coloured skin. The lower part of the head tapers suddenly towards 

 the muzzle, which is very fine and imparts a blood-like appearance to 

 the head, whilst the lower lip projects slightly. The neck is very 

 powerful and nicely arched, with the throat well developed; the chest 

 rather narrow, but deep, with the ribs swelling out behind the forearms, 

 which causes the girth to be considerable; the back short, and the loins 

 and quarters extremely powerful. The forearms are long to the knee, 

 but the canons below are short; the pasterns long and springy, and 

 the feet deep and sound. The thighs are big, and the joints all round 

 should be well formed, the skin and coat being soft and silken respectively. 

 The tail of the Arab should be set on high, and carried, as has been 

 suggested, like that of a rocking-horse when at repose, but when the 

 animal is excited it is raised somewhat. The position and carriage of 

 the tail are points much considered in the East, and it is believed by 

 some persons that the tails of young foals are twisted into the desired 

 shape if they appear likely to be carried low. Colours vary in the Arab, 



