The Hvxter a. yd Racer temp. James I. 41 



ham's account of a "catte" now called a "drag hunt," and of a "wild-goose chase," that they 

 rode over every obstacle ; while his directions for choosing a racing-horse would have answered 

 for selecting the half-bred or cocktail racers that were run against thoroughbreds even in the 

 first quarter of this century. 



After advising those that require deeper knowledge to consult " Maister Blundeville " and 

 "Maister Markham," he proceeds to sum up the merits of the horses of the day in the follow- 

 ing manner : — 



" I hold that the Barbarian and the Turkey stallions are the best for all general uses, for 

 service (that is, war), swiftness, and proud going, as well for pleasure pace as a gallant trot. 



"Although the Spanish genet, the Irish hobby, and the Arabian courser, are held both by 

 Maister Blundeville and Maister Markham to be the chief for pacing and neat action, there is 

 the bastard stallion, begotten by one of them on our English mares, which doth exceed either 

 of them in toughness — the English mares to be of good stature, somewhat large, but not very 

 high, a small head, full eye, wide nostril, a pricke ear but somewhat long, a firm thin crest, 

 with a long straight necke, well compact in the cragge at the setting-on of the head, a broad 

 breast, deep-chested, a round backe, being barrell-ribbed, and the short ribs shot up somewhat 

 close to the huckle bone, the buttocke somewhat long, so as it be proportionable, a flat legge 

 and straight foote, and a hollow hoof." 



THE HUNTER OF 1618. 



" For the pleasure of hunting is so great that it exceedeth all others, that if it brought 

 no other profit than the delight to follow a pack of good dogges (having a good horse), were 

 enough to countervail the danger, for I esteem it above all earthly pleasures. It maintains 

 the health, causeth an agil and apt body, increaseth knowledge how to correct his horse as 

 occasion shall be offered, whereby if he should goe upon any martial service he will be ready 

 to perform anj' desperate exploits with celerity and quickness. Beside the use of riding up 

 and down high places and deep earths, so a hunting-horse may be made more servicable for 

 war, through his toughness and speed." 



The hunter was to be "about 16 hands* in height, his head of a mean bignesse, his chank 

 thin and wide, his eare not too little, and if he be somewhat- wide-eared, it is a sign of tough- 

 ness, so they be sharp ; his forehead broad, having a bunch standing out in the midst like a 

 hare ; hi.s eye full and large, his nostrell wide, with a deep mouth ; all his head leane, a long, 

 straight neck; a firm thin crest, well reared; a wide throstle, a broad breast, deep-chested; his 

 body large, his ribbes round and close, shut up to his huckle-bone ; a good-filled, long 

 buttocke, not very broad, well let down in the gaskins (gascoyne) ; his limmes clean, flat, 

 straight, but not very bigge ; his joints short, especially between the pasterne and the hoofe, 

 having little haire on his fetlock, a straight foot, black hollow hoof, not over big." From 

 which it seems that the points of a good riding-horse were perfectly understood in the reign 

 of King James I. 



The following description might stand for a modern steeplechaser : — - 



A RUNNING-nORSE, SAME DATE. 



" For the shape of a running-horse there is not much difference betwixt the shape of him 

 and the hunter as there is in their ends of training ; for the hunting-horse must endure long 



• Lei h'nn he of a mcane slaline, lliat is, some si.xhriie haiul 0/ /,eif;/it (sic). 



