56* 



shaped breed. Whether the old accounts be apphcal>le to the present 

 state of horsemanship tlicre, I cannot tell ; but according to those, the 

 inhabitants of Suderoe were accustomed to hunt Avild shee[) on their 

 Horses, which not only carried them safe over that wild, craggy, stony 

 and almost trackless country, but were so well trained, as to follow 

 their riders when occasionally dismounting, and even to hold the game 

 when overtaken, between their fore legs. 



With respect to the native breed of Swedeo and Denmark, it differed 

 nothing from that of the neighbouring countries, but has been, during 

 a long period, crossed and improved in size and figure, by stallions 

 firom the more southerly parts of Europe. The dukedoms of Hol- 

 stein and Oldenburgh have been long famous for a large and sightly 

 breed of Horses, calculated for military purposes, and for coach 

 draught. Denmark has shai-ed in the same breed, and stallions from 

 these countries have long borne a high character in the various studs 

 of Europe. Neither these, nor any of the continental Horses, accord 

 very highly with our refined ideas of symmetry and form ; for the 

 Danish and Holstein Horses, in particular, are thick and heavy forward, 

 with rather long backs and narrow quarters ; but although their action 

 be not speedy, it is of that species whicli is adapted to the parade, and 

 it is said, they are naturally susceptible of being as highly dressed, as 

 any Horses in the world, and their tempers are generally excellent. 



Friezland produces coach Horses, fi'om a cross, I apprehend, of the 

 stallions just mentioned; but the old bi'eed of this country were of the 

 hackney size, and were known to the ancients, for they are described 

 bv Vegetius, as well-shaped, speedy, and able to run a long course. 

 These qualities, it may be presumed, were derived from an intercopu- 

 lation, at some early period, with the southern Horse. That there is 

 such a mixture in the modern Friezlanders, I judge from some few 

 which I have lately seen, in the hind quarters resembling Barbs. 

 Bhmdeville, who wrote in the reign of Elizabeth, describes these 

 Horses as making a good cariere, managing well, and doing the 

 airvette, as well as any jennet of Spain : adding. — " But then the 

 disposition of this Horse is so devilish stubborn, and so forward, as un- 

 less the rider which first breaketh him be ver}^ bold, and therefore cir- 

 cumspect 



