THE HEAVY-HARNESS BREEDS OF HORSES 63 



sacrifice of size for speed, it is asserted by the authority 

 just previously quoted that a law was enacted excluding 

 all horses from public races that were under fifteen and 

 one-fourth hands high. 



As illustrating the conditions under which most of the 

 races are held, the Derby of Rouen may be cited. It is 

 worth 20,000 francs, made for three-year-olds, to be entered 

 the year of their birth, and trotted in June on turf track 

 two miles under saddle, fillies to carry 120 pounds, colts 

 125 pounds. From these condition^ and the data sub- 

 mitted, it is easy to understand that the government's 

 aim is to encourage speed at the trot without sacrificing 

 stamina or substance. 



62. Uses of the French Coach horse. The use of the 

 French Coach horse for carriage, cavalry and fast saddle 

 purposes will have been gathered from the preceding dis- 

 cussion. It remains to mention the use of French Coach 

 stallions on common mares bred in America for the pro- 

 duction of a grade coach horse for general city purposes. 

 Considerable success has followed such efforts when pure- 

 bred stallions have been used. Half- and three-quarter 

 bred coachers have commanded high prices on the market. 



63. Distribution. The French Coach horse has been 

 imported into many parts of Europe and America, but 

 has not been bred systematically to any great extent out- 

 side of its native home. As has been said, it is found in 

 America chiefly in the eastern states, Illinois and Ohio 

 being, perhaps, the leaders. 



64. Organizations and records. The stud-books de- 

 voted to this breed in France are mentioned in paragraph 

 58. The French Jockey Club, organized in 1833, has been 

 responsible for much of the development of the breed. 

 The French Coach is represented in America by the 



