THE SADDLE BREEDS OF IIORSES 145 
general distribution throughout the civilized world, which 
took place largely through the agency of the conquests of 
nations, was made from this center. Such an indefi- 
nite beginning is given a more satisfactory explanation 
by the modern researches reported by Ridgeway, which 
he maintains are strongly suggestive that the Egyptians 
secured their horses from Libya, where they are thought 
to have been indigenous. This hypothesis has a striking 
significance in view of the fact that the Libyan horse of 
Ridgeway is identical with the subject of this discussion. 
Zoélogically, there have been demonstrated three dis- 
tinct species of horses in the genus Equus besides the 
various species of asses, zebras and the extinct quagga. 
To these, Ridgeway adds Equus caballus libycus, held by 
him to be a distinct species or at least a sub-species. This 
being the case, we are justified in accepting the Barb as the 
progenitor of all modern light breeds, the Turk and Arabian 
being derivatives, and not antecedents of the Barb. It is 
known that horses existed in Egypt 1500 years before 
they were in Arabia, a fact that is contrary to the popular 
belief that the genesis of all good horses was in Arabia. It 
establishes the Barb as the real origin of the Thoroughbred, 
the blood influence of which is recognized in all horse- 
breeding countries. Furthermore, in view of the fact that 
the Andalusian horse of Spain traces its ancestry across 
the Mediterranean, the Barb becomes an important 
factor in the horse population of America. 
173. History in America. — The most notable oriental 
horses brought to America are Grand Bashaw, a Barb from 
Tripoli, whose immediate descendants founded the Clay, 
Patchen and Bashaw families; Zilcaadi, an Arabian from 
Turkey, and sire of the dam of Gold Dust ; and Leopard, 
an Arab, and Linden Tree, a Barb, presented to General 
L 
