SPANISH iiousK.] MODERN VETERINAKY PRACTICE. [pouiuuui:9k iiousi 



riders, but with a narrow leathern strap hung 

 across their bodies, which has a lump of ivory 

 fixed to the end of it, all set full of sharp 

 spikes like a hedgeliog ; and this goads them 

 aK.ng while galloping, worse than any spur 

 could do; because the faster they run, the 

 more this odd machine keeps jumping up and 

 down, and pricking their sides ridiculously 

 enouch ; and it makes one laugh to see that 



thus describes them :— "The neck is long and 

 arched, perliaos sonewhat thick, but clothed 

 with a full anu flowing mane ; tlie head may 

 be a little too coarso- the ears long, but well- 

 placed; the eyes large, bola, and full of fire; 

 their carriage lofty, proud, and noble ; the 

 breast large ; the shoulders sometimes thick ; 

 the belly frequently too full and swelling; and 

 the loins a little too low; but the ribs round, 



y 



me- 



some of them are so tickled by it, as not to | and the croup round and full ; with the legs 

 run at all, but set about plunging in order j well formed, and clear of hair ; and the sinews 

 to rid themselves of the inconvenience, instead ] at a distance from the bone; active and read 

 of driviiifT forward to divert the mob, who ; in their paces; of quick apprehension; a -' 

 leap and caper, and shout with delight, and i .-i.. ^„.i.M..i . _i.„j..-..i. ^- ^.i *. 



lash the laggers along with great indignation 

 indeed, and with the most comical gestures." 

 Eaces of a similar kind take place at Eome. 



THE SPANISH HORSE. 



Spain was early celebrated for a breed of 

 fine horses, which took its rise in the Moorish 

 Barb, when that peninsula was subject to the 

 Moors. When Rome was at its highest splen- 

 dour, the horses of Calpe— the modern Gibral- 

 tar — were in high repute. This part of Spain 

 being situated at the south-western extremity of 

 the Peninsula, opposite theBarbary coast, horses 

 were readily imported from north-western 

 Africa; and hence the origin of the genettes. 

 The Spanish horses are well made and hand- 

 some, as well as very active and nimble; they 

 have fine eyes, handsome legs and heads, and 

 are docile, and easily managed. 



For many centuries they took rank after 

 the Arabian and Barb ; but they could not be 

 considered as being other than Barbs them- 

 selves, having been only transplanted to Eu- 

 ropean soil, where, although they might have 

 become slightly altered iu appearance by the 

 change, they suffered no material injury. "I 

 have seen many Spanish horses," says Solleysel, 

 "and they are all extremely beautiful. They 

 are the nu)st proper of all to be drawn by a 

 curious pencil, or to be mounted by a king, 

 when he unbends to show himself iu his ma- 

 jestic glory to the people." 



The common breeds of the Spanish horses, 

 however, are not to be confounded with the 

 warrior sorts — they having nothing extraordi- 

 nary in them. It is in Andalusia, Estremadura, 

 and Granada, that the highest races are to be 

 found. Berenger, who was an excellent judge, 

 Qt 



mory singularly faithful ; obedient to the utmost 

 proof; docile and affectionate to man, yet full 

 of spirit and courage." 



The food of the modern Spanish horse con 

 sists principally of chopped straw, with a little 

 barley. During the Peninsular war, when 

 the French and English cavalry horses were 

 placed on this fare in Spain, they at first 

 became very much weakened, and many of 

 them died ; but, when they grew a little accus- 

 tomed to it, they regained their strength, and, 

 consequently, their spirit and courage. 



THE PORTUGUESE HORSE. 

 The Lusitanian or Portuguese horse was, 

 at one time, so highly celebrated for its speed, 

 that the Eoman historian, Justin, compares 

 it to the velocity of the wind. Berenger, how- 

 ever, who lived before the glory of the Spanish 

 horse had entirely faded away, says that "the 

 Portugal horses are in no repute, and differ as 

 much from their neiglibours, the Spaniards, as 

 crabs from apples, as aloes from grapes." 

 After the annexation of Portugal to Spain, the 

 latter country was preferred for establishing 

 studs; and the former directed its attention 

 rather to the rearing of cattle for the shambles 

 and the plough, and mules and asses for 

 draught. Here, then, the horse became rather 

 the associate of pomp and pleasure ; and such 

 as were wanted, were mostly imported from 

 Spain. The horse is now, however, receiving 

 greater attention than, for a long period, has 

 been devoted to it. 



THE IRISH HORSE. 

 In some of the rich grazing counties of 

 Ireland, such as Meath and Eoscommon, a 

 larcre long blood-horse is reared, of considerable 



41 



