218 CONFESSIONS OF A HORSE DEALER. 



For many years past a large portion of our troop horses 

 have been purchased in Ireland, but the supply there 

 has greatly declined, owing to very many farmers, who 

 were breeders of horses, having emigrated. Then it 

 cannot be denied by men who visit the Irish fairs and 

 breeding districts that the former supply of short-legged 

 useful saddle-horses has been supplanted by a more leggy 

 kind of animal, the result of the prevailing fashion of 

 crossing with weak-constitutioned racehorses. What- 

 ever may be said in favour of our racing blood, I cannot 

 but think that Arab blood, when crossed with young, 

 sound, and strong Cleveland brood mares, would produce 

 a more serviceable animal than our soldiers ride at pre- 

 sent, for then we should get endurance and constitutional 

 vigour (undeteriorated.by "in and in breeding") from 

 the sire, and strength of bone and muscle from the dam. 



I am aware that there are conflicting opinions as to 

 the merits of Arab horses ; some say they are worthless, 

 and others affirm that they are excellent. 



It must be admitted, that most of the Arab horses 

 which have of late years been brought into this country 

 have not been of the first-class, being purchased on the 

 coasts of certain eastern countries by persons having 

 little acquaintance with the make and shape of a ser- 

 viceable horse, and lacking the means and opportunity 

 of seeking them where they are only to be found, and 

 at high prices namely, the heart of the desert. Still, 

 an Arab horse does now and then arrive in this country, 

 having much merit; and in breeding from which, very 



