ARAB AND BARB HORSES 15 



world, I may say this without any offense. If I 

 give the offense then I preface it with the apology 

 that I mean none. The truth is that seven out of 

 ten of the Arabian horses taken into Europe or 

 brought to America have been inferior specimens 

 and not of the correct breed ; twenty per cent at 

 least have been mongrels and impostures, while 

 of the remaining ten per cent not more than one 

 per cent have been correct in their breeding, con- 

 formation and capacity to do what was expected 

 of them. 



Some men reading the history of this type and 

 that have persuaded themselves that a few Arabs 

 selected personally in Arabia would enable them 

 to beat their competitors as breeders and even to 

 win against horses that traced back one hundred 

 or two hundred years ago to Arab and Barb an- 

 cestors. Such folly always resulted in costly disap- 

 pointment. This folly and consequent disap- 

 pointment will become manifest as my narrative 

 proceeds. But before going any further I do not 

 wish any of my readers to harbor the notion that 

 I think an Arab would stand any chance on an 

 ordinary race-course to outrun an English Thor- 



