THE HEAVY MACHINER 131 



will convey the ch.aracteristics desired in this horse better than any written 

 description ; but though it will serve to show the external form and action, 

 it is on too small a scale to indicate in a reliable way the wiry and clean 

 legs which are indispensable, and without which work soon causes lameness 

 of some kind or other. The head is particularly good for so mixed a breed, 

 and indicates the care which has been paid for many years to the selection 

 of sires and dams. But the neck is the main feature in point of show, 

 being of a most elegant formation ; and the head being well set on gives 

 that beautiful rainbow sweep, which is shown in the portrait of Mr. 

 Anderson's horse. Much of this is pi'oduced by careful breaking ; but 

 without a naturally good formation of the bones, all the breakers in the 

 world cannot make a horse bend himself into the beautiful outline so 

 frequently displayed in Hyde Park. Oblique but muscular shoulders, short 

 backs, and long though strong quarters, with a great deal of ground 

 covered below, constitute the remaining points characteristic of this horse, 

 and leave nothing to be desired except that more of the same sort should 

 be annually bred. The bi-oughams of London take those of inferior shape 

 and action, but some of them are furnished with horses of nearly as much 

 fashion and action as the cabriolets and carriages of the most aristocratic 

 houses. Still, on the whole, there is no doubt that the latter take off the 

 cream of this variety of horse. 



It is an open secret, that by far the greater number of showy harness 

 horses and especially matched pairs are the produce of the Continent, more 

 particularly of Hungary, where breeding to type has been carried to great 

 perfection. They are passed off as English and Irish, and do well enough 

 for a short display in the park, but have neither the endurance nor con- 

 stitution of the home-bred animal. Being made in Germany, they are 

 cheaper and afford the seller a better profit than home-bred animals, which 

 jannot be found in sufficient numbers to supply the demand. 



THE HEAVY MACHINER 



Our omnibuses and vans are supplied with a most wonderfully active 

 yet strong kind of horse, which is in some measure obtained from the 

 breeders of the last varietj'^, being too plain in appearance, and sometimes 

 too heavy in action, for private use. Their price is so low, averaging 

 about £30 when sound and five or six years old, that no one would be 

 remunerated by attempting to breed them exclusively for the purpose to 

 Avhich they are finally put, and hence they are to be considered as the 

 blanks in the breeder's lottery planned for other and more valuable kinds, 

 such as the carriage horse or hunter, or as agricultural stock which have 

 paid for their keep since their second year. The pair-horse omnibus also is 

 a comparatively modern invention, and many ai'e now di'awn eight miles 

 within the hour, conveying twenty-six passengers, besides the driver and 

 conductor, whereas sixteen used to be the full complement for four horses, 

 and with the use of a lighter vehicle. In those districts where the soil is 

 light and G.O. ploughs are in vogue, the agricultural horses are so active 

 that a selection from them will give a number of useful heavy machiners ; 

 -and some horses which refuse to work steadily at plough, will take to faster 



