208 VARIETIES OF THE HORSE 



powerful lungs, and consequently of great wind and bottom". No 

 doubt about the middle of the last century the Morgan horses were 

 extremely popular in America, though not adapted for great speed at 

 short distances; but as little, if anything, is now heard of them now- 

 adays outside the State of Vermont, it is evident that they have not 

 succeeded in maintaining the reputation which they then possessed. Of 

 late, however, these horses appear to be receiving more attention from 

 American breeders. 



The Oldenburgh. — This breed, which is raised in the district of 

 Germany from which it takes its name, may be regarded as, upon the 

 whole, the most valuable of all the Continental varieties of heavy carriage 

 horse. At all events many — far too many — scores of Oldenburghs are 

 to be seen in the Park every London season, as British dealers, despairing 

 to find the stamp of horse that is required for landau work in the home 

 market, are compelled to patronize the foreigners. 



Without, however, laying one's self open to the reproach of being 

 narrow-minded and insular in one's views, the opinion may be expressed 

 that, showy and imposing as the Oldenburghs are, they do not possess 

 the bottom and the stamina of Hackneys, Cleveland Bays, or Yorkshire 

 Coachers. On the other hand, they fill the eye as extremely fine-looking 

 barouche or landau animals, for though, as a rule, they may not possess 

 the finish about the head of the Yorkshire Coacher or the Hackney, or 

 the quarters of any of the British Harness breeds, they carry them- 

 selves for the most part very boldly, have fine middles and plenty of 

 bone, and are almost invariably very good indeed in colour, a gray or a 

 chestnut being a rarity amongst them. 



Beyond all doubt the Oldenburgh is an ancient variety of horse, indeed 

 it is claimed for the breed that it has been in existence for over three 

 hundred years, and no doubt the tap-root from which the modern Olden- 

 burgh has descended must have been alive somewhere and in some form 

 at an earlier date. This admission does not, however, go the length of 

 suggesting that no foreign blood has been introduced into the old strain 

 whatever it may have been ; and the appearance of the Oldenburghs very 

 strongly suggests the presence of Hackney and Coacher blood. From the 

 former, beyond all doubt, the fine action which is characteristic of the 

 German horse has been derived, and it is extremely probable that the 

 Coacher gave him size and quality, the latter through the thoroughbred 

 blood the Yorkshire possesses, and very likely colour as well. 



Whilst upon the subject of colour, it must be admitted with feelings 

 akin to shame, that Continental horse-breeders are far in advance of the 

 Englishman in this respect. They have from the first realized the fact 



