152 VARIETIES OF THE HORSE 



other hand, it may be mentioned that it is no unusual thing for animals to 

 be shown oft' with the reins attached to the bridoon bits in their mouths, 

 instead of to tlie other bits which are merely added for the sake of appear- 

 ance. 



The action of a Harness horse is necessarily a most important part of his 

 composition, as an imposing show is the object most sought after by both 

 judges and purchasers. A considerable difference of opinion however exists 

 regarding what is required, though in all cases lofty knee action is insisted 

 upon. Many high movers, however, appear to be incapable of doing any- 

 thing except bending their knees, and such animals usually possess an evil 

 propensity for smashing their fore-feet down in almost the same place from 

 which they raised them, and leaving their hind-legs behind them, after a 

 fashion which is simply distressing to a lover of real action. Still, such 

 horses can win prizes under some judges, but this fact does not necessarily 

 prove that their style of moving is at all in conformity with the ideas of 

 practical men who really understand what action is. In the first place, a 

 Harness horse should use his shoulders and pasterns as well as his knees, for 

 when he can do so he possesses an ability to "get away" which the shoulder- 

 tied high knee-actioned animal can never hope to do; whilst if he does not 

 flex his hocks and tuck his hind-leos well under him, the smoothness of 

 his going, to say nothing of the dash which is so characteristic of a good 

 Harness horse, will be entirely absent. In short, there should be plenty of 

 power and fire about the going of this class of animal, and this there 

 never will be if he does not move from the hocks, which should convey the 

 af)pearance of propelling his body forwards, as indeed they should do. 



Having thus endeavoured to describe the leading points to be sought 

 after in a high-class Harness horse, it may perhaps be desiraljle to offer a 

 few suggestions upon how to produce the sort of animal which is wanted. 

 There are, however, in existence at the present time, as has been shown 

 in the foregoing pages, at least three English varieties — the Hackney, the 

 Cleveland Bay, and the Yorkshire Coach-horse — which in their pure and 

 unadulterated state should between them be able to supply the require- 

 ments of most seekers after a high-class Harness horse. It not infi'c- 

 quently happens, however, that a buyer is anxious to combine the brilliant 

 action possessed liy the Hackney with greater size than that breed usually 

 attains, and in such instances a cross with a Cleveland Bay mare may 

 be the means of securing what is wanted, though the plainness which is 

 so frequently associated with the latter breed may possibly provide a 

 disappointment. The fact that the Yorkshire Coach-horse is the result of 

 a Thoroughbred and Cleveland Bay cross, however, does not commend the 

 Coach-horse as a desirable cross for the Cleveland Bay; but many most 



