ON AGRICULTURE TO CANADA 107 



line bred stallion, named Messenger. This horse, traced back through 

 both sire and dam to great Arabian blood, must have been 

 exactly the kind of horse wanted, for he is said to have become 

 the " father " of the trotter. He sired many famous animals, 

 but the line that has become of most note is through his son Mam- 

 brino, the sire of Abdallah, who in turn became the sire of what is 

 known as the great Hambletonian, which was foaled in 1849. Ham- 

 bletonian is the ancestor which represents the blue blood of Trotters. 

 Other important English blood was also imported — notably, 

 Diomed, a Derby winner ; and Bellfounder, a Norfolk trotter. 

 From this foundation, and by dint of careful mating, the best 

 trotters in the world have been evolved. From a record of a mile 

 in 2.59 minutes in 1806, the time was reduced in 1906 to 1.57. 

 Trotters divide themselves into two sections — trotting and pacing. 

 Records show a saving of 1| seconds in the mile in favour of pacing. 

 The mechanical difference between these two gaits is, that in pacing, 

 the horse uses the two off legs alternately with the two near legs, 

 or the gait is parallel, while in the trotter the gait is diagonal. It 

 follows that, when so much attention is given to this breed, 

 values are high. As much as £8000 has been paid for one of the best 

 " record-breakers," whilst from £200 to £300 is quite a common 

 figure for a probable local winner. Although breeders have attained 

 the much coveted desire in producing the fastest trotting horses 

 of the world, no evidence was found that they had become possessed 

 of a class of animals of much utilitarian value. It is doubtful also 

 if their possession tends to raise the morale of life, but they certainly 

 appeal strongly to a large section of go-ahead Canadians. A grand 

 object-lesson, however, is given as to what can be done in horse- 

 breeding, and this should be carefully studied by devotees of other 

 breeds. Saddle and driving horses are of very high merit. In 

 appearance, the majority of them seem to have a dash of thorough- 

 bred blood. Many of them trace to the hackney, and all appear 

 well-bred. At every point visited by the Commission, these animals 

 were greatly admired. They are notable for their speed, endurance, 

 intelHgence, and docility. Ever5rwhere they seemed safe in the 

 hands of ladies, and their surefootedness was remarkable. 

 Thoroughbreds, hackneys, hunters, and ponies are carefully bred 

 and kept well up to requirements. Light-legged horses represent 

 about 75 per cent, of the total in Canada. 



2. Draught Horses 



The early conditions of Canada did not demand a large propor- 

 tion of heavy draught horses. Conditions are rapidly changing, 

 and as the towns and cities increase in size, as the country gets 

 more settled, as the railways farther intersect the land, and as the 

 business of the lumberman increases, the demand for draught horses 

 will grow greater and greater. At the present time the price of 

 geldings is high, and quite equal to that obtained for similar animals 

 in Britain. The demand is gaining on the supply, and further atten- 

 tion ought to be given to the breeding of the heavier class of horses. 



