BREEDS OF HORSES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS. 135 



strong 1 3ndons, and great muscular power. He should be cleanly formed, 

 oblique shouldered and fetlocked, with high withers. If, in addition, he 

 have what is called a double loin, he will cany his rider safely and easily, 

 and combine in his form all the requisites of a good saddle horse, that 

 will leave any cold-blooded horse blown in a very short trial of bottom ; 

 for the horses we have been describing are not found outside the range 

 of highly bred animals. Nevertheless, it must be remembered that the 

 hunting horse is not to be put to the labor of draft ; in fact, he should 

 never be harnessed. He is a saddle horse, and the form required to 

 move easily in harness, and especially under a load, would soon unfit him 

 for the saddle, and for the hunting field. 



X. Light Driving Horses. 



The light driving horse is not required to have high speed ; eight to 

 twelve miles an hour is sufficient ; but he must be of unimpeachable style 

 and action. Such horses are much sought, for driving on smooth roads, 

 in parks and pleasure-grounds, where style and luxurious surroundings 

 are the rule. They are also valuable for any service when only one per- 

 son, or, at most, two light ones, are to be carried, since they will often 

 go rapidly over roads with one person where heavier horses would labor. 



Here, again, we present an English type which shows a horse, the per- 

 fection of style and action, in movement. Sometimes they are fast, but 

 not when going in the form shown in the illustration. The head is out 

 of position for fast work, but is right for style and dainty movement. 

 It will be observed that there is no check' reit. The horse has been 

 trained under a curb, and requires nearly as light a hand to manage as 

 though under the saddle. 



XI. Coach Horses. 



The carriage horse bears to the coach horse the same relation that the 

 light driving horse bears to the roadster. Horses, for the light or medi- 

 um-weight carriage, should be handsome in appearance, and of better 

 speed than those used for the coach or boxed-in vehicle. Any road- 

 horse of 1050 to 1100 pounds will be suitable for the light or medium 

 carriage. For the coach, a more stately animal is sought. He may have 

 rather long limbs, if he is otherwise of suitable form and of good style ; 

 but he must not be deficient in muscular power, since a fair speed 

 is required, and without muscle no liorse can drag a coach over muddy, 

 difficult roads. The illustration we give of an English coach horse 

 shows a long-limbed, rangey horse, stylish and muscular. He should be 

 from 16 to 17 hands high, with clean-cut head and neck, since only this 

 class of horses can acquire the high stepping action, so much sought by 



