CHAPTER IX 



TYPES OF ARABIAN HORSES 



The type of Arabian horses is very marked, is it not, 

 Count ? 



*Ah, madam, so pure and distinct of race is the Arab, 

 and so great his power of heredity, that however radical 

 the cross-cut, the mint mark of the desert still remains. 

 For instance, one proof of his unsullied descent for 

 centuries is the characteristic spring of the tail from the 

 crupper, and his proud way of carrying it as he moves it 

 to and fro. 



'The progeny of Arabs once imported for breeding 

 purposes show at once in their increased size, without 

 any sacrifice of power and just symmetry, the advantages 

 of generous living, of a better climate, of petted care, and 

 of a wise indulgence in training.' 



How many generations before they equal our horses in 

 size? 



' In the course of three generations English or American 



bred Arabs will not lack size. While, as I have said, very 



few Arabs of the bluest blood ever leave Arabia, yet 



English pounds, and even the American dollar, backed by 



46 



