THE HORSE. 369 



of both ancestry in the proper proportions for farm service. 

 He has a thick head ; lively, prick ears ; short s heavy neck ; 

 large breast and shoulder ; strong limbs ; well-knit back ; 

 large quarters with much wavy mane, tail and fetlock. Like 

 his French progenitor, he frequently stands low in the withers, 

 which enables him to throw great weight into the collar ; and 

 the diminished, flattened leg, the wind and game derived from 

 his Moorish blood, give him much of the capacity and endur- 

 ance of the thorough-bred. The English cart-horse has for a 

 long time made up some of the best, heavy dray horses in the 

 country, and late importations have refreshed the breed with 

 additional choice specimens. The Cleveland bay has been 

 introduced of late, and promises good carriage horses from 

 our well-spread, sizeable mares. The Norfolk trotter, Bel- 

 founder, was imported many years since, and with our high- 

 bred mares, has produced many choice roadsters and trotters. 

 The remainder of our horse-flesh deserving of any notice, is 

 chiefly composed of such as are superior in point of blood and 

 merit. The improvement in the American horse, is conspic- 

 uous and decided. Judicious breeders still look for qualities 

 in the descendants, which they sought for in their imported 

 sires, and the infusion of some of the stoutest of the blood is 

 rapidly gaining on ascendancy in the general stock ; and we 

 are confident our intelligent agriculturists will not permit this 

 to proceed to an extent, that maybe prejudicial to their value 

 as draught horses, as has been done in some portions of Eng- 

 land and our Southern states. There is no danger from excess 

 of blood if it be of the right kind ; but it is seldom found com- 

 bining that fulness and stoutness, and that docility and tract- 

 ableness of disposition, which are essential to the gig horse or 

 the horse of all work. Yorke says truly, that *' the road horse 

 may possess different degrees of blood, according to the nature 

 of the country and the work required of him, [he might have 

 added with propriety, and according to tJie character of the 

 blood.] His legs will be too slender ; his feet too small ; his 

 stride too long, and he will rarely be able to trot. Three parts 

 or half, and for the horse of all work, even less > than that, 

 will make a good and useful animal." For the saddle only, 

 the high-bred is never objectionable to an enterprising and 

 accomplished rider, if not diposed to be vicious. His long 

 elastic pasterns, giving easy, flexible motions ; his quick and 

 almost electrical obedience when under thorough discipline ; 

 his habitual canter and high spirit, always commend him for 

 this purpose. 



