44 THE HORSE. 
THE ACCOMPANYING sketch embodies the general appearance of these 
horses, and by comparing it with the London dray-horse, it will be seen 
that it differs only slightly, having the same heavy outline of form, 
united with similar comparatively light limbs, but not burdened with the 
mountains of flesh and heavy crests which have been produced in England 
for purposes of show. In Pennsylvania, these horses are chiefly used for 
waggons, and some few of them, when of inferior shape, for the canal 
traffic. They are good honest workers, and are quicker and lighter in 
their action than might be expected from their weight. Indeed, some of 
them are still used for heavy carriages ; but even in Pennsylvania, for 
quick work, they are generally replaced by the Vermont horse, or some 
nondescript of mixed blood, with which America is completely overrun. 
In colour they follow the Flemish horses, except that black is rare 
among them, but like the Flemish they are free from chestnut, and the 
larger proportion of them are bay, brown, or iron greys. 
CHAPTER V. 
EUROPEAN CONTINENTAL HORSES. 
SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE HORSES—THE ITALIAN HORSE—THE GERMAN HORSE—THE 
FRENCH HORSE—THE FLEM'SH HORSE—THE HANOVERIAN HORSE—THE RUSSIAN 
HORSE—THE NORWEGIAN AND SWEDISH HORSES. 
SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE HORSES. 
THRouGHOUT SPAIN AND PortuGat there formerly existed a hardy and 
useful breed of horses, of different degrees of lightness and activity, 
according to the use for which they were designed. But in both coun- 
tries they have greatly degenerated from their former excellence, and in 
Portugal they have dwindled down in size and appearance until they can 
searcely now be recognised as belonging to the same class of animal. 
The old breeds were greatly improved by the Moors during their 
occupation of Spain, by importing the Barbs of their own country, 
and hence those provinces which were most overrun by that people 
possessed the best breeds of horses. The Spanish Jennet has always been 
celebrated for easy paces and gentle temper, and these have been the 
characteristics of all the breeds of the Peninsula, united in most of them 
with a high courage which would induce them to face either the dangers 
of war or of a bull-fight without flinching. One chief peculiarity of the 
Spanish horse is the fulness and width of the bosom, which has always 
made them slow in the gallop, but extremely easy, while their powerful 
shoulders have rendered their action good and safe. In the present day 
the Spanish horse is seldom seen out of his own country. 
THE ITALIAN HORSE. 
Lixr THose of Spain the Italian horse is supposed to be descended 
from the Barb, but in the last two or three centuries the breed has greatly 
degenerated from the original type. The horses used for the saddle are 
light and active, and at Rome as well as at Florence public races take 
place between them without riders. These are managed by goading them 
