OF HORSEMANSHIP. 139 



Rv[fia is not unfurnifhed with liorfes, but has never 

 yet been able to raifc a bi'ced that has been much re- 

 garded by other nations ; the country, as the Duke of 

 Newcaftle fays, being lefs adapted to breed horfes, 

 than to nourifh Bean^ of which animals it can boaft 

 very noble and capital races. This empire, how- 

 ever, and all its various dependent dates, is fo altered 

 and improved, fmce this great horfeman wrote, that 

 it feems at prefent to be entitled to a better chara6ler, 

 and' more confideration than he bellowed upon it. 



The Ruffian horfes are fmall, but hardy, and able to 

 endure great fatigue, without fufl'ering much in their 

 fpirit, ftrength, or conflitution. In thofe places where 

 the foil is richer, and herbage more abundant, the 

 breed is larger, and of a llouter mould. The fovereign 

 and many of the nobility have Studs in various parts of 

 the country. There is an imperial one upon the river 

 Riiduia^ deftined to fupply the guards with horfes, 

 formed to contain four hundred mares and abovit fifty 

 horfes. The flallions are Danijlj horfes, and fomctimcs 

 Turks. The former are purchafed at a large price, ge- 

 nerally coiling eight hundred Rubels each, or one hun- 

 dred and fixty pounds fterling. Thofe of the Turkilh 

 breed are handfome, and finely fhapcd, but too flight 

 and weak for heavy cavalry. 



The Kalmuck horfes are fomewhat higher than the 

 Ruffian common horfes, and fo tough and flrong in 

 their conflitution, as to be able to run three or four 

 hundred Englifh miles in three days. They fubfifl 



T 2 fummer 



