39 



the rarity with which we find good bone and 

 sound constitution in the Thoroughbred, and 

 also having regard to the inherent soundness 

 and stoutness of the Eastern horse, we shall 

 probably obtain more satisfactory young 

 stock from Forest and Moorland dams if 

 we use the Arab sire. Blood, it is truly 

 urged, gives the superior speed and courage 

 required in the polo-pony, but let us not 

 forget that Arabs were the sires from which 

 all our modern race-horses are descended. 

 The best horses on the Turf to-day may be 

 traced to one of the three famous sires the 

 Byerly Turk imported in 1689, the Darley 

 Arabian in 1706, and the Godolphin Arabian 

 in 1730: all of them, it may be remarked, 

 horses under 14 hands. 



By going back to the original strain 

 we shall obtain all the useful qualities our 

 Thoroughbreds possess without those un- 

 desired characteristics, greatly increased size, 

 great speed, delicacy of constitution and 

 complete inability to lead a natural life 

 which man's long-maintained endeavours to 

 breed race horses have implanted in them. 

 In a word, we shall obtain a natural and not 

 an artificial horse ; the modern race-horse 

 is practically everything the mounted in- 

 fantry cob must not be, saving only in 



