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grazed by horses. There is but little doubt 
that large areas of such land are to be 
found 
INCREASE IN SIZE OF THOROUGHBREDS 
Better proof of the suitability of the 
British Isles for horse-breeding cannot be 
found than in the steady and remarkable 
progress which Turf history shows us has 
taken place in the size of our Thorough- 
breds * 
At the beginning of the last century the 
Thoroughbred seldom exceeded a height of 
14 hands 2 inches; but from about 1740 to 
1770 a compact horse of 15 hands was 
described as ‘“‘a racer competent to carry 
12 stone” 
The Thoroughbred has ever since been 
increasing in stature—on an average one 
inch in twenty-five years—till we now seldom 
proclaim him a race-horse of the first-class 
unless he stands 15.3 to 16 hands. In speed 
he has far surpassed the Arab stock from 
which he sprang 
The Scale of MWerghts in Weight for Age, 
* Thoroughbred and other Pontes. By Sir Walter 
Gilbey, Bart., 1893 (Vinton & Co. 8 Bream’s 
Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C.) 
