310 



DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



French draft horse. 



the value of horses at an early time, and the stories of their 

 famous chariot races will always live in history. The curb bit 



we owe to the genius 

 of the Romans and 

 the snaffle bit to the 

 Greeks. 



The various breeds 

 of horses have been 

 developed through the 

 influence of different 

 climates and different 

 kinds of food and 

 through the influence 

 of careful and con- 

 tinued selection from 

 time to time of indi- 

 viduals showing certain 

 marked characteristics 

 and desirable qualities. The improvement of a great many of our 

 breeds is due in a large measure to the influence of the Arabian 

 horses. As early as 

 1603, Arabian horses 

 were brought to Eng- 

 land and crossed with 

 native stock. After 

 1700 many oriental 

 horses were imported 

 into England, and they 

 exercised a strong in- 

 fluence in improving 

 the breeds. Since 

 then many very im- 

 portant breeds have 

 been developed. 

 They may be classed 

 as follows : (1) draft 

 horses, (2) carriage or coach horses, (3) speed horses, (4) ponies. 

 Draft horses are those that are specially adapted for drawing 



English draft horse. 



