CONTENTS. 



PART 1. 

 THE ENGLISH HORSE. 



CHAPTER I. 



An enquiry as to the breeding of the English racer — Different opinions 

 entertained — The term 'thorough -bred,' in its usual acceptance, with 

 regard to the English horse — Its real signification — Dissertation on the 

 horse in Britain, and a sketch of his history from the earliest period to 

 the reign of Queen Anne — Horses of entirely Eastern blood in England 

 in Queen Anne's time — Highest state of excellence arrived at in Flying 

 Childers — Eastern blood relinquished, and horses and mares of mixed 

 origin again used — The modern racer not thorough -bred, nor even alto- 

 gether of Eastern blood — Purer at a former period than now . page i 



CHAPTER H. 



A successional and historic review of the English race horse, from the year 

 1689 to the present time ........ 10 



CHAPTER HI. 



General opinion that impure stock may become pure in eight descents — A 

 different opinion held by the Arabs — Not achieved in the case of the 

 English horse — The breeding of the Eastern horses imported into this 

 country discussed — Remarks on a review of ' Les Races chevalines de la 

 Ru.ssie, par J. Mcerder' — Inferences drawn therefrom — Remarks on the 

 horses that followed Flying Childers — Not so purely bred — Great size 

 no proof that degeneracy has not occurred — The English thorough-bred 

 horse not of pure Arabian blood — The excellence of the English 

 horse attributable to Ai^abian blood — False system of breeding pursued 

 after the time of Childers discussed — Greater results would have been 

 gained if a different system had been pursued — the necessity of ob- 

 taining pure stock for the purpose of establishing a standard breed of 

 horses . . . . . . . . . . .90 



