INTR on UCTION OF SPANISH BLOOD 109 



mares, or cows, and permitting the use of oxen 

 alone. 



In the Bayeux tapestry a man is depicted driving 

 a horse attached to a harrow, and this is the first 

 intimation which we possess of horses being used for 

 field labour. William the Conqueror very much im- 

 proved the breed of his horses, and to this may be 

 doubtless attributed his success at the Battle of 

 Hastings, by reason of the superiority of his cavalry. 

 His favourite charger was a Spanish horse. Most of 

 his followers came from a country where agriculture 

 was more advanced than in England, and as he 

 divided the kingdom very much between them, it no 

 doubt benefited very much, not only as regards an 

 improved system of husbandry, but also in the breed 

 of horses suitable for agricultural purposes generally, 

 and for lighter and faster work as well. 



Some of the Norman barons, Roger de Boulogne, 

 Earl of Shrewsbury, in particular, introduced Spanish 

 horses on their estates. The first Arabian blood, at 

 least the first which is recorded, was introduced by 

 Henry I. in 1 121. 



Alexander I., King of Scotland, presented to the 

 monastery and church of St. Andrew, amongst other 

 costly gifts, a splendid Arabian horse. The good 

 monks, however, make no mention in their histories as 

 to how the breed got on in their hands. In the reign 

 of Henry II. Smithfield is spoken of as being the 

 principal horse mart of the time. 



The Crusaders do not appear to have taken advan- 

 tage of the opportunity afforded them of acquiring the 

 best of the Eastern horses, since no mention is made 

 of their having done so which is authentic, though 



