SHOULD those pioneers who first bred Oriental stallions to native mares in the 1700s travel forward in time, they might fail to recognise the thoroughbred of today. The first thoroughbreds, the progeny of the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk, were leaner and lankier than the modern horse, which is more heavily muscled, deeper through the chest and smaller boned.
Of course, all animals continue to change as time goes on — evolution never stops. A few hundred years from now, human beings will probably have enormous thumbs and no legs…
Generally, as people grow we need bigger horses, whether we choose to show, showjump, event, hunt, do dressage or anything else. And, of course, our sports are changing too. When short-format eventing — without roads and…
