PECULIARITIES OF FORM 459 



enormous sum of $1000. The mare " Sunol," the property 

 of Robert Bonner, of New York, was bred in California, 

 and sold at three years old for $41,000. "Dan Patch," 

 (Plate CXIV.), a pacing stallion, 1.59^ at six years old, is, 

 with 1.56 as his later record, the unbeaten champion harness 

 horse of the world. He bred by" Kausar," "Joe Patch," 2.oiJ,the 

 " iron racehorse." "Dan Patch " was sold privately in December 

 1902 for $60,000. Plates CXIV. and CXV. show that trotting 

 power, in either male or female, is not incompatible with 

 elegance and beauty of symmetry. They also show that in 

 trotting performances of a high order, " blood," or breeding, is 

 sure to come to the front. " Since 1895, the trotting breed of 

 American carriage-horses has, in competition with the 

 Hackney, dominated the show ring and the sale mart. Every 

 champion high stepper of the national shows since that date 

 has been the offspring of a trotting sire, except in two 

 instances, where the blood of the winners was unknown." 

 Though the fastest trotters show breeding- in an unmis- 

 takable manner, there are certain peculiarities of form which 

 have become developed in a conspicuous degree for instance, 

 a massiveness or heaviness about the shoulder, especially 

 round the point, not present in a horse with a running gait. 

 As compared with the running Thoroughbred, the shoulders 

 of the American Standard Match Trotters are more upright, 

 and the width between the forearms greater, giving the 

 appearance of more width of chest. But extra width depends 

 largely on the extra development of the pectoral muscles which 

 lie between the humerus and chest. To compensate for this 

 peculiarity the fore feet come very closely together through the 

 fore legs being inclined inwards, both at rest and in motion, 

 and thus increasing the liability to " hit " or " interfere " while 

 trotting. Boots for the protection of the joints liable to be 

 struck while trotting have to be fixed on the limbs. This 

 danger is aggravated by a comparatively modern develop- 

 ment seen in about nine-tenths of the Standard Trotters. 

 Unlike " Hambeltonian," who had straight action, they have 

 their toes turned out. This is supposed to give some advantage 

 while moving at top speed : it seems to be a utility develop- 

 ment. The hereditary qualities of persistency at the trot and 

 speed at the trot are well-marked acquired characteristics 

 of the " Standard Trotter." Mares are not usually so well 



