46 FOREIGN BREEDS OF HORSES. 



fairly contested ; but much oftener the Roman course presents nothing but the 

 horse running without any rider, and not from his own spirit and emulation, 

 but startled by noises and goaded on by ridiculous and barbarous contrivances. 



The horses termed Barberi— because the race was at first contested by Barbs- 

 are brought to the starting-post, their heads and their necks gaily ornamented ; 

 while to a girth which goes round the body of each are attached several loose 

 straps, having at their ends small balls of lead thickly set with sharp steel points. 

 At every motion these are brought in contact with the flanks and bellies of the 

 horses, and the more violent the motion, the more dreadful the incessant torture. 

 On their backs are placed sheets of thin tin, or stiff paper, which, when agitated, 

 will make a rustling, rattling noise. 



It is difficult to conceive of the rearing, kicking, pawing and snorting which 

 occurs at the starting-place. A rope placed across the street prevents them 

 from getting away, and a stout peasant is employed with each horse in a struggle 

 of downright strength, and, at the hazard of limb and of life, to restrain him. 

 Occasionally some of them do break away and pass the rope before the street — 

 the race-course — is cleared, and then many serious accidents are sure to 

 happen. 



When all is ready for starting, a troop of dragoons gallop through the street 

 in order to clear the way. A trumpet sounds — the rope drops — the grooms let 

 go their hold, and the horses start away like arrows from a bow. The harder 

 they run, the more they are pricked ; the cause of this they seem scarcely able 

 to comprehend, for they bite and plunge at each other, and a terrible fight is 

 sometimes commenced. Others, from mere fright or sulkiness, stand stock-still, 

 and it is by brute force alone that they can again be induced to move. 



A strong canvas screen is passed along the bottom of the street. This is the 

 goal. It has the appearance of a wall ; but some of the horses, in the excess of 

 their agony and terror, dart full against it, tear through it, or carry it away. 



After all, the prize is nothing more than an ornamental flag ; but it is presented 

 by the governor of Rome, and it is supposed to be a pledge of the speed and 

 value of the horse which will descend as an heir-loom from generation to 

 generation among the peasantry, to whom many of these horses belong. The 

 decision of such a race, however, can have little to do with the speed or 

 strength or value of the horses in any respect. The Italians, however, enter 

 into the affair with all their characteristic eagerness of feeling, and are guilty 

 of every kind of extravagance. During the first six days of the carnival, the 

 horses are fairly classed according to the age, height, degree of breeding, &c. ; 

 but on the two last days — the choice days — they run all together, and some 

 in the manner that I have described, and thus increase the confusion, the riot, 

 and the danger of the exhibition *. 



The Corso is very nearly a mile, and it has occasionally been run in two 

 minutes and twenty-one seconds : a very quick pace for small horses, many of 

 them not more than fourteen hands high t. 



• Penny Magazine, 1833, p. 425. exhibited to view in quite the old classical style 



T Races of a similar character take place at — a piece of crimson damask for the winner ; 



Florence, of which Mrs. Piozzi gives the follow- a small silver basin and ewer for the second j 



ing description : — " The street is covered with and so on, leaving no performer unrewarded, 



saw-dust, and made fast at both ends. Near " At last come out the horses, without 



the starting-post are elegant booths, lined with riders, but with a narrow leathern strap hung 



red velvet, for the court and first nobility. At across their bodies, which has a lump of ivory 



the other end a piece of tapestry is hung, to fixed to the end of it, all set full of sharp 



prevent the creatures from dashing their brains spikes like a hedgehog, and this goads them 



out when they reach the goal. Thousands and along while galloping, worse than any spur 



tens of thousands of people on foot fill the could do, bccauso the faster they run the more 



course, so that it is a great wonder to me still this odd machine keeps jumping up and down, 



that numbers are not killed. The prizes are and pricking their sides ridiculously enough ; 



