THE KING AND VIZIER. 
435 
army horses by union of the races of horses of the two 
countries. When we extend our inquiries further, we find 
the separate races, however suitable they may be for the 
countries in which they are bred, are, nevertheless, unfit 
for the purposes of a regular army in other countries, 
whether we take the offspring of Tartar or Arab horses. In 
Russia, where the former blood is predominant, recourse has 
been had to Arabian and English horses to improve the 
breed. In India, where the same course has been adopted, 
and the Arabian blood is predominant, as it is in England, 
the same results have happened. Complaint is made by 
cavalry officers in both countries of the horses being of that 
form as if they were intended to be bred for speed alone, and 
it is therefore very evident that the introduction of Arabian 
stallions into our counties where horses are now bred for the 
army would only increase that now complained of; besides at 
once decreasing the size of the produce, and still more de- 
teriorating the produce for regular cavalry, though not for 
irregular cavalry, for these little Arabian or Tartar horses 
are very well adapted for this kind of warfare, the more so 
the hardier they are bred. But how are we to produce horses 
for our heavy dragoons and horse artillery? This is the 
question that has to be considered by the Government in any 
plan they may adopt for the encouragement of the breeders 
of such horses, and none can be better than that I have 
stated, at whatever period the produce may be purchased. 
Captain Hely, in The Veterinarian , No. 32, for August, 1850, 
p. 463, has shown the financial advantages of purchasing at 
four years old, and, with proper encouragement, the breeders 
would keep the produce and sell them direct to the service, 
without the loss now derived as profit by the dealers. This 
is done in India, but is obliged to be carried out at an 
earlier age — for a yearling 100 rupees, and so on for older 
colts : vide accompanying papers, from which you or any one 
can see that the defect of the Indian stud system is the 
placing stallions in circles, or districts, of twenty-five mares, 
many of which mightnot be of form fit to put to the horse. 
This arrangement was ordered by the Board of Superin- 
tendence, mostly military men, who are no doubt very able 
to organise anything, but nature will not be drilled into 
uniformity in this manner. This indiscriminate crossing — 
for when one horse died any oilier was sent to replace him — 
would not produce cavalry horse form or action. 
The stallions should have travelled, although more expense, 
and superintendents should have advised the natives what 
mares to send to each, to get a variety with good chests 
