low and broad. The chest is deep and long, indicative of constitutional capacity. The body is deep; the back is short; the loins broad and of immense power; and the quarters long and strong, with the whole beautifully turned. The tail is set high and carried with style. The legs and feet are superior.

In height the Arabian horse ranges from 14 to 14.2 hands; thus he is often classed as a pony, and in fact, many of the most famous Arabs brought to England were ponies. Esabin Curtis, an importer of Arabs to Bombay,

is said to have stated that the best Arabs did not, as a rule, exceed 14.1% to 14.2 hands high, though Homer Davenport states more stand 14.2 hands than any other height. The size is largely a matter of the feed given the horse when a colt. This is emphasized by the fact that among the Gomussa tribe of the Sabba Anazeh, who pay better attention to their horses than do others, we find colts at two years of age standing 15 hands high.

The color varies, and may be white, gray, bay, chestnut, brown, but rarely black. The bays often have black points and generally one or more white feet, with some

white on the face. The chestnuts vary from brightest to dullest shades. According to Davenport, roan, spotted or piebald and yellow colors are not found among the Arabs, though roan and yellow are common among Barbs.

Popularity of the Arab horse. In the past, the Arabian horse's value has been incalculable, as he has transmitted constitutional vigor, quality, intelligence and style to practically all the modern breeds. At the present, however, it is thought that he has served his usefulness in this capacity, though European governments are using the Arab to improve their depleted horse stock. In 1899 the French government crossed 60 Thoroughbred mares with Arabian stallions, in order to obtain cross-bred stallions, for service in low, soft districts, where the horses are coarse and of inferior bone. In addition, the Arab horse is used to some extent in breeding Welsh, Exmoor and other ponies to produce small animals for polo playing. Thus it seems that the present use of the Arabian horse is quite largely limited to sports and to show.

Organizations and records.-The Arabian Horse Club of America has established a stud book and provides for registration, one volume of which has been published, recording 127 pure Arabians. In England, registration is provided for in the General Stud Book of Great Britain.

CHAPTER VIII

THE THOROUGHBRED HORSE

Of the modern breeds or horses, the Thoroughbred was the first to receive systematic attempts at improvement. For more than three centuries this breed has been considered as the fountain head from which much of the quality and endurance among horses have been derived.

The native home of the Thoroughbred horse. England, the largest and most densely populated division of the British group, is the native home of the Thoroughbred horse. The climate is moist, temperate and adapted tc barley, oats and pasture, thus providing ideal conditions for the development and improvement of the horse. Another factor of vital importance in the development of this breed is the temperament of the English people, who for more than 1,000 years have fostered racing. The sportloving Cavaliers of England played a very important part in founding and developing this renowned breed of running horses.

The origin of the Thoroughbred horse.-A knowledge of the early history of Great Britain is necessary for a complete understanding of the origin of the Thoroughbred horse. There are no indications of any horses having been indigenous to Britain. The horses with which the islands were first stocked are generally held to have been derived from the pony types, native to northern Europe, though recent researches by Ridgeway indicate that horses of the north African type were in Ireland as early as the sixth century; yet, whatever the source, these early horses were small of stature. We know that the first efforts at improvement were in the attempt of increasing the size.

Early racing in England.-The horse, as a feature in the sports of the times, is first mentioned in the latter half of the twelfth century, when races of a primitive character were conducted at Smithfield. The first race reported was run between Richard II. and the Earl of Arundel in 1377. Henry VIII. was the first king who ran horses for his own amusement. He maintained a royal stud, had laws enacted regarding horse breeding,

and imported from Turkey, Spain and Naples. Systematic racing, however, did not begin until the time of James I., who is credited with having imported the first Arabian for the purpose of breeding horses of greater speed. In 1616, through an English merchant, James I. imported from the Orient a stallion named Markham's Arabian, for which he paid £500. This horse was a failure in the stud and was much ridiculed. Charles I., son of James I., established racing at Newmarket and Hyde Park. He also passed laws encouraging horse breeding.

Foundation stock.-According to British authors, the Thoroughbred was created by Charles II., son of Charles I. He not only took an active interest in racing, but imported direct from the Orient. His most notable importation was that of two Barb mares, which, with their descendants, are commonly known as the "King's mares" or "Royal mares," and are regarded by some authorities as the foundation dams of the breed. Others, however, doubt the accuracy of thus limiting the base of the breed. By far the more noted of the foundation animals are the three famous foreign stallions, Godolphin Barb, Byerly Turk and Darley Arabian.

Three famous Oriental sires.-During the formation of the Thoroughbred there were many horses introduced into England. Three of these foreign horses exerted an influence so important as to make them worthy special mention.

Byerly Turk.-Captain Byerly's charger at the battle of the Boyne, during the wars of William in Ireland, attracted such favorable comment that he was subsequently placed in the stud and became famous as a sire of speed, his descendants being represented by Herod. He became known as Byerly Turk, is said to be of pure Arabian descent, and was probably brought to England in 1689.

Darley Arabian. Mr. Darley, a merchant at Aleppo, Syria, sent an Arabian horse, as a gift, to his brother, Mr. John B. Darley of Aldby Park, near York. This horse, a pure Arab, was bay in color with a blaze on the face and white on three feet, and stood about 15 hands high. He was known as Darley Arabian, and became a very famous sire, his descendants being represented by Flying Childers and Eclipse, the greatest racers of their day. Darley Arabian was brought to England about 1706.

Godolphin Barb.-The Emperor of Morocco presented to Louis XIV. an Arab (or a Barb) stallion, which was so little valued by the French ruler that he was placed in the