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bred from. In Queen Anne's reign we find the " Darley Arabian," a 

 horse bred on the desert of Palmyra, and imported from Aleppo by 

 Mr. Darley. His progeny are described as being " unequalled for 

 beauty, speed, and strength." From this horse first sprung our thorough- 

 breds. Next we have the Godolphin, but he was said to be a Barb and 

 not an Arabian. He lived to be twenty-nine years old and died in 1753. 



In 1752 there were sixty thoroughbred stallions standing in various 

 parts of England. The fees were then very moderate compared to now- 

 Cronootes headed the list at 28gs. Bolton Starling was next at 8g>\, 

 while others varied from 1 to 3gs. Eight of these were imported 

 Arabians, and it is owing to them and well selected Barbarys that Great 

 Britain now reigns supreme in the production of the best breed of 

 horses in the world. 



Although I bred many a setter and pointer, as well as other 

 dogs, I never bred a horse in my life. Nevertheless, I took the deepest 

 interest in horse-breeding, but more in the hunter than the thorough- 

 bred class. Any ideas I may have formed are, therefore, so theoretical 

 I am not going to put many of them into print. 



Of course, I have been shown over many breeding establishments, 

 English as well as Irish ; and at our Dublin Horse Show I see hundreds 

 of hunters with lords and ladies of the harem which are considered 

 worthy representatives of their classes, while at Newmarket, the 

 Curragh, and other head-quarters of the thoroughbred I have seen 

 racehorses innumerable from the yearling upwards. 



At all these places I listen to what is said about breeding by others 

 who, from long practical experience, ought to know what they are 

 talking about. The theories put forward by some are, however, so at 

 variance with those laid down by others that I am fain to try to form 

 an opinion of my own. 



Lacking, therefore, as I do all practical experience, and possessing 

 only this thin veneering of theoretical knowledge on the subject, I am 

 not going to try and teach practical breeders their business ; but I will 

 venture upon some remarks which I trust won't be taken as altogether 

 puerile. 



We in Ireland are justly famous for our horses, but I think by taking 

 a little more trouble we might become much more so. Our climate 

 is suitable for rearing horses hardy. Our soil is to a great extent of a 

 limestone nature, which is the best for producing bone. We feed our 

 young ones well, but do not pamper them, leaving them out in the air 

 and to the elements more than do the English breeders, whereby they 

 grow up all the more healthy, and we train them to perfection. 



Of late years our breed of horses has been greatly improved by the 

 introduction all over the country of those thoroughbred stallions 

 provided by Government, and whose service can be obtained by farmers 

 at a nominal figure. 



Local shows have also done an immensity of good, while that held 

 at Ball's Bridge is quite the greatest and best exhibition of the sort in 



