THE HORSE IN SCOTLAND 83 



towards increasing their size. Probably with the former end 

 in view, James II (1437-1460) brought mares from Hun- 

 gary, as Bellenden puts it, to "mend the breed," while his 

 successor, James III (1460-1488), aiming at size, imported 

 the "Great" or "War" Horses of England, which Sir Walter 

 Gilbey regarded as the forerunners of the modern Shire. 

 James IV (1488-1513), favouring the swift and lightly 

 built horses of the hunt and race-course, brought to Scotland 

 the best of the horses of Spain and France, as well as heavier 

 horses from Poland; whereas James V (1513-1542) "seeing 

 the Realm standing in much Peace and Tranquillity," as 

 Lindsay of Pittscottie relates : 



rejoiced at the same thinking daily that all Things should increase more 

 and more: To that Effect gart send to Denmark, and bring more great 

 Horse and Mares, and put them in Parks, that, of their offspring, might be 

 gotten to sustain. Wars in Time of Need. 



James also applied to Gustavus of Sweden for heavy horses, 

 and in the "Black Acts" of 1535, enjoined that "in order to 

 raise the size of the native breed in Scotland all manner of 

 persons should plenish their studs with stud mares and great 

 stallions." 



So, on the whim of a ruler, the pendulum swings from, 

 one might almost say, quality to quantity and back again: 

 at one time Henry VIII of England sends Scotland "small 

 but well-proportioned " Spanish Jennets and African Barbs; 

 at another time the Magnus Equus or Dextrarius the 

 English Great Horse or War Horse becomes the type 

 to mould the race. 



So the work of selecting and interbreeding and improving 

 has gone on from the sixteenth century, gradually raising 

 the quality as well as the stature jof the heavy breeds till it 

 has reached its climax in the evolution of the Clydesdale. 



A MODERN SCOTTISH BREED THE CLYDESDALE 



The Clydesdale of to-day stands as an example of the 

 power of man's influence over the characteristics of the horse. 

 Compare it with the prehistoric ponies of Scotland which 

 probably formed the basis of its evolution : they stood little 

 over 48 inches high at the shoulder, the Clydesdale stands 

 64 inches and sometimes exceeds 68 ; their build was fine and 



62 



