THE GOVERNMENT STUDS OF PRANCE. 129 



" As early as the middle ages the horse of France had a 

 recognized superiority over those of any other country, which 

 may be partially attributed to its peculiar system of govern- 

 ment. 



" Upon the accession of Hugh Capet, in the tenth century, 

 France was divided into about 70,000 fiefs, governed by nobles. 

 The constant dissensions among these petty lords made a mili- 

 tary education a necessity for self-protection. In those days of 

 chivalry, when the success of a battle depended chiefly upon 

 the prowess of mounted knights, the strength and endurance of 

 their horses was of more importance and more highly appre- 

 ciated than at any other period of the world's history. Under 

 these necessities a most powerful and intense impulse was 

 given to the development of horses suited to the requirements 

 of the period. 



" We thus see in the feudal ages the improvement of horses 

 based upon individual necessity, but as this system disappeared 

 in the centralization of the government in the crown, the powers 

 of the state slowly absorbing feudal sovereignty, the govern- 

 ment itself became interested in all movements tending toward 

 the production of a superior class of horses, so necessary at that 

 time for a thorough military equipment, upon which its safety 

 depended. 



" The most effective and energetic action in establishing 

 permanent government studs was taken under the administra- 

 tion of the great French minister, Colbert, in 1665, and was so 

 well managed that in 1690 statistics show the number of royal 

 and approved stallions, standing in France, to be 1,600. The 

 government stallions kept at the Haras were called the King's 

 stallions, and were selected from among the best and fines* 

 breeds found in France, and many were brought from Barbary, 

 Turkey, Spain, and later from England. The approved stal- 

 lions were the produce of government stallions and the best 

 mares of the country. 



" Two large government Haras were established by Louis V, 

 9 



