28 



BEGINNINGS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 



the hair fine and silky. The most desired height is 15 to 

 15% hands, and the most common colors are bay, brown, 

 chestnut, or black, though there are other colors. A fine 

 disposition and great courage are features of this noted breed. 

 The Thoroughbred was first brought to America in 1730, 

 and since then until recently, large numbers have been 

 imported. This horse is raced under the saddle with a man 

 called a jockey on his back. The fastest record of a race of 

 any sort was made by Salvator, who in New Jersey in 1890 



ran a mile in 1 : 35J/2. 



Thoroughbreds have 

 sold for enormous sums, 

 Flying Fox having 

 brought the highest 

 price ever paid for a 

 horse, of $187,500. The 

 Thoroughbred has been 

 much bred in America 

 in the past to improve 

 our racing stock, but at 

 present he is little used, 

 except in running races 

 where gambling is en- 

 couraged. As betting at horse races is a violation of the 

 law in most states today, this has done much to discourage 

 the breeding of Thoroughbreds in America. In England 

 and France, conditions are different. This breed has had 

 a great history, and it is unfortunate that it cannot be 

 popular in America, except as connected with gambling. 



The American Saddle Horse is a breed that has developed 

 in the United States, especially in Virginia, Kentucky, Ten- 

 nessee, and Missouri. Its ancestry comes with the mingling 

 of the blood of the Thoroughbred and well made, easy- 



Fig. 8. Hanover, a famous Thoroughbred 

 sire. Photograph by the author. 



