96 THE DIFFERENT BREEDS OF EXGLISII HORSES. 



made tlicm coaclies, and rode in tliem up and do^ra the countries, to tlio 

 great admiration of all the beholders.' The fashion soon spread ; and he 

 adds, what is often too true in the present day, ' the world runs on wheels 

 ■with many whose parents were glad to go on foot.' 



These coaches were heavy and unmeldy, and probably bore some rough 

 resemblance to the state-coaches now used occasionally in court pro- 



C6SS1011S, 



Now we have, instead of him, an animal tall, deep-chested, rising in the 

 withers, slanting in the shoulders, flat in the legs, ^\ith far more strength, 

 and with treble the speed. 



There is a great deal of deception, however, even in the best of these 

 improved coach-horses. They prance it nobly through the streets, and they 

 have more work in them than the old, ckimsy, sluggish breed ; but they 

 have not the endurance that could be wished, and a pair of poor post- 

 liorses woiild, at the end of the second day, beat them hollow. 



The knee-action and high lifting of the feet in the carriage -horse is 

 deemed an excellence, because it adds to the grandeur of his appearance ; 

 but, as has already been stated, it is necessarily accompanied by much 

 wear and tear of the legs and feet, and this is very soon apparent. 



The principal points in the coach-horse are, substance well-placed, a 

 deep and well-proportioned body, bone under the knee, and sound, open, 



tough feet. ,. i i i 



The Cleveland Bat is the origin of the better kmd of coach-hor.se, and 

 is confined principally to Yorkshire and Durham, ^vith, perhaps, Lincoln- 

 shii-e on one side, and Northumberland on the other, but diflacult to find 

 pure in either county. The Cleveland mare is crossed by a three-fourth 

 or thoroughbred horse, of sufEcient substance and height, and the produce 

 is the coach-horse most in repute, with his arched crest and high action 

 From the thoroughbred of sufScient height, but not of so much substance, 

 we obtain the four-in-hand and superior curricle horse. 



Professor Low, in his superb work ' Illustrations of the Breeds of the 

 Domestic Animals of the British Islands,' which should adorn the Hbrary 

 of every sportsman and agriculturist, gives the following account of the 

 Cleveland Bay : — m- ^ 



' It is the progressive mixture of the blood of horses of higher breeding 

 with those of the common race, that has produced the variety of coach- 

 horse usually termed the Cleveland Bay ; so called from its colour and the 

 fertile district of that name in the North Riding of Yorkshire, on the 

 banks of the Tees. About the middle of the last century this district 

 became kno^vn for the breeding of a superior class of powerful horses, 

 which, with the gradual disuse of the heavy old coach-horse, became m 

 request for coaches, chariots, and similar carriages. The breed, however, 

 is not confined to Cleveland, but is cultivated through all the gTeat breed- 

 :jio- district of this part of England. It has been formed by the progressive 

 mixture of the blood of the race-horse with the original breeds of the 

 country. To rear this class of horses, the same principles of breedmg 

 should be apphed as to the rearing of the race-horse himself. A class of 

 mares, as well as stalKons, should also be used having the properties sought 

 for. The district of Cleveland owes its superiority in the production of 

 this beautiful race of horses to the possession of a definite breed, formed 

 not by accidental mixture, but by continued cultivation.' 



' Althouo-h the Cleveland Bay appears to unite the blood of the finer 

 with that ''of the larger horses of the country, to combine action with 

 streno-th, yet many have sought a farther infusion of blood nearer to the 

 race-horse. They are accordingly crossed by hunters or thoroughbred 

 horses, and thus another variety of coach-horse is produced, of lighter 



