200 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 



There is a great difference in the ability of fast trotters 

 in this respect ; and the common notion that a great bulky 

 horse is best calculated to do so is a fallacious one. For a 

 draught-horse, great size and bulk, to throw an immense 

 steady strain into the collar, may be valuable ; but, when the 

 weight is to be taken along at a great rate, other things aro 

 of more importance than mere size. In the first place, then, 

 as to height, I do not think that a tall horse has any advan- 

 tage in this regard over one of about fifteen hands and an 

 inch, or fifteen hands two inches high. The tall horse is apt 

 to be leggy ; and his height often comes from extra length 

 in the canon bones, which multiplies no power. Length 

 in the arms, shoulders, thighs, and haunches is a different 

 matter. It follows that the extra height of the horse may 

 be rather a disadvantage than the reverse, in regard to pull- 

 ing weight at a fast rate. 



Mere bulk is also useless. Everybody must have seen 

 horses big enough to pull a ton, to look at, and able to trot 

 very fast in a sulky, or to a skeleton wagon, but unable to 

 act to advantage to three or four hundred pounds. The 

 weight-pullers, as a general rule, are of medium size, with 

 a fine, quick stroke, not over long, and they bend the kneo 

 well. They need to be spirited goers, keeping well up to 

 their work all the time ; and, unless their temper and pluck 

 are both good, they will sulk, or give up from faint-hearted- 

 ness, when they feel the weight, and the speed begins to tell. 

 But though mere bulk is useless for the purpose, a fair 

 amount of substance is required ; and it will be found in 

 nearly every case, that, though the weight-puller may not 

 have a large frame, he possesses a large muscular develop- 

 ment. Long striders are seldom good at weight. Being 

 greatly extended, with a load behind to be pulled along, 

 they are unable to recover, and shove their haunches in 

 quick, without extra exertion, under which they soon tire. 

 Here they more than lose in time of stroke what they gain 

 in space, and loiter, as it were, in their action. 



