378 TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 



what was called the Norfolk Trotter, which was a fast-trot- 

 ting, plain, serviceable, moderate-sized horse formerly used 

 by English farmers as a road horse (and used by them under 

 saddle), there was developed in England the Hackney, which 

 is today the foremost breed of carriage horses. The Norfolk 

 Trotter originated at about the same time as the Thorough- 

 bred, being the result of crossing Arabian and other Oriental 

 sires on mares showing aptitude for the trotting gait, just as 

 the Thoroughbred resulted from the crossing of these same 

 sires on native running mares of proven ability on the turf. 

 Although the Hackney is the only true breed of carriage horses, 

 other breeds not infrequently produce individuals of this type 

 which help to supply the demand. 



The polo pony. The game of polo was introduced into 

 England in 1874, and to America two years later. This sport 

 calls for an active, rugged pony of about 14-2 hands, and those 

 which best serve the purpose are small-sized or dwarf Thor- 

 oughbred horses. A breed of polo ponies is now being developed 

 in England. 



The horse in America. From an equine standpoint, his- 

 tory repeats itself to a considerable degree in America and also 

 records the creation of at least two new and distinct types of 

 horses. There were no horses on this continent at the time of 

 its discovery, hence American horse history dates from 1492. 

 The first horses were brought to this continent by Cortes and 

 Ferdinand De Soto. Cortes used but few horses in his con- 

 quest of Mexico, some of which undoubtedly became the pro- 

 genitors of the wild horse of the western plains. Similarly, 

 horses abandoned by De Soto near the Texas border no doubt 

 survived and were the principal foundation of the American 

 wild horse. 



In colonial times, the most common type of horse was a 

 small saddle horse measuring not more than 14 hands. These 

 were the descendants of the small, unimproved European horses 

 brought over by the first settlers and were of no particular breed 

 or breeding. This little colonial saddle horse was indispensable 

 as a utility animal, being practically the sole means of trans- 

 portation in those early times. He was likewise a source of 

 amusement and recreation, being used in running matches of 

 short distances. For this latter purpose, however, the little 

 saddler soon gave way to the English Thoroughbred imported quite 

 extensively by the early settlers of the Carolinas and Virginia. 



