i86 HUMANE HORSE-TRAINING 



THE CAPE HORSE 



The Cape horse, as found in the Colony at the time of 

 its cession to the British, was descended from stock of 

 Eastern origin, and consisted mainly of Barbs and 

 Persians, or Gulf Arabs, which were imported by the 

 Dutch East India Company. 



In 1792 eight stud horses were imported from England 

 which are supposed to have been of the early English 

 Roadster breed. In the same year five stud horses arrived 

 from Boston, and the following year a number of horses 

 and mares of Eastern descent arrived from the New 

 England State. 



In March, 1807, two French vessels were captured 

 at the Cape containing some Spanish horses en route 

 to Buenos Aires for breeding purposes. These are said 

 to have been the progenitors of the odd-coloured and red 

 roans so much fancied for their power of endurance by 

 the colonists. 



Much has been written of the Arab and his steed, 

 the owner's love for it, and so forth, " but the steeds and 

 owners I saw left me cold," writes Ignotus. " The Bedouin 

 pony is a wiry brute, standing some 14-2 hands, and 

 capable of a certain turn of speed in his own class, 

 ridden in a terrific bit by a savage who flaps his arms 



