230 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



The inhabitants take them with the lasso. Herds of 

 wild-horses are sometimes found in the island of St. 

 Domingo. Horses are not known in the islands of the 

 Pacific. Wild horses are not equal to the domesticated 

 ones in beauty, strength, or rapidity of motion. 



THE SPANISH HORSES. 



The Spanish horse of the present day is of a very m- 

 ferior description ; and most travellers view them in 

 the same light, being defective in every point which 

 determines a good horse. In the days of chivalry and 

 romance, the Andalusian war-horse was particularly 

 famous. The introduction of the Barb into Spain, 

 after the conquest of a great portion of that country by 

 the Moors, served materially to improve the breed. 

 The Spanish jennet was also very celebrated, but now 

 there are few to be found in the country superior to 

 our half-bred horse. 



THE FRENCH HORSES, 



Like our own, have of late years been considerably 

 improved, but they have not yet reached our excellence 

 in speed, strength, or beauty. Normandy has many 

 very fine draught and cavalry-horses ; and many of the 

 French troops are mounted from this part. The ponies 

 of Poiton are well known, and some excellent hunters 

 are bred in Limousin. 



