ENGLISH HOUSES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1784, 24 January 1888, Page 3

ENGLISH HOUSES.

» In an historical sketch of the horse by Dr E, W. Saythsr, which covers several pages of the " Veterinarian " we find the following :— The first writer who mentions British horses is Cesar, who praises tbem an " powerful and well Baited for purpose ot war by their stature and training." Figures of horses frequently ooour on ancient British coins— -a faot well worthy of attention, as It bears proof of the Importance of the horse lv those times. After the Invasion of Britain by the Arglei, Jutes, and Saxons, tha rearing and training of horses rose iito sudden eminence, snd the horses of that period belonged to the best In Europe. German and Spanish horses were introduced into Britain In the reign of Athelstan, and improved the breed greatly. William the Conqueror owed his viotory at Hastings chiefly to the superiority of h s Norman oavalry, and after his ascension of tbe English throne he paid every attention to the rearing of horses. It was m his reign that the E-rl of Shrewsbury, Roger de Belesme, imported some fine Spanish horses to Improve the studs on his estates In Wales. Ho succeeded so well m his endeavors that the horses m that part of Welea were for a long time afterwards oelebrated for their swiftness. The English draught horse was Improved by a hundred stallions, introduced by King John Spanish and Arab mares and stallions were brought Into Ecpland under Edward 111 In the time previous to the Restoration, the prfz . for the winner m the great races consisted of a illver bell. { This was converted by Charles 11. Into the oup that now forma the highest ambition of the owner and rider of the racehorse. Oonstant care and steady Improvement have r *Ued the English raoeho: se to such a high level that It not only vies, but aotually beats, tbe splendid Arab courser, both m speed and rcdnraioa.