42 FOREIGN BREEDS OF HORSES. 



animals might not sometimes be made into yonr country with advantage. I 

 am sure that our hacks and roadsters will endure a great deal more fatigue 

 and hardship than the same description of horse in England. I speak with 

 confidence in these matters, because I have been a breeder in both countries. 



That the greater hardship and labour to which the American horse of this 

 description is exposed would produce a greater development of animal power, 

 there can be no doubt, and a cross from the best of such a breed could not fail 

 of being advantageous; but we must adopt and perpetuate the circumstances 

 that produced this superior power, or we should not long retain the advantage 

 of the cross. 



In the extensive territory and varied climate of the United States several 

 breeds of horses are found. 



The Conestoga horse is found in Pennsylvania and the middle States ; long 

 in the leg and light in the carcass ; sometimes rising seventeen hands ; used 

 principally for the carriage ; but, when not too high, and with sufficient sub- 

 stance, useful for hunting and the saddle. 



The English horse, with a good deal of blood, prevails in Virginia and 

 Kentucky, and is found to a greater or less degree in all the States. The 

 Americans have at different times imported some of the best English blood. 

 It has been most diligently and purely preserved in the southern States. The 

 celebrated Shark, the best horse of his day, and equalled by few at any time, 

 was the sire of the best Virginian horses ; and Tally-ho, a son of Highflyer, 

 peopled the Jerseys. 



THE MODERN EUROPEAN HORSES. 

 The limits of our work compel us to be exceedingly brief in our account of 

 the breeds of the different countries of Europe. We start from the South-west 

 of this quarter of the world. 



THE SPANISH HORSE. 



The Spanish horses, for many a century, ranked next to those of Barbary and 

 Arabia. They descended from the Barbs, or rather they were the Barbs trans- 

 planted to a European soil, and somewhat altered, but not materially injured, by 

 the change. Solleysel, the parfait maresehal, gives an eloquent description of 

 them : — " I have seen many Spanish horses ; they are extremely beautiful, and 

 the most proper of all to be drawn by a curious pencil, or to be mounted by a 

 king, when he intends to show himself in his majestic glory to the people." 



The common breed of Spanish horses have nothing extraordinary about them. 

 The legs and feet are good, but the head is rather large, the forehand heavy, 

 and yet the posterior part of the chest deficient, the crupper also having too 

 much the appearance of a mule. The horses of Estremadura and Granada, and 

 particularly of Andalusia, are most valued. Berenger, whose judgment can 

 be fully depended on, thus enumerates their excellences and their defects : — 

 " The neck is long and arched, perhaps somewhat thick, but clothed with a 

 full and flowing mane ; the head may be a little too coarse ; the ears long, but 

 well placed ; the eyes large, bold, and full of fire. Their carriage lofty, proud, 

 and noble. The breast large ; the shoulders sometimes thick ; the belly fre- 

 quently too full, and swelling; and the loin a little too low; but the ribs round, 

 and the croup round and full, and the legs well formed and clear of hair, and the 



sinews at a distance from the bone — active and ready in their paces of quick 



apprehension; a memory singularly faithful; obedient to the utmost proof; 

 docile and affectionate to man, yet full of spirit and courage *." The Parfait 

 Maresehal shall take up the story again : — " There will not be found any kind of 



* Bcrengor's Horsemanship, p. 151. 



