OT7K CAVALBY HOBSES. 219 



good stock have been obtained for every purpose, except 

 that of competing on the turf with the speed of our 

 present race-horses. 



The Arabian horses cannot gallop fast for a long distance 

 but at a hand-gallop ; and under a burning sun, their 

 endurance would scarcely be believed, and their value 

 in the desert is regulated chiefly in consideration of the 

 distance they can travel at that pace, without being 

 attacked by staggers, under a burning sun. But I am 

 afraid the high prices, and the difficulty of procuring 

 them in sufficient numbers, will be an insuperable bar 

 to their general introduction into this country for cross- 

 ing purposes. The French government, some years ago, 

 established several depots for the best stallions they 

 could select in the Sahara district, and to these depots 

 the farmers send their mares ; and as it is known that 

 the quality of their horses is improving under the 

 system, would it not be advisable for our government 

 at least to make an experiment of this system ? and if it 

 was found to answer, they could send over men quite 

 as competent, if not more so, than the French, to buy 

 the best that could be found. 



One of the great objections to Arab horses in this 

 country is that they trip in their walk. All, however, 

 who have ridden them will admit that they do not trip 

 in their other paces. The reason of their tripping in 

 their walk, is their being tied, from a very early age, by 

 their fore- feet, instead of by their head, in consequence 

 of which they contract a habit of stepping short in their 



