19 
a vigorous attempt to weed out the ponies 
whose small size rendered them useless. 
It is to be borne in mind that the King’s 
legislation against the animals that ran in the 
forests and wastes aimed definitely at the 
greater development and perfection of the 
Great Horse. Armour during Henry VIII.’s 
time had reached its maximum weight, and 
a horse might be required to carry a load 
of from 25 to 30 stone ;* hence very power- 
ful horses were indispensable. 
Henry’s interest in horseflesh was not 
confined to the breed on which the effi- 
ciency of his cavalry depended. He was 
a keen sportsman, who took a lively pleasure 
in all forms of sport, and he appears to have 
been the first king who ran horses for his 
own amusement. It would hardly be correct 
to date the beginnings of the English Turf 
from Henry VIII.’s reign, as the ‘running 
geldings” kept in the Royal Stables at 
Windsor seem to have been run only against 
one another in a field hired by the king for 
the purpose. 
The Privy Purse Expenses contain very 
curious scraps of information concerning 
* See The Great Horse ov Way Horse (p. 26). Third 
edition. By Sir Walter Gilbey, Bart. Vinton & Co., 
Ltd. 18g9. 
