130 THE HORSE AND ITS RELATIVES 



the British Islands the colour of the Suffolk was 

 light dun or sorrel, sometimes deepening into chest- 

 nut, with a lighter mane and tail. The general 

 shape was plain, with the head large, the neck short 

 and arched, the shoulders low and heavy, the back 

 straight, the haunches well developed, the loins 

 wide, and the limbs short. 



Low observed that " the colour distinctive of 

 this variety connects it with the race widely diffused 

 throughout the North of Europe and Asia, from the 

 Scandinavian Alps to the plains of Tatary, in which 

 the dun colour prevails. It is believed to have been 

 carried to the eastern counties of England from 

 Normandy, which yet possesses many fine horses of 

 this breed, introduced, it may be believed, by the 

 Scandinavian invaders." 



Although there is no definite proof of such a 

 Scandinavian origin, it is quite probable that it may 

 contain an element of truth. 



In the latter part of the eighteenth and during the 

 nineteenth century the Suffolk horse was modified 

 by crossing — notably with the Lincolnshire trot- 

 ting horse ; and nowadays the colour is generally 

 either light or dark chestnut. From i6 to \6\ 

 hands is the more general height, although some 

 horses reach 17 hands. As the Suffolk is essenti- 

 ally a farm breed, and not intended for heavy work 

 in cities, the weight should be less than in Clydes- 

 dales and shires. 



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