CHAPTER I. 



THE DIFFERENT BREEDS. 



Realizing that lack of space forbids a description of every 

 breed and type of horse, it is our aim to describe only a few 

 breeds that fad and fancy, which often mean practical utility, 

 have brought to the front of modern popularity. 



Although the effort to improve the breeds of horses must 

 have existed at all times, it has only been within the last few 

 centuries that records have been preserved to us as to how 

 this end has been sought and accomplished. 



The horse whose record has been most carefully preserved, 

 and who no doubt has left a deeper imprint on most of the 

 modern breeds of horses, is the English Thoroughbred. Al- 

 though "Thoroughbred" is apt to bring to the mind the 

 breeding of horses for racing purposes alone, we must not 

 forget that the qualities of courage, endurance and intelli- 

 gence have largely been derived through the Thoroughbred 

 strain, and that good blood of any kind is apt to give 

 stronger muscles, finer bones, better joints, and superior wind 

 and lung power. 



It was during the reign of Queen Anne, in 1 702-1704, 

 that there was imported by a INIr. Darley an Arabian horse, 

 which was called Darley's Arabian, and from him almost all 

 of the famous horses of later day were descended. But 

 whatever we owe to the great number of horses which were 

 imported into England, both before and after this time, much 

 credit is unquestionably due to the native mares, which some 

 authorities say were mostly Cleveland Bays, upon which the 

 Arabian, Barb or Turk was grafted, and which laid the 



