Introduction 



The writer who is personally acquainted with his theme holds 

 unquestionably a great advantage, and it will be found that 

 the most interestinof reminiscences in this volume are those 

 which have been contributed by actors in the scenes they have 

 described. 



Pascal says that, in composing a book, the last thing that 

 one learns is how to begin. I hope, therefore, that in com- 

 mencing with Lord Clanricarde my readers will agree with me 

 that he is entitled to the position. 



At the present time the opinion is general amongst practical 

 men with the welfare of their country at heart that, with the 

 supply of horses for our cavalry being totally inadequate, some 

 scheme should be set on foot in order to give an impetus to 

 their production. 



Here is another instance of history repeating itself, for it 

 is on record that when, something like eight hundred years B.C., 

 Greece found themselves at the Battle of Marathon utterly 

 destitute of cavalry, the tardy recognition of horse-racing was 

 assigned as the reason, with the result that in future the sport 

 formed a prominent feature at the great National Festival at 

 Elis. There were "Gentlemen Riders" even in those days, 

 amongst whom Philip of Macedon and Hiero of Syracuse 

 seem to have occupied pretty much the same position that 

 Messrs. Lushington and George Thursby do in our own time, 

 and they all rode bareback, with no other assistance than a 

 bridle. 



It was at the Olympic Games, too, when the first specimen 

 of a war-horse was exhibited, that Art received its earliest 

 stimulus to improve what has been rightly termed the " noblest 

 animal in creation." 



With these examples before us, why should not John Bull 

 take the hint by giving a little more encouragement to horse 



xvii 



