CARRIAGE HORSES 135 



But breeding race-horses and carriage stock are 

 two very different things, and now, on the shady 

 side of fifty, I find myself reversing this opinion 

 and believing that in a great many cases where 

 beauty, style, elegance of finish, good disposition, 

 and endurance are desired rather than extreme 

 speed Arabian blood could be used to great ad- 

 vantage. What is most frequently urged against 

 the Arabian is that he is a comparatively small 

 animal. But this feature sinks into insignificance 

 when compared with his other qualities; and it 

 must be remembered that his blood has been used 

 in the development of breeds of horses fully as 

 large as our average carriage stock. 



An Arabian mare that came into my possession 

 some years ago gave me, perhaps, the keenest 

 realization I had had of what the race really is 

 to-day — for, almost unconsciously, in thinking of 

 the Arabian horse, we picture him as in the remote 

 past. This mare was fifteen hands high, white in 

 color (though her skin was dark and this dark 

 color showed a little around her eyes and nostrils), 

 and in conformation she was nearly perfect. I 

 have owned many fine horses, but I do not think 

 any of them was quite her equal in beauty. She 

 was nearly twenty years old when she came to me, 

 but she showed no sign of age and I never knew 

 her to give any indication of weariness. 



