40 THE HORSE. 



Clydesdale horse owes its origin to one of the Dukes of Hamilton, who 

 crossed some of the best Lanark mares with stallions which he had brought 

 over from Flanders. The Clydesdale is larger than the Suffolk, and has a 

 better head, a longer neck, a lighter carcase, and deeper* legs; strong, 

 hardy, pulling true, and rarely restive. The southern parts of Scotland 

 are principally supplied from this district; and many Clydesdales, not only 

 for agricultural purposes, but for the coach and the saddle, find their way 

 to the central, and even southei'n counties of England. Dealers from 

 almost every part of the United Kingdom attend the markets of Glasgow 

 and Ruthcrglen. 



The Heavy Black Horse is the last variety it may be necessary to 

 notice. It is bred chiefly in the midland counties from Lincolnsliire to 

 Staffordshire. Many are bought up by the Surrey and Berkshire farmers 

 at two years old, — and being worked moderately until they are four, earn- 

 ing their keep all the while, they are then sent to the London market, and 

 sold at a profit of ten or twelve per cent. 



It would not answer the breeder's purpose to keep them until they are 

 fit for town-work. He has plenty of fillies and mares on his farm foi 

 every purpose that he can require ; he therefore sells them to a person 

 nearer the metropolis, by whom they are gradually trained and prepared. 

 The traveller has probably wondered to see four of these enormous aninjala 

 in a line before a plough, on no very heavy soil, and where two lighter 

 horses would have been quite sufficient. The farmer is training them for 

 their future destiny ; and he does right in not requiring the exertion of all 

 their strength, for their bones are not yet perfectly formed, nor their joints 

 knit ; and were he to urge them too severely, he would probably injure 

 and deform them. By the gentle and constant exercise of the plough, he 

 is preparing them for that continued and equable pull at the collar, which is 

 afterwards so necessary. These horses are adapted more for parade and 

 show, and to gratify the ambition which one brewer has to outvie his 

 neighbour, than for any peculiar utility. They are certainly noble-looking 

 animals, with their round fat carcases, and their sleek coats, and the 

 evident pride which they take in themselves ; but they eat a great deal of 

 hay and corn, and at hard and long-continued work they would be 

 completely beaten by a team of active muscular horses an inch and a 

 half lower. 



The only plea which can be urged in their favour, besides their fine 

 appearance, is, that as shaft-horses, over the badly-paved streets of the 

 metropolis, and with the immense loads they often have behind them, 

 great bulk and weight are necessary to stand the unavoidable shaking and 

 battering. Weight must be opposed to weight, or the horse would some- 

 times be quite thrown off his legs. A large heavy horse must be in the 

 shafts, and then little ones before him would not look well. 



Certainly no one has walked the streets of London without pitying the 

 poor thill-horse, jolted from side to side, and exposed to many a bruise, 

 unless, with admirable cleverness, he accommodates himself to every 

 motion ; but, at the same time it must be evident, that bulk and fat do 

 not always constitute strength, and that a compact muscular horse, ap- 

 proaching to sixteen hands high, would acquit himself far better in such 

 a situation. The dray-horse, in the mere act of ascending from the 

 wharf, may display a powerful effort, but he afterwards makes little exer- 

 tion, much of his force being expended in transporting his own overgrown 

 mass. 



These heavy horses are bred in the highest perfection, as to size, in the 



