CHAPTER II 



EARLY HISTORY OF HORSE CULTIVATION IN ENGLAND 



Although it is said that 'horses existed in England 

 before histories,' yet the horse was not indigenous to 

 Great Britain, but was first brought over from France. 

 As early as the ninth century, when Hugh Capet was 

 a suitor for the hand of the sister of Athelston, he sent 

 over to that prince, as a present, several running horses, 

 caparisoned with saddles and bridles richly ornamented 

 with gold. That horse-races were run in the Middle Ages 

 an old black letter pamphlet gives an interesting proof. 

 It mentions Whitsuntide as the popular season, and says, — 



' Whiche horse that best may ren, 

 Three miles the cours was then, 

 Who that might ryde him shoulde 

 Have forty pounds of redy gold. ' 



Henry the Eighth was an accomplished rider, and a 

 great admirer of good horsemanship. It is said that 

 Cardinal Wolsey secured the royal favour, through having 

 ridden, very rapidly, a long distance, when he was carrying 

 an important message to the king. In his time the 

 native breed of horses had developed into various species 

 for a variety of uses. There were 'gentill horses or 

 chargers, palfreys, hobys, clothseks (used for carrying 

 the cloth-bag), chariot horses, curtals, trotting horses, 

 gambaldynge horses and amblynge horses.' 



