CHAPTER XXI. 



ARAB HORSES IN NORTH AMERICA. 



Since all European Governments recognize the im- 

 portance of Arab blood as the foundation for their 

 national horses, has America been clever enough to 

 take the cue from them and follow their example? 



"Until 1861, the initial year of America's civil 

 war, the foundation blood of her finest horses was 

 the choicest from England's thoroughbreds. This 

 was always kept strongly reinforced by infusion of 

 the blood of Arabian horses. " 



And was America able to secure them notwith- 

 standing the many difficulties of purchase and im- 

 portation? 



"An Arab stallion now and then found his way to 

 America, through the persistence of travelers in 

 securing them, either by fair means or foul. Their 

 coming has not only always made a sensation, but 

 the histories of their departure and their arrival here, 

 have more or less of romance and mystery attached 

 to them." 



There is no doubt of that. I have never heard 

 anything about any individual Arabian horse that 

 was not interesting, possibly because of the mystery 

 that seemed to surround him, and the very natural 



III 



