322 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRiERY. 



ing of their produce with each other, has naturally 

 produced a division into five classes, which are veiy 

 distinct, and have been well preserved. 



" The first is the race-horse, proceeding directly 

 from either an Arabian or Barb with an English mare 

 that has been bred by a similar crop. This is what 

 the English call their highest blood. 



" The second is the hunter, arising from a blood- 

 horse and a half-bred mare. This class is very nu- 

 merous ; they are stronger than the first, and capable 

 of undergoing great fatigue. 



" The third is the result of a cross of the hunter 

 with mares of a more common description — these con- 

 stitute the coach-horse. It is from these two classes 

 that the English export so many throughout Europe, 

 and particularly to France. 



" The fourth is the draught-horse, the produce 

 of the former with the strongest mares of the country. 

 There are some of this breed of the greatest size, and 

 in their form and character not unlike the horses 

 which are seen cast in bronze. 



" The fifth has no particular character, being the 

 result of accidental crossing among the rest. Still, 

 notwithstanding this mixture, the influence of the Ara- 

 bian blood may be traced in some degree even 

 amongst the most common sort. 



" The English have procured Arabian horses, and 

 have devoted the greatest attention and care to their sys- 

 tem of breeding, particularly by publishing the genealogy 

 of those which they considered as their best produce. 

 They have well understood the importance of this pub- 

 lication, for by these means, they have been able to have 

 recourse to stallions and mares that approached the 

 nearest to the original blood, for the purpose of breeding, 

 and thereby to preserve the breed from degenerating. 



