CHOICE OF A HORSE. 23 



on the market. We shall then go back to those times when 

 the choice potent blood flowed in a broad full stream^ and 

 our thoroughbreds so-called — we have never yet been able 

 to boast the possession of an absolutely pure thoroughbred 

 — were for all purposes, save "sprinting," superior to any- 

 thing we now possess. 



The description of the horse's hoof in Isaiah, " their 

 horses' hoofs shall be like flint," is true to-day of the 

 Arabian's, which is as hard as the nether millstone. In 

 him strength and beauty have met together. 



The Barb lacks the harmonious beauty and truthful 

 balance of the Arab. He is often fifteen hands and over, 

 has a lean, bony, and often somewhat plain head, with thin 

 compressed lips, a small mouth, a large expressive eye, 

 calm in repose^ but full of courage and flash when roused_, a 

 strong, arched neck, short back, broad loins^ and generally 

 beautiful shoulders. A steep quarter, meanly set on tail, 

 light thighs, and " cat hams " dwarf his hind quarters, 

 giving an appearance of an exaggerated forehand; but 

 these defects are more than compensated for by his 

 undeniable vigour, stamina, and endurance. He is more 

 leggy than his first cousin of "Hagar's desert, Ishmael's 

 sands," and his feet are not so well formed and regular, but 

 his limbs are very strong and are everlasting wear. In 

 point of strict utility he, when pure, is quite on a par with 

 the Arab. Up to the reign of Muley Mahomed, son cf 

 Muley Abderrhaman, about a.d. 1775, the Government of 

 Morocco provided each country village with a pure-blooded 

 stallion, of which the owners of mares had free use for stud 

 purposes. Since that Sultan's death, however^ this useful 

 custom has been discontinued and, consequently, the 

 quality of the horses has deteriorated to such an extent that 

 it is difficult to find one of pure blood. Moreover, the 



