STUD BOOK OF THE YORKSHIRE COACH-HORSE 451 



to 1 6 hands 2\ inches in height, he should be possessed 

 of good, sloping shoulders, a short back, powerful loins, and 

 long quarters. His head is rather plain than otherwise, and 

 on the large side, but it is well carried, and his general 

 appearance denotes activity and strength combined in a 

 manner not seen in any other breed. His action is not 

 remarkably high, but it is the kind of action for getting over 

 the ground. In colour he is bay either light or dark with 

 black legs, clear of hair ; and black zebra-like stripes on the 

 arm and above the hock are sometimes seen. These are 

 known as the black points, and are supposed to denote 

 special purity of breeding. White, save a small star or a 

 few white hairs in the heel, is not admissible, a blaze or 

 a white foot proclaiming at once the admixture of foreign 

 blood." 



The Stud Book points out that nearly every horse of 

 note belongs to one or other of three great families the 

 descendants of " Dart " (83), " Barley Harvest " (447), and " The 

 Hob Horse" (316). Those who have carefully followed the 

 previously detailed histories of many other breeds of live 

 stock will remember that this is in no way an unusual 

 circumstance, but is, on the contrary, one of frequent 

 occurrence. 



THE YORKSHIRE COACH-HORSE, 



From the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire, is a 

 breed of more recent formation than the Cleveland. The 

 following quotation from the preface of the Yorkshire 

 Coach-Horse Stud Book, 1887, indicates in a few words its 

 recent origin and general characteristics : 



" It cannot be claimed for the Yorkshire coach-horse that 

 he is a pure-bred animal, but that on the contrary, by the 

 judicious crossing of large-sized good-coloured mares with 

 stallions altogether or nearly thoroughbred, a class of horses 

 has been produced suited to the wants and circumstances of 

 the times. By universal consent the colour should be bay or 

 brown, with black eyes, mane and tail abundant but not curly, 

 the height from 16 hands to 16 hands 2 inches, with fine 

 head, sloping shoulders, strong loins, and lengthy quarters, 

 high-stepping action, good sound feet, flat legs, and abundance 

 of bone and muscle." 



