194 



CONCLUSION. 



It is evident the original framers of the Stud Book 

 looked upon the Eastern horse, and par excellence the 

 Arabian, as the pure-bred or thorough-bred horse, and 

 among our horses those alone who are descended from 

 Eastern horses, and are registered in the Book, are 

 now considered thorough-bred, an acknowledgment of 

 the superiority of Arabian blood. But another great 

 boon is conferred by the Stud Book. It shows us most 

 conclusively that our horse is not entirely of Eastern, 

 still less of Arabian blood, and, in fact, is not really 

 thorough or true bred. The character of our horse ebbs 

 and flows, rises to comparative excellence, or sinks into 

 mediocrity, as choice, or fashion, or the taste of the 

 breeder may hit upon a selection in sire or dam possess- 

 ing a larger or less amount of Arabian blood ; but it 

 cannot get beyond a certain point of excellence ; it is 

 impossible of permanent improvement. The mixed 

 blood from which our horse has sprung will ever prevent 

 him from attaining a permanent standard of excellence. 

 The same cause must always have a tendency to de- 

 generation, even if that should not have taken place — 

 which many good authorities pronounce to be the case — 

 and his altered form and want of stoutness would war- 

 rant that assertion. Seeing, then, that pure blood is 



