THE BREEDS OF HORSES 



35 



termed a high actor, that is, moves his knees up high rather 

 than far forward, he will have a short stride which is some- 

 what slow, and is termed a " trappy gait." The Hackney in 

 his native land is rather noted as a horse with considerable 

 speed, and most excellent records have been made in driving 

 over country roads. This is the most popular breed in the 

 stables of wealthy men who keep fine carriage teams, but 

 in recent years the automobile has greatly injured the busi- 

 ness of breeding such horses. The Hackney has been exten- 

 sively distributed over 

 Europe, North and South 

 America and Australia. 



The French Coach 

 horse originated in 

 France. The people of 

 that country have for 

 centuries shown much in- 

 terest in horse breeding. 

 The famous Napoleon, 

 over a hundred years ago, 

 took an active interest 

 in developing high-class 

 horses. The people of 

 France are great lovers 

 of racing, and this breed came into prominence for that pur- 

 pose. Some of the speed of the French Coach is inherited 

 from the Thoroughbred and Hackney, many of which have 

 been taken from England to France. The French govern- 

 ment encouraged the people to breed these horses, partly for 

 the army, and partly to give France a valuable carriage 

 horse. The French government has extensive stables of 

 valuable horses, and has produced in these many very fine 

 animals. French Coach horses are usually bay, brown, or 



Fig. 14. Decorateur, a French Coach 

 stallion, imported by McLaughlin Bros, of 

 Ohio. Photograph by E. H. Mickle. 



