6o 



Henry VIII.'s act to foster the breed of 

 trotting horses or hackneys was placed on 

 the Statute Book, Richard Blome, in his 

 Gentleman s Recreation (" Printed by S. Rot- 

 croft, dwelHng at the upper end of Dutchy 

 Lane near Somerset Hojise in the Strand, 

 1686"), instructs his readers how to choose 

 stallions to breed such horses : — 



" If you would breed for the Road, make choice of 

 a good strong Hunter, that has naturally good Legs 

 and Feet, a short Bach and good Quarters, and let him 

 be one that is not of a Skittish or Stubborn Temper : 

 or if you are curious [particular] and would have 

 very fine Padds, you may take the same measures 

 which I told you before for the Manage, only Geld 

 your Colts and when you break them, if they take it 

 well, let them be taught to Amble." 



Of the Mare he says : 



" If you would Breed for the Race and Hunting, 

 your mares must be lighter [than for breeding Road 

 horses], with short Backs a.nd long Sides ; their L^g-s 

 must be something longer and their Breasts not so 

 broad, and always make choice of such as you are 

 sure have good Blood in their Veins." 



Breeders " for the Manage " (or Menage') 

 are advised that the stallion should "be a 

 Turk, Barb or Spaniard, one that is good 

 in his kind, and naturally of a docile and 

 gentle temper, though lively, vigorous and 

 bold in actions." 



As regards mares, for all purposes, Blome 

 holds that : — 



