THE HORSE. 63 



If one fact has been impressed more By cross 



breeding the 



upon the minds of breeders than an- British race- 



horse has 



other it is that all the improved 



, , , excellence. 



breeds of domestic animals owe their 

 excellence not to cohabitation within a 

 distinct line of the same family, but co- 

 admixture with other breeds, and to this 

 general rule the British race-horse has 

 been no exception. 



In 1618 Michael Barrett noticed the 

 benefit that arose from cross breeding: 

 u Although the Spanish Genet and Irish Barrett's 



evidence. 



Hobby, and the Arabian courser are held 

 both by Maister Blunderville 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," &c. The good effect of 



