INTRODUCTION ii 



his subjects it was considered a disgrace to be seen 

 publicly on foot. Among the ancient Grecians, horse- 

 men were placed above the commonalty, and next to 

 those of the highest rank and fortune. The same 

 respect was also paid to the Roman Equites ; and in 

 the present day a sub in a dragoon regiment thinks 

 himself equal to a captain of foot. 



No trifling respect, if not honour, is paid to the 

 horses of our own country. They exceed all other 

 animals at least tenfold in their value ; and their 

 comfort and convenience are, generally speaking, 

 strictly attended to. William the Conqueror improved 

 the breed of EngHsh horses, as did the Earl of Shrews- 

 bury in his (William's) time. In Edward the Sixth's 

 reign an Act was passed to make stealing a horse 

 felony without benefit of clergy, but it did not extend 

 to other cattle ; and in that of Harry the Eighth, all 

 persons whose grounds were enclosed were obliged to 

 keep two brood mares of a certain size. 



We are now arrived at such perfection in the breed- 

 ing and forcing of horses, if I may be allowed such an 

 expression, that we have nothing to learn from those 

 who have gone before us : but the principles laid down 

 by ancient writers on this subject, particularly by 

 Virgil and Pliny, both good judges, are strictly correct. 

 The former says, if you want to win a prize at the 

 Olympic games, consult the dam of your colt. This 

 was exactly the opinion of the late Lord jGrosvenor, 

 the greatest breeder of race-horses this country ever 

 saw. The present Earl has confirmed it by breeding 

 very extensively from Thunderbolt, but it has been 



