11 OTHER BREEDS 31 
The Bigourdane Améliorée 
This breed is really an offshoot of the Anglo- 
Arab, and is known sometimes as the “ Anglo-Arab 
Half- bred” (demi - sang Anglo-Avrabe), and is the 
result of the efforts of the Administration des Harras 
between 1833 and 1852 to improve the Anglo-Arab 
for general service. 
The foundation of the breed is from Navarre 
blood, and the Navarian breed owes its origin to the 
Andalusian. The Andalusian horse was a heavy, 
full-bodied animal, and at one time had a great 
reputation in this country. The Duke of New- 
castle, in Charles II.’s reign, preferred some foreign 
breeds over English. “The best breed of horses is 
in Andalusia, especially that of the King of Spain 
at Cordova. The best stallion is a well-chosen Barb 
or a beautiful Spanish horse.” He, however, de- 
generated in France to the type known as the 
Cheval Navarrin, and became a light, weedy animal, 
slack-backed, heavy-shouldered, and having little of 
the size of the Andalusian except in a thick, heavy 
neck; he retained, however, high, graceful action, 
and an elegance and suppleness that made him an 
agreeable hack. The problem was to add strength 
and size without depriving the breed of its quality, 
grace, and action. First recourse was had to English 
Thoroughbred blood alone; but this was abandoned, 
and the mares were sent first to English blood, 
and their produce being mares, to Arab blood, and 
the produce of this cross to English blood again, 
giving a most successful result. The breed is now 
