INTRODUCTION 



The horse is the aristocrat of the Animal Kingdom. He traces 

 his ancestry not only to the beginning of the Christian era but far 

 back to prehistoric times — his genealogical tree is writ large and 

 clear on the sands of Time. 



He has been man's best friend from the beginning of his ex- 

 istence and still claims his best affections and attentions to-day. 



All history profane and sacred attests the solicitude of man- 

 kind for breeding, rearing and possession of the horse. He is en- 

 deared to man from infancy — the child has his rocking horse and 

 he advances to the proud possession of his pony, hunter and pair. 



He has been identified with almost all that relates to human 

 life. To study his origin, breeding, management and improvement 

 is most profitable, important and pleasant. 



The horse is to-day the foundation on which rests the agri- 

 cultural wealth of the greatest nations of the world. 



In the life of the South African people the horse has played a 

 great part. 



He was the first domestic animal imported to the southern 

 shores of the dark continent by the white man and both were new 

 comers. The history of both therefore is very intimately linked. 



It was in the Autumn (April) of 1652 that two small fleets of 

 sailing vessels from the East and the West crossed the Cape of Good 

 Hope. The one from the West brought the white man and western 

 civilization and the one from the East, horses from the Orient. 



Since that date horse breeding has become one of the develop- 

 ing factors of the new country. The stock was improved by fresh 

 importations from the Orient and England, and it developed to 

 great efficiency and fame towards the middle of last century, when 

 a rapid decline set in, culminating in the disasters of the Anglo- 

 Boer war of 1899-1902. 



According to historical sequence, new eras generally follow 

 radical changes and disasters. After the war Briton and Boer 

 settled down to rebuild and reconstruct what they had destroyed 

 in a foolish war. The supposed barriers to progress and unity were 



