88 ON THE HORSE IN GENERAL. 



fturdy, with bones comparatively foft and 

 fpongy, and finews unendowed with any high 

 degree of elafticity. The Romans, it is pro- 

 bable, contributed very little to the improve- 

 ment of the Britifh breed of Horfes, fince no 

 traces of amendment are to be found during fo 

 many ages. The fame may be faid of the 

 Crufaders, who certainly had it in their power 

 to have fent home to their own country, fome 

 of the choiceft Horfes in the world, their deto- 

 nation being fo near the fountain head; but 

 they had, unhappily, objects in view, far other 

 than thofe of either common utility, or com- 

 mon fenfe. There is but little evidence, during 

 the early periods of our hiftory, to guide our 

 refearches, except a law of one of our Saxon 

 monarchs, to prevent the exportation of 

 Horfes; which feems no indication of their 

 plenty at that time, but that, perhaps, thofe of 

 England were in fome requeft in the neigh- 

 bouring countries. 



The firft period, of any particular or mark- 

 ed attention, to the amendment of our breed 

 of Horfes, may be dated from the reigns of 

 Henry VII. and VIII. ; but the regulations then 

 made, and the means employed, agreeable to 

 the genius of thofe unenlightened times, con- 

 fifted of arbitrary directions and impolitic 

 reftraints, by no means calculated to advance 

 fhe intended purpofe. Magitlrates were em- 

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