Horses 



309 



French Coach. The name French Coach is applied to this 

 breed in America, but in France, where the animals are native, 

 the name Demi-Sang, meaning half-blood, is used. The 

 breed dates back to the seventh century when by order of 

 Louis XIV, Arabian, Barb, and Thoroughbred stallions were 

 imported into France and crossed on the best saddle mares 

 of Normandy. The first colts were termed half-bloods, which 

 accounts for the name, Demi-Sang. Compared with the 

 Hackneys the French Coach horses are a little less smooth 

 and symmetrical, but are larger in body and bone and better 

 muscled. In action the trot is not so high nor snappy, but the 

 stride is more pow- 

 erful and longer. 

 The height ranges 

 from 15 to 16 hands 

 and the weight 

 from 1200 to 1350 

 pounds. The pre- 

 vailing colors are 

 bay and brown, al- 

 though black and 

 chestnut are some- 

 times seen. 



German Coach. - 

 The name German 

 Coach (Fig. 125) is 

 applied in America 

 to any coach horse 



imported from Germany. In that country there are several 

 breeds of coach horses, each with a separate registration society. 

 Some of these breeds are Oldenburg, Hanoverian, Holstein, and 

 East Friesland. As might be inferred, the coach horses coming 

 to the United States from Germany are variable in size and 

 conformation. They range in height from 15-2' to 17 hands 

 and in weight from 1300 to 1500 pounds. Usually, the animals 



FIG. 125. German Coach stallion. 



