those foaled early in the year; yet it is a remarkable fact that during the eight years of my breeding them, I have had no serious illness in the stables; once over the dangerous age, they seem to have excellent constitutions, and are always sound in wind, limb, and feet.

“Second, they are nearly all good natural and fast walkers, also fast trotters; and from the soundness of their feet are especially fitted for fast road work, being able to do almost any number of miles without fatigue.

    “Third, they are nearly all good natural jumpers, and I have
    not had a single instance of a colt that would not go across
    country well to hounds.

    “They are very bold fencers, requiring neither whip nor spur. 
    They carry weight well, making bold and easy jumps where other
    larger horses fail.

“Fourth, they have naturally good mouths, and good tempers, with free and easy paces; so that one who has accustomed himself to riding a pure-bred Arabian will hardly go back, if he can help it, to any other sort of horse.

    “There is all the difference in riding the Arabian and the
    ordinary English hunter or half-bred that there is in riding in
    a well-hung gig or a cart without springs.

“Fifth. As sires for half-bred stock, the Arabian may not be better than a first-class English thoroughbred, but is certainly better than a second-class one, and first-class sires are out of the reach of all ordinary breeders; for that reason I recommend a fair trial of his quality, confident your breeders will not be disappointed.

“With good young mares who require a horse to give their offspring quality, that is to say, beauty, with courage and stoutness, and with a turn of speed for fast road work, the Arabian is better than any class of English thoroughbreds that are used for cross breeding.

    “I trust then for that reason you will not allow yourself to be
    discouraged by the slowness of the people to appreciate all the
    merits of the Arabian at once.

    “Our breeders are full of prejudices, and only experience can
    teach them the value of things outside their own circle of
    knowledge.

    “I have no doubt whatever that truth will in the end prevail;
    but you must have patience.  Remember that a public is always
    impatient, and most often unreasonably so.

    “My stud I keep at a permanent strength of twelve brood mares,
    and as many fillies growing in reserve.

“You ask me regarding the pacing gait.  I have seen it in the pure-bred Arabs on the desert; and in many parts of the East it is cultivated, notably in Asia Minor and Barbary.  The walk, pace, amble, trot, and run are found in the Arabian, and either can be cultivated as a specialty.

“If you think any of my letters to you are of general value to
your people, I am quite willing you should so use them.