64 THE CHANGE COUNTY 



European horses which have not Eastern blood in their 

 veins, are widely different in their physical structure from 

 the Asiatic horse. Their bones are round and porous, their 

 joints thick, heads clumsy, bodies bulky, chest fleshy, legs 

 thick, tendons relaxed, hair coarse, and hides spongy. This 

 arises from difference of pasture 110 less than of breed, the 

 dry pastures of the East being well suited to develop the su- 

 perior powers of the animal. 



THE CLYDESDALE HOUSE 



is met with in most counties north of the Tay, and is a fa- 

 vorite horse in England. These horses are strong, hardy, and 

 steady, yet active. Their stature is from fifteen hands to six- 

 teen hands and a half As farmer's horses they are superior 

 to most others. The breed is originally from Flanders stal- 

 lions and Lenark mares, and was formed from the experi- 

 ments of the Duke of Hamilton. 



The Clydesdale horse is lighter than was the old Suffolk 

 Punch, and with as much bone as the latter, is more shape- 

 able; his neck is longer, his limbs clean, straight, and sin- 

 ewy, and his step firm and active. He is capable of great 

 muscular exertion, is good-tempered, and not being un- 

 wieldly, is no burden to the soil, and therefore well adapted 

 to the plough. 



THE FAKMER'S HORSE, 



Half cart-horse, half saddle, is seldom perfect in both capa- 

 cities; his paces are slow and stiff, whilst, from depend- 

 ing on the collar to keep him up, he is apt to come down 

 when ridden. The rider, however, being aware of this pecu- 

 liarity, and not requiring speed, generally contrives to keep 

 him on his legs. 



When used for drawing and riding, the farmer's horse 

 should be upwards of fifteen hands high, with a shoulder 

 thicker, lower, and less slanting than the saddle-horse. He 

 should be stout and compact, and if with a little blood, so 

 much the better. He should not be put to the heaviest kind 

 of drawing, so that his weight should not be more than will 

 allow of tolerable speed. 



The farmer's horse, ridden occasionally, but more em- 

 ployed for draught, should not be the slow, bulky animal of 

 former times, but a slight degree taller than the road-horse, 

 with his shoulder thicker and less slanting, stout and com- 



