fiG Tin-: DIFFEREXT BREEDS OF EXGLISII HORSES. 



need of the war-horse, led under several monarchs to a culpable degree of 

 negligence ; and althoagh, perhaps, on the whole the English were not 

 far behind their Continental neighbours, yet at no period, until mthin the 

 last century and a half, has Great Britain been at all distinguished on 

 this account : but from that time, and especially during the latter part 

 of it, the British horse has been sought after in every part of the woi'ld. 

 There is nothing in our climate that can account for this — nothing in our 

 soil, or this superior excellence would have been acknowledged long ago. 

 ' The grand first cause,' says Mr. Wm. Percivall, in his introductory lectui'c 

 at University College, in 1834, ' — that, by the steady prosecution and 

 scientific management of which this success has been brought about, 

 appears to me to be breeding ; by which I do not only mean the procura- 

 tion of original stock of a good description, but the continual progres- 

 sive cultivation of that stock in the progeny by the greatest care in 

 rearing and feeding, and by the most careful selection. On these two 

 circumstances, and particularly on the latter, a great deal more depends 

 than on the original characters or attributes of the parents. By these 

 means we have progressed from good to better, losing sight of no subsidiary 

 lielp, until we have attained a perfection in horse-flesh unknown in the 

 whole world beside.' 



The love of the turf, and the anxious desire to possess horses of un- 

 rivalled excellence, have within the last twenty years spread over the 

 European continent. Everywhere stud-houses have been built and 

 periodical races established, and sporting' societies formed of persons of 

 the greatest weight in the community, and, everywhere, zealous attempts 

 have been made to improve the native stock. The coursers of the East 

 might have been easily procured — a new supply of Arabian blood might 

 have been obtained from the native country of the Barb : but French, 

 and Italians, (rermans, Russians, and Flemings, have flocked to the British 

 Isles. The pure blood of the present Barb and Arabian has been post- 

 poned, and all have deeply drawn from that of the thorough-bred English 

 horse. This is a circumstance with regard to which there is no dispute. 

 It is a matter of history — and it is highly creditable to our sporting men 

 and breeders. Mr. Percivall has rightly stated the cause, but there are 

 some circumstances connected with this pre-eminence that may give 

 occasion for serious reflection, and which will be best considered as the 

 respective breeds of horses pass in review. 



CHAPTER IV. 



THE DIFFERENT BREEDS OF ENGLISH HORSES. 



THE RACE-HORSE. 



There was much dispute with regard to the origin of the thorough-hred 

 horse. By some he was traced through both sire and dam to Eastern 

 parentage ; while others believed him to be the native horse, improved and 

 perfected by judicious crossmg with the Barb, the Turk, or the Arabian. 

 ' The Stud-Book,' which is an authority acknowledged by every Enghsh 

 breeder, traces all the old racers to some Eastern origin, or at least until 

 the pedigree is lost in the uncertainty of an early jjeriod of breeding. 

 If the pedigree of a racer of the present day is required, it is traced 

 back to a certain extent, and ends with a well-kno^\T.i racer ; or if an 



