CHAPTER V 



EUROPEAN CONTINENTAL HORSES 



'ANISU AND POrXUGUKSE UORSES— THE ITALIAN HORSE — THE GERMAN HORSE— THE 

 FREXCU HORSE— THE FLEMISH HORSE — THE HANOVERIAN HORSE— THE RUSSIAN HORSE 

 — NORWEGIAN AND SWEDISH HORSES. 



SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE HORSES 



Throughout Spain and Portugal there formerly existed a hardy and 

 useful breed of horses, of different degrees of lightness and activity, 

 according to the use for which they were designed. But in both 

 countries they have greatly degenerated from their former excellence, 

 and in Portugal they have dwindled down in size and appearance until 

 they can scarcely now be recognized as belonging to the same class of 

 animal. The old breeds were greatly improved by the Moors during 

 their occupation of Spain, by importing the Barbs of their own country, 

 and hence those provinces which were most overrun by that people 

 possessed the best breeds of horses. The Spanish Jennet has always 

 been celebrated for easy paces and gentle temper, and these have been 

 the characteristics of all the breeds of the Peninsula, united in most 

 of them with a high courage which would induce them to face either 

 the dangers of war or of a bull fight without flinching. One chief 

 peculiarity of the Spanish horse is the fulness and width of the bosom, 

 which has always made them slow in the gallop, Ijut extremely easy, 

 while their powerful shoulders have rendered their action good and safe. 

 In the present day the Spanish horse is seldom seen out of his own country. 



THE ITALIAN HORSE 



Like those of Spain the Italian horse is supposed to be descended 

 from the Barb, but in the last two or three centuries the breed has 

 greatly degenerated from the original type. The horses used for the 

 saddle are light and active, and at Rome as well as at Florence^ public 



1 The custom was suppressed at Rome about the year 1891, aud at Florence also by 

 the Queen of Italy's personal disapproval and by tlic energetic action of the Duchess 

 Sermoneta (the English wife of tlie Minister of Foreign Affairs). Mr. Leonard llawkesley 

 states on the authority of the Countess Baldelli that "the custom has long ceased." 

 Only in a few provincial towns does it now linger. 



56 



