ORIGIN OF THE TWO GREAT TYPES 



397 



heavy armor, when well-armed knights weighed about 

 four hundred pounds, heavy horses were necessary to 

 support them. This was the chief reason for the develop- 

 ment of heavy horses. Laws were passed in medieval 



PERCHERON STALLION. 



England condemning all stallions weighing less than 1200 

 pounds. 



But when horse breeders had thus developed an animal 

 of great weight and strength, the invention of gunpowder 

 and firearms made heavy horses relatively less useful in 

 war. Fleetness of foot, quick action, and light weight 

 were now needed. Europe then secured several varieties 

 of lighter horses and began to breed horses of the type 

 more serviceable under the new conditions of warfare. 



