488 HISTORY OF 



PVencb, or other foreigners, describe our breed, they all mention, 

 as a fault, the awkward and ungainly motion of our horses ; 

 they allow them to be very good, indeed, but they will not grant 

 them an easy or an elegant carriage.' But these writers do not 

 consider that this seeming want of grace is entirely the 

 result of our manner of breaking them. We consult only 

 speed and despatch in this animal's motions -. the French and 

 other nations are more anxious for parade and spirit. For 

 this reason, we always throw our horses forward, while they 

 put them upon their haunches : we give them an easy swift 

 gait of going, that covers a great deal of ground, they on the 

 contrary, throw them back, giving them a more sho«y appear- 

 ance indeed, but one infinitely less useful. The fault of our 

 manner of breaking is, that the horse is sometimes apt to fall 

 forward ; the French managed-horse never falls before, but more 

 usually on one side : and for this reason the rider wears stiff 

 boots to guard his legs against such accidents. However, it 

 would be a very easy matter to give our horses all that grace 

 which foreigners are so fond of; but it would certainly take 

 from their swiftness and durability. 



But in what degree of contempt soever, foreigners might 

 formerly have held our horses, they have for some time perceiv- 

 ed their error, and our English hunters are considered as the 

 noblest and the most useful horses in the world. Our geldings 

 are, therefore, sent over to the continent in great numbers, and 

 sell at very great prices ; as for our mares and stallions, there is 

 a law prohibiting their exportation ; and one similar to this is 

 said to have obtained even as early as the times of Athelstan, 

 who prohibited their exportation, except where designed as 

 presents. 



Roger de Belegme, created Earl of Shrewsbury by William 

 the Conqueror,^ is the first who is recorded to have made at- 

 tempts towards the mending our native breed. He introduced 

 Spanish stallions into his estate at Powisland in Wales, from 

 which that part of the country was for many ages after famous 

 for a swift and generous race of horses : however, at that time 



1 See Buffon's account of our horses. 

 2 British Zoology, vol. i. p. i. To this work I ara indebted for several 

 particulars with regard tu the native animals of this island. 



