THE HORSE 249 



it was developed in the desert region and is the result of its 

 environment. For centuries the Orient has been noted for the 

 quality of its horses and much of the infused blood of our 

 modern breeds came from there. England, France and Germany 

 began the imj^ortations at a very early period. The best Ara- 

 bian horses are to be found among the migratory Bedouin tribes, 

 of which the two most powerful grou]is are the Shammer race 

 of the north and the Anezah in the south, the latter having the 

 best horses. 



In conformation the Arabian is more symmetrical than the 

 thoroughbred, the head is neater, body shorter, ribs more 

 curved, and the legs not so long. ^AHiile the Arabian is more 

 stylish in the carriage of the head, neck and tail, and while he 

 possesses great stamina and endurance, he is not nearly the 

 equal of the thoroughbred for speed. 



American saddler. — This breed originated in the United 

 States and was the outgrowth of necessity. Before the estab- 

 lishment of roads, traffic was by trail through the forests; and 

 during much of the year the only means of travel was by horse- 

 back. This breed was more popular in the southern States and 

 in fact so much of the breeding has been accomplished in Ken- 

 tucky that the breed is often spoken of as the Kentucky saddle 

 horse. Easy-going thoroughbreds were used in the native stock 

 to improve the saddle horse. 



The American saddler is more stylish in carriage of head and 

 arch of neck and tail, as well as in general symmetry, than is 

 the thoroughbred. The shoulders and pasterns are sloping, long 

 and springy, thus favoring an easy gait. The height and weight 

 excels that of the thoroughbred. 



The gaits of the saddle horse are distinctive and the breed is 

 divided into classes according to the number of gaits, the more 

 common of w^hich is the ** three gaited,'' or walk-trot-canter 

 horse. 



Standard bred.— This breed includes both trotters and pacers. 

 It is of American origin and is the result of the American's love 

 for driving a race much as the thoroughbred for the English- 

 man's love for riding. The breed is of comparatively recent 

 origin with foundation animals traceable to the thoroughbred. 

 Improvement was obtained for the most part much as in the case 

 of the English thoroughbred, by a rigorous system of selection 

 for speed and endurance by the test of performance upon the 

 race track. 



There are several notable families of standard l)red horses of 



