of native-born English horses is due, first, to the 

 exportation of mares to foreign countries ; secondly, 

 to the increased profits on sheep and cattle, which 

 from being more rapidly realised, are doubly attractive 

 to the farmers as compared with those obtained hy 

 the breeding of horses ; and, t/m^dly, to the increased 

 demand for horses consequent upon a multiplication 

 of population and wealth." And yet, with all this, 

 and as a proof that there has been no lack of money 

 offered as prizes at the various shows in the United 

 Kingdom for thoroughbred stallions, hunters, 

 hacks, and carriage horses, I estimate that hundreds 

 of thousands of pounds have been given away in 

 prizes to these classes during the past twenty-five 

 years. 



The subject of our present supply of horses is one 

 also that has met with ample consideration at the 

 hands of most competent authorities. Earl Cathcart 

 says that, failing other writers, he was inspired 

 to undertake, from an agricultural point of view, the 

 difficult task of compiling some opinions on what he 

 is pleased to call the " too-long-neglected subject of 

 half-bred horses for field or road, their breeding and 

 management."* 



The article occupies fifty-five pages, and, with, 

 a view of showing the importance he attaches to the 

 subject, he remarks, "The horse is one of God's 

 precious gifts to the nation for our comfort and 



* Lord Cathcart's article in the Journal (Vol. ig) of the Royal Agri- 

 cultural Society, published in 1883 by John Murray, London. 



