25 



THE DRAUGHT HORSE. 



1 he history of this type of animal when used 

 as the war and chariot horse dates back a thousand 

 years or more, when he was written of as "The Great 

 Horse," and more recently as the "Shire Horse." 



It may be stated generally that this type of 

 horse, in a more or less perfect condition, can be 

 traced back from the long period stated ; and it is to 

 be claimed that not only judicious introduction of 

 foreign blood, but wise provisions of the Home 

 Legislature, through Acts of Parliament and Pro- 

 clamation, have combined with private skill and 

 spirit to enforce and support its maintenance. Going 

 back about three hundred years we shall find that 

 the ordinary horses in the country were not of the 

 size to be desired. An Act of Parliament was passed 

 (32 Henry VHI.) enacting that no stallion not being 

 1 5 hands should be turned out on common or waste 

 land. 



During this and the next century steps were 

 taken to increase the size. The War Horse or 

 Great Horse came more into use, and large horses 

 were imported from the low lands of Holland and 

 Friesland to cross with the old English breed for the 

 purposes of war, and thus to supply chargers fit to 

 carry the Cavaliers in heavy armour (vide Albert 

 Diirer's print about 1500). The knight with all his 

 accoutrements, rode between 25 and 30 stone. The 

 late Colonel Burnaby, of the Life Guards — whose 



