n6 THE HORSE IN HISTORY 



Relics such as these help to demonstrate that 

 the interest taken in horses by the people of 

 Great Britain, just before and just after the Con- 

 quest, was shared by the natives of Ireland, 

 though not until several centuries had elapsed did 

 the Irish show signs of becoming the thoroughly 

 horse-loving nation that they are to-day. 



It is true that from a very early period they 

 were fond of most kinds of outdoor pursuits that 

 need daring in addition to the exercise of skill 

 upon the part of those anxious to become pro- 

 ficient at them. Also it is true that the horse has 

 from first to last had much to do with the mould- 

 ing of the Irish character. 



The horse's immediate bearing upon the his- 

 tory and progress of Ireland begins, however, 

 at a later date, and in the same manner the 

 importation of great horses, and the establishment 

 of what must have been the precursors of our 

 modern stud farms, occur later in Ireland's his- 

 tory than in England's. 



With the accession of Henry III. we find upon 

 the throne a king keenly interested in all that had 

 to do with horses, and devoted to the chase as 

 well as to "stirring contests between competing 

 horses." For authentic particulars of the contests 

 in which these " competing horses" took part we 



