134 THE HORSE 



in the development of our American stock — the 

 Arabian. Indirectly, indeed, through the thor- 

 oughbred, it has always made itself felt, but in its 

 purity it has never been used very much in this 

 country. And yet it is almost inconceivable that 

 so beautiful a breed could not be advantageously 

 used. 



From time to time breeders of thoroughbred 

 stock, misled by the fact that the Arabian was 

 the source of all that makes the thoroughbred 

 what he is, have sought to improve the latter by a 

 fresh infusion of Arabian blood. But it was long 

 ago found that the thoroughbred, as a race-horse, 

 was not improved by the cross, nor is this to be 

 wondered at, for the thoroughbred being faster 

 than the Arabian, it is not reasonable to suppose 

 that his speed could be improved by crossing with 

 any slower stock, even though it be the same stock 

 from which he originally sprang. 



In the development of the trotting horse, too, 

 Arabian blood has had little part. The cross has 

 been tried, but thorough blood has been the main 

 factor in making the trotter what he is to-day. 



Although always an admirer of the Arabian 

 horse, these facts led me, for many years, to be- 

 lieve that he had already fulfilled his mission and 

 that his qualities were best obtained, in modern 

 times, through the medium of the thoroughbred. 



