OF FARRIERY. 



379 



Arabia, where, as in England, the Arabian 

 or Barbary Horse in process of time, acquires 

 an increase of size and fulness of form, together 

 witli a considerable expansion of the hoofs. 

 This is no doubt the effect of lower and more 

 moist grounds, and more succulent food than 

 can be found in the deserts, where the dryness 

 and purity of the air and soil compress tiie 

 animal body, impart a superior firmness and 

 elasticity to the tendinous and fibrous system, 

 allowing greater powers in a smaller compass 

 of substance, and exalting the tone and vigour 

 of the animal spirits. Thence Horses are 

 chosen from the deserts for their fleetness and 

 courage, and those from the mountainous re- 

 gions are preferred as coursers. A few of the 

 produce of the Wellesley Arabian were trained, 

 but not with sufficient success to raise his re- 

 putation as a racing stallion. This is, we be- 

 lieve, the last Arabian, or foreign Horse, 

 trained from. 



WATCHES OVER THE NEWxMARKET COURSE, ETC- 



We give the following table of the abbre- 

 viations used in designating the different 

 courses at New.market, and the length of 

 (iiese courses. . 



Abbrei'. Miles. Furl. \'iU. 



The Beacon course . - - B.C. is 4 I 138 



Last three miles of ditto - - L.T.M. 3 5 



From the Ditch in - - - D I. 2 94 



F'om the turn of the lands in T.L.I. 5 184 



Clermont Course - - - - C.C. I 5 217 



Across the Flat - - - A.F. 1 447 



Two-year old course - - T.Y.C. 5 136 



Yearling course - Y.C. 2 147 



R lurd course - - - R.C. 3 6 93 



I'ifch rnile - - - D.M. 7 148 



Abingdon mile - A.M. 7 21 1 



Rowley mile - - - R.M. 1 1 



Two middle miles o/ BC. - T M.M. I 7 II.* 



A Distance is the length of two hundred 

 tnd forty yards from the winning-post. In 



the gallery at the winning-post, and in a little 

 gallery at the distance-post, are placed two 

 men holding crimson flags. As soon as the 

 first Horse has passed the winning-post, the 

 man drops his flag ; the other at the distance- 

 post drops his at the same moment, and the 

 Horse which has not then passed that post is 

 said to be distanced, and cannot start again 

 for the same plate or prize. 



A Feather-weight is the lightest weight 

 that can be put on the back of a Horse. 



A Give and Take Plate is where Horses 

 carry weight according to their height. Four- 

 teen hands are taken as the standard height, and 

 the Horse must carry nine stone (the Horse- 

 man's stone is fourteen pounds). Seven pounds 

 are taken from the weight for every inch be- 

 low fourteen hands, and seven pounds added 

 for every inch above fourteen hands. A few 

 pounds additional weight is so serious an evil, 

 that it is said, seven pounds in a mile-race 

 are equivalent to a distance. 



A Post Match is for Horses of a certain 

 age, and the parties possess the privilege of 

 bringing any Horse of that age to the po.st 



A Prod**ce Match is that between the pro- 

 duce of certain mares in foal at the time of 

 the match, and to be decided when they 

 arrive at a certain age sjiecified. 



THE TOORKOMAN HORSE. 



Turkistan is that part of South Tartary, 

 north-east of the Caspian sea, and has been 

 celebrated from very early times, for produc- 

 ing a pure and very valuable breed of Horses. 

 They are called Toorkomans ; they are said tu 

 be preferable even to the pure Persians for 

 service. They are large, standing from fifteen 

 to sixteen hands high; swift, and inexhaus- 

 tible under fatigue. Some of them have tra 



