THE CANADIAN HORSE 41 



for many generations entirely unmixed; and, as the general agricultural 

 horse of the province, exists, yet so stunted in size by the cold climate and 

 the rough usage to which he has been subjected for centuries, but in nowise 

 degenerated, for he possesses all the honesty, courage, endurance, hardihood, 

 soundness of constitution, and characteristic excellence of feet and legs of 

 his progenitor." Besides this native Canadian there are also, among the 

 more active kinds, the Morgan horse, the American trotter, and the 

 thoroughbred descended from English imported horses, with scarcely any 

 admixture of native blood ; and of the agricultural varieties, the Vermont 

 and Conestoga draught-horses, in addition to several others not so easily 

 made out. 



THE INDIAN PONY 



THE INDIAN PONY, which seldom or never exceeds 13 hands in 

 height, is remarkable for activity and strength, as compared with its size, 

 appearing, like its Scotch congener, to be almost overwhelmed with its 

 rider, whose feet nearly touch the ground, yet moving under its load with 

 freedom. It has a high crest, and a flowing mane and tail, with a proud 

 carriage of the head of a very pleasing character. The body is strongly 

 built, and the legs and feet are made of the most lasting materials. Large 

 herds of these ponies run wild in the prairies of the north-west, and many 

 are brought into Canada for the use of the inhabitants. 



THE CANADIAN HORSE 



THE CANADIAN HORSE is a remarkably hardy animal, capable of travel- 

 ling very long distances, but in his pure condition not above the average 

 in speed. When crossed, however, with a thoroughbred horse, he combines 

 the speed of the latter with his own endurance and iron constitution and 

 legs, and in this way a great many of the best American trotters are bred. 

 Mr. Herbert says, "His crest is lofty, and his demeanour proud and 

 courageous ; his breast is full and broad ; his shoulder strong, though 

 somewhat straight, and a little inclined to be heavy ; his back broad, and 

 his croup round, fleshy, and muscular ; his ribs are not, however, so much 

 arched, nor are they so well closed up as his general shape and build 

 would lead one to expect ; his legs and feet are admirable the bone large 

 and flat, and the sinews big and nervous as steel springs ; his feet seem 

 almost unconscious of disease ; his fetlocks are shaggy ; his mane voluminous 

 and massive, not seldom, if untrained, falling on both sides of his neck, and 

 his tail abundant, both having .a peculiar crimpled wave, if I may so 

 express myself, the like of which I never saw in any horse which had not 

 some strain of his blood." I append a sketch of one of these horses, 

 showing the shape and action peculiar to them. It is said by good judges 

 to be an excellent likeness. 



Since the above paragraph was written quite a large trade has sprung 

 up in Canadian horses. The first few consignments of 500 each were 

 carefully selected by Mr. Ffoulkes, M.R.C.V.S., and on landing in England 

 were as carefully nursed through strangles and other troubles so often 

 incurred in transit, and when offered by Messrs. Freeman at St. Martin's Lane 



