THE PERCHERON HORSE. 61 



of utility on the turf, are transmitted to all his descend- 

 ants, which for this very reason are less fit for work, less 

 governable, and more trying to the patience of the raw 

 and ignorant driver during protracted service. 



All who have raised colts out of common mares by 

 Arabians are unanimous in opinion, and we have ourselves 

 proved it, that their get is generally even tempered, of a 

 mild, willing, and quiet disposition, easily and cheaply 

 reared, and fit for work at three years old, thus paying 

 for their keep. 



It is quite the contrary with the colt of English blood. 

 He, by reason of his fractiousness, his nervous ardor, his 

 exacting nature, and his slow growth, requires a degree 

 of care and management which does not permit him to 

 render any essential service before the age of five .years. 



It results from this that the Arabian progeny, even at 

 the first crossing, which is always the most difficult and 

 critical, pays for its nourishment from the age of three 

 years, whilst the English does not pay until he has reach- 

 ed five years, and this without counting the greater ex- 

 pense of his raising and the difficulty of finding men cap- 

 able of breaking and training him without accident and 

 bringing him safe to that quinquennial period. 



Were their qualities the same, the Arabian would cost 

 much less to the breeder than the English horse. To the 

 former, then, should always be given the preference in 

 moderately rich countries where agriculture has not arriv- 

 ed at great perfection. Thus it was by means of the 

 Arabian that Limousin, Navarre, Bigorre, the plains of 

 Tarbes and Auvergne, all countries neither very fertile nor 

 wealthy, have formed their unrivalled horses, the hardi- 

 ness of which suited the productions of the soil. These 

 being unsuited to the more delicate and less vigorous 

 English horse, its introduction was an injury to the native 

 stock. In our days, Limousin has been ruined by the in- 

 troduction of English blood, as formerly, in the district 



