160 THE HORSE IN AMERICA 



and from Vermont. They were excellent horses 

 for the purposes of the time, but they lacked the 

 fine finish that came to them from Denmark and 

 other Thoroughbred crosses that were made about 

 his time. It was not appreciated to the full what 

 an excellent cross Denmark made on those old 

 time mares until after his death, and the appear- 

 ance of his sons as sires particularly Gaines's 

 Denmark. From this latter horse the best saddle- 

 horses that Kentucky has produced have de- 

 scended and, in many instances, they breed back 

 to him two, three and four times. To my mind, 

 here is the strongest proof that the Denmark is a 

 fixed reproducing type. Inbreeding is fatal among 

 mongrels of any sort; but where the type is fixed 

 it may be done with most excellent results and 

 strictly, too, according to the rule of " like beget- 

 ting like. " 



Here is another peculiarity of the Denmark. 

 His excellence as a driving horse is only exceeded 

 by his virtues under the saddle. I am well aware 

 that men of fortune, who can keep as many horses 

 in their stables as they choose, rather scoff at 

 the "combination horse. " All right for them. All 



