336 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



We shall return to the stud at Riddles- 

 worth, in order to show the nature of this 

 almost princely establishment, although only 

 in the hands of a private English gentleman, 

 which is one example that sufficiently indi- 

 cates liow, and to whom we are indebted for 

 the superiority of the English Horse. 



The Mares were in two fields, the main 

 body immediately facing the Stud-groom's 

 house, and not many men have such a pros- 

 pect from their windo\^s. 



We now introduce our readers to the sires 

 of the three yearling colts, wlio averaged fif- 

 teen hands two inches hi''h. The followino- 

 is the description of an accomplished Sports- 

 man who visited them in 1836 : — 



I now followed my very obliging conductor 

 for a visit to the Stallions. Their boxes, each 

 with a large walled yard attached to it, are 

 close to his dwelling-house, around which lie 

 also various commodious houses for the Youns: 

 Stock when it is first taken up, previous to 

 being taken away by the purchaser,?, or sent 

 for training to Newmarket. The Stallions all 

 lie out; that is to say, their boxes are left open, 

 and unclothed, and untouched, they have the 

 run of the yards night and day till generally 

 the second week in December. They are 

 then shut up, groomed, and put into condition 

 preparatory to the approaching season. The 

 first I saw was Merchant, by Merlin (shot at 

 Riddlesworth two years ago on account of his 

 broken leg) out of Quail by Gohanna. He is 

 a powerful, short-backed chesnut Horse, and 

 his stock have shewn well. He is a favorite 

 atRiddlesworth, probably on his sire's account 

 Merlin having ever been high in Mr. Thorn- 

 hill's estimation. 



Next to him came St. Patrick, by Walton, 

 his dam by Dick Andrews. This is a very 



fine looking chesniit Horse, hired, as I liave 

 before stated, I believe, from Mr. Dodswortli. 

 He is light topped, with a good deal of the 

 character of Actseon about him : his frame is 

 beautifully moulded ; his legs, which have 

 tasted the iron all round, well under him ; fine 

 withered, deep gaskined, with thighs and 

 quarteis quite perfect, fie is shoit in the 

 pastciin, a quality pronounced by most men as 

 d'jmanding praiss, but as little esteemed by 

 me as its opposite, long. 



In the post of honor, the dwelling nearest to 

 himself, Tjler introduced me to the steed 

 whose own performances, and thoe of his 

 descendants, place him without any parallel 

 in the annals of the British Turf — Emilius, by 

 Orville out of Emilius by Stamford, grandam 

 by NVhiskey out of Grey Dinmont. " And 

 this,'' said I, "is Emilius!" as a rough-coated 

 animal, with an eye like a star, came snorting 

 up to me. He was quite en desliahille to re- 

 ceive company, as it was evident he had been 

 recently indulging in a roll among the mire of 

 his exercise-paddock. The moment I laid my 

 hand upon his shoulder, he stood still, looked 

 complacently upon me, and, notwithstanding 

 his having been surprised a little mal-apropos, 

 accorded me a reception quite in keeping with 

 his acknowledged high breeding. Taking this 

 Horse as the standard of perfection of the 

 English blood-horse of the Nineteenth Century, 

 I will state, as well as 1 can, the result of a 

 very careful examination of him, and thence 

 draw such inferences as are relevant to my 

 present purpose. He is now in his sixteenth 

 year ; his height over 15 hands 2 inches, about 

 the present year's average size of his yearling 

 stock. • In color he is a rich blood-bay (when 

 in his spring form), with four black legs. 

 He is all over sound, and without blemish. 



