34 GRACEFUL RIDING. 



The Neapolitan horse. — This horse is small^ but 

 compact and strong ; the head rather large ; the 

 neck short, and bull-shaped : the prototype of the 

 horses represented on the bassi-relievi of ancient 

 Roman sculpture. He is capable of living on hard 

 fare, and undergoing great fatigue. He is frequently 

 vicious and headstrong ; this is chiefly owing to his 

 harsh treatment ; though very high-spirited, he 

 would, with gentle usage, become extremely docile 

 and good tempered. The districts of Apulia, 

 Abruzzi, and parts of Calabria furnish this excellent 

 animal. The Neapolitans have taken extreme pains 

 in the breeding of their horses ; they make great 

 display of them in their streets during the Carnival, 

 and throudi Lent. The aristocratic families have 

 excellent studs of great spirit and beauty. 



