30 THE HORSE. 



war- steed represented the progenitor of 

 the horse about to be used in the tilting 

 yard and the hunting grounds, to pre- 

 serve which Wilham laid desolate many 

 villages of England, necessitated the 

 propagation of horses larger than ponies, 

 and we may assume that from the com- 

 mencement of the Plantagenet dynasty 

 an improvement in the British breeds of 

 horses began. 

 Horses The uoblcs who accompanied Wil- 



brought to 



England by liam tlic Concjueror brought with them 



the Normans. ^ 



many horses, both war-steeds and small 

 horses. These animals, when distributed 

 throughout their various and newly ac- 

 quired possessions, furnished the means, 

 by intermixture with native breeds, 

 whereby a general improvement was 

 effected. ''One of these nobles, Roger 



