282 REMARKS ON VARIOUS BREEDS OF HORSES. 



animal, with capital legs and feet ; but as he is rather short 

 on the leg, he is deficient in pace. Indeed, South-African 

 horses, except those that are thoroughbred, are, as a rule, 

 very slow ; a fact which is no doubt due, in many instances, 

 to their loins being weak, their gaskins poor, and their hocks 

 being too much bent. South-African breeders are much 

 handicapped by outbreaks of " horse sickness" and by want 

 of water. With the exception of these drawbacks, the country, 

 especially in the Colesberg district and Orange Free State, 

 is admirably suited to the production of good horses. South 

 Africa is singularly wanting in 'smart ponies, such as those fit 

 for polo. In this respect it forms a marked contrast with 

 England, Australasia, India, and Arabia. 



South-American Horses.^In the Argentine Republic 

 many good thoroughbreds are raised by Mr. Kemmis and 

 other breeders. I have no means of " drawing a line " between 

 them and English or Australasian horses, except the fact that 

 Camilla, the aged daughter of Phenix, with 32 lbs. the best 

 of the weights, beat the Australian plater. The Wild Oat, and 

 five others at Calcutta in December 1890. Neither Camilla 

 nor the Wild Oat, at the time, were good representatives of 

 their respective classes ; so the result of the race is no 

 criterion to go by. The common Argentine horses, if some- 

 what wanting in blood, are of the sturdy and useful sort. 

 The country seems well suited to the production of excellent 

 stock. 



Arab Horses. — My friend, the late Shaikh Esa bin 

 Curtas, always maintained that the best Arabs did not, as a 

 rule, exceed 14. i J or 14.2 in height. Ali bin Abdoolah, 

 another Arab friend of mine, and of nearly as great experience 



