THE HORSE HISTORY. 479 



the finest of cavalry, when they entered Spain. Their horses 

 were of the breeding such as gave the barb power to impress the 

 best blood of England with new life, courage, endurance, and 

 fleetness. In 912 the most redoubtable of the Northmen, Hrolf, 

 afterwards called Rollo, accepted the hand of a daughter of 

 Charles the Simple, and the territory north of the Seine, from 

 Audleys to the sea, known as modern Normandy, in exchange 

 for Christian baptism and an oath of fealty, and from this date 

 we find the energy of this wonderful people turned from conquest 

 to the arts of peace. The rich country was made richer and 

 more powerful by the infusion of the best blood of the horses 

 of every nation that had made progression in civilization, which 

 then was synonymous with the improvement of the horse for 

 war and ceremony. 



Soil and Climate Affect Size. In the low country of 

 East and West Flanders the country is generally flat, and along 

 the Scheldt and its tributaries have been agricultural prosperity, 

 and great numbers of horses and cattle produced. The climate, 

 soil, and herbage, and diligent care, have combined to produce 

 great growth among the horses of that region. It is there En- 

 glish and American buyers find the massive horses that are 

 sought especially for size and powerful draft. 



In the interior of France, where the country is more elevated 

 and varied in surface, and the air rare and bracing, and the pas- 

 tures closer and more concentrated, we find a smaller type of 

 horse, with more activity and endurance. The history bearing 

 on the development and foundation of the long-established 

 breed of powerful horses will help us to understand something 

 of the elements of blood, and the training and uses that have 

 combined to establish a powerful type of horses, combining ex- 

 cellencies of form and temper, and action and power, such as to 

 attract the attention and admiration of all nations and people 

 who have advanced in civilization and the arts of husbandry far 

 enough to make the horse a valuable factor in labor. From the 

 foundation laid in that historic country we note an advance to 

 make such improvements as the taste, habits, and necessities of 

 a people demand. 



