THE ARABIAN HORSE. 89 



Maidan, all possess the ' lepping ' power. The last-named won 

 an important point-to-point steeplechase in India. Mr. Blunt, 

 I believe, hunts some of his Arabs with the Crawley and 

 Horsham Foxhounds. 



" Our campaign in Egypt must have convinced the mili- 

 tary authorities that British-bred horses cannot withstand the 

 exigencies of an Eastern campaign. Without venturing on 

 the domain of foreign politics, it is permissible to hazard the 

 opinion that when England is again called upon to draw the 

 sword in a great war, the scene of the land operations will be 

 not very far distant from the head of the Persian Gulf. Very 

 much of the unsoundness which affects the usefulness and 

 durability of our horses is undoubtedly due to the transmis- 

 sible or hereditary defects both in sire and dam. The soft- 

 ness is attributable to the blood, which wants rehardening ; 

 and to the coddling-forcing system in vogue with our breeders 

 of thoroughbreds. This artificial method of rearing blood- 

 stock has caused the superintendent of Government breeding 

 operations in India to lean very strongly to roadster stallions ; 

 which in my opinion he erroneously describes as of a fixed 

 type. We cannot deal too guardedly with our horse supply. 

 It is a monstrous delusion to imagine that we can take up a 

 position and await attack. No successful campaign can be 

 carried out in these days, unless every arm be as mobile as 

 possible. Great activity, rapidity of movement, and bold- 

 ness in seizing the initiative are essential. Mobility implies 

 an ample supply, both in the field and in reserve, of service- 

 able horses of a quality and fibre suited to the country in 

 which the army is operating. As in the hunting field, so for 

 military purposes, we must have ' blood on the top.' It is 

 claimed for them that, in India, they get more bone than the 

 Arabs possibly they do ; but is not quality sacrificed for 

 quantity ; hard, fine texture for less dense and durable 

 material ? How do the produce of the two compare as to 

 endurance and constitution which of the two work best 

 under the tropical sun, and how about roaring ? 



