124 THE HORSE. 



encountered the oriental horse, that it 



late cross of Arab blood has, in the smallest degree, improved 



the European or American racer. 



It appears to be now an admitted fact that, to improve any 

 blood, the sire must be the superior animal ; and, inasmuch as 

 by care, cultivation, superior food, and better management, our 

 descendant of the Desert blood has been matured into a crea- 

 ture superior to his progenitors, mares of the improved race can 

 gain nothing from being referred to the original stock ; although 

 it remains to be seen, whether by the importation of oriental 

 mares, and breeding them judiciously to modern thoroughbred 

 sires, something might not be effected. 



The first systematic attempts at improving the blood of the 

 English horse began, as we have seen, in tlie reign of King 



Fair Nell is supposed to be thoroughbred ; her sire, according to the best infor- 

 mation, was the celebrated Irish horse Freney, to whom she bears a strong resem- 

 blance, both in appearance and temper, but she is not in the stud-book. She is a 

 beautiful light bay, with black legs, standing fifteen hands one inch and a half high, 

 with a game, determined head, very lengthy, with beautiful shoulders, arms, and 

 fore legs, back and hind quarters, with very powerful thighs. She is a delightful 

 mare to sit when going ; her stride is great, strong, and elastic ; and, from her form, 

 she gives the feeling of " plenty before you." She is a hard puller, with a good 

 mouth, graceful, and easy even when plunging most violently. In hunting, she 

 rushed at her fences at a terrible pace, but never made a mistake. As a hack she 

 was most luxurious, but at times it was real work of danger to cross a crowded road 

 with her. In the stable she was perfectly quiet. She was purchased in Ireland by 

 a well known old Irish steeple-chase rider and groom, Andy Rogers, for a gentleman 

 of Bath, who found her too spirited and uncomfortable for a hunter, and sent her to 

 be sold at Hetherington's stables in the Edgeware road. Not finding a purchaser, 

 she was put up at Tattersall's, where she was set down by the crowd as a " raking 

 Irish devil," and found no favor. 



After being withdrawn, Mr. Edmund Tattersall, the junior partner of the firm, 

 was so struck with her shape and beauty that, against the advice of his friends, he 

 bought her as a park and cover hack. She often carried him sixteen miles within 

 the hour, including stoppages, to meet hounds, he riding twelve stone, seeming to 

 be only cantering all the time ; and back again in the evening, at the same rate, 

 without showing the least fatigue; and was perfectly pleasant so long as ridden 

 alone, and with fine hands. Although more than once offered on loan to racing 

 men, by her owner, who felt sure she must win a long race over deep ground, no one 

 ventured to try her ; a mistake, evidently ; for it turns out that, on her trial in 

 Egypt, before the race, she did five miles in ten minutes and a half. 



Eventually Mr. Hetherington applied to Mr. Tattersall, to purchase Fair Nell back 

 for the merchants of Cairo. She was in low condition when she was shipped, yet 

 ran and won her race within two months from the time of landing. 



