THE SCARCITY OF GOOD HORSES. 157 



thing towards their enormous stud expenses ; their im- 

 mense numbers of weeds or refuse now bringing them 

 little more than the commission and expenses incurred 

 by a journey to TattersalFs or Lucas's. 



The falling-off in the quality and quantity of our 

 saddle-horses is beginning to have its effect upon our 

 cavalry service. I have seen some service in a cavalry 

 regiment, and am enabled to state that the horses are 

 too light to carry the men (in complete marching order), 

 and are far short of that union of qualities which would 

 render them strong enough to act in line, and do also 

 the duty of light troops, with sufficient activity and 

 endurance, through a long campaign. But my opinion 

 is that such horses might be obtained from a cross be- 

 tween really well-selected Arab stallions (better than 

 most we see in this country) and strong, roomy mares, 

 a few of which may occasionally be picked up by good 

 judges in England, as well as in the Emerald Isle. Eut 

 our farmers and breeders have neither time, capital, nor. 

 inclination to embark in a speculation of searching for, 

 and importing, Arab stallions, and a public company 

 would have to wait a long time for a return or dividend 

 on their capital ; as the enormous staff of thoroughly 

 competent directors and servants having to be paid 

 during a delay of five or six years, which would elapse 

 before anything could be brought into the market, would 

 absorb the profits (if not the capital) for some consider- 

 able time. It is high time our government should be 

 called upon to take some well-advised step for improving 



