234 MANAGEMENT AND BREEDING OF HORSES 



Possibly the feral horse of Mexico owes his origin to this 

 importation. The next importation of which we have 

 knowledge was in 1527, when De Vaca landed forty-two 

 head in Florida. Possibly the feral horse of- eastern 

 United States owes his origin, in part at least, to the 

 1527 importation. During this same year horses were 

 landed in South America. Another noteworthy importa- 

 tion occurred in 1540, when De Soto made his discoveries 

 in the Mississippi valley. Possibly this importation 

 added to the feral horses in southwestern United States. 



Colonial horse-breeding centers. — The early improve- 

 ment of American horses was especially favored about 

 certain centers, though, of course, more or less interest 

 was taken in horse breeding wherever the white man 

 settled, as the horse proved a very useful beast of bur- 

 den in the new country. The principal centers were 

 Virginia, New York, New England and Canada. The 

 characteristics of the horses, developed about each of 

 these centers, were modified to a more or less extent by 

 the habits of the people. 



The colonial horse of Virginia. — The first authentic 

 importation to this colony occurred in 1609, when six 

 mares and two stallions were brought from England. 

 In 161 1, it is reported that 17 mares and horses were in- 

 troduced along with other live stock. A third importa- 

 tion occurred in 1614, but the number landed is not given. 

 In 1619, the Virginia company imported four mares, and 

 in 1620 this same company ordered 20 mares to be sent 

 over at a cost, delivered, of £15 each. Many other im- 

 portations followed. 



The early settlers of Virginia and the Carolinas were 

 the cavaliers of old England. They were men who loved 

 the horse. Long military training had taught many of 

 them that a man well horsed had his battles half won. 

 It is natural, therefore, on coming to the conquest of a 

 new land, the men who had been mounted in their own 

 land upon horses capable of carrying them at great speed 



