Ill] AND HISTORIC TIMES 387 



In 1673 Sir William Temple met a French buyer who had 

 purchased twenty horses in Ireland for the French army at 

 from twenty to sixty pounds a-piece 1 . 



According to the historical evidence laid before the Royal 

 Commission on Irish horse-breeding by Dr Michael Cox 2 it 

 appears " that at a very early date much attention was devoted 

 to horse-breeding in Ireland, and that a distinct type of animal 

 was established in the country, the superiority of which is 

 attributed to the importation from Spain of sires of Eastern 



FIG. 108. A Hackney Mare. 



origin"; whilst according to the information supplied to the same 

 body by Mr Matthew Kenny the " old Irish mare " was small, 

 clean legged and hardy, and the same authority holds that 

 "this breed originated in the numerous Spanish stallions brought 

 to Ireland in the sixteenth century. There was a regular trade 

 between the south and west of Ireland and Spain for many 

 centuries, Ireland exporting wool, hides, and butter, and receiving 

 in return wine, cloth, horses, and specie. The class of Spanish 

 horse introduced was the Andalusian Barb. To this element 



1 Dr Michael Cox's evidence before Commission, op. cit. p. 6. 



2 Reports, p. 6. 



252 



