6 THE HORSE. 



been without horses, as the Tyrians brought theirs 

 from Armenia. That the earliest available uses of 

 the active powers of horses was adopted by the 

 Egyptians, the same authority satisfies us ; for we 

 read in the third chapter of Genesis, that when 

 Joseph carried his father's remains from Egypt to 

 Canaan, " there went up with him both chariots 

 and horsemen.'" One hundred and fifty years after- 

 wards, the horse constituted the principal strength 

 of the Egyptian army ; Pharaoh having pursued 

 the Israelites with " six hundred chosen chariots, 

 and with all the chariots of Egypt."' The earliest 

 period now alluded to was 1650 years before the 

 birth of Christ ; and 1450 years before that event, 

 the horse was so far naturalized in Grreece, that 

 the Olympic Games were instituted, including cha- 

 riot and horse races. 



The origin of the native horse of our own coun- 

 try is now merely a question of historical interest, 

 the discussion of which would not lead to much 

 practical benefit. That experiments, founded on 

 the study of his nature and properties, which have 

 from time to time been made to improve the breed, 

 and bring the different varieties to the perfection in 

 which we now find them, have succeeded, is best con- 

 firmed by the fact of the high estimation in which 

 the horses of Great Britain are held in all parts of 

 the civilized world ; and it is not too much to 

 assert, that, although the cold, humid, and variable 

 nature of our climate is by no means favourable to 

 the production of these animals in their xery best 

 form^ we have, by great care, and after a lapse of 



