THE STABLE.] 



THE SOESE, AND 



[the stable. 



the Suffolk cart mare; but the true Suffolk, 

 like the true Cleveland, is, now, nearly extinct. 

 The Punch takes his name from the round 

 punchiness of his own form, and is a valuable 

 animal, although degenerated. The Suffolk 

 was wont to be crossed with some of our 

 hunters, and the Duke of Eichmond got many 

 excellent carriage horses from this union. 



The Clydesdale is another excellent breed 

 of draught horses, especially adapted for the 

 agricultural purposes of a hilly country. It 

 is chiefly bred in the Vale of the Clyde in 

 Scotland, whence it derives its name. One of 

 the dukes of Hamil-ton originated the Clydes- 

 dale by crossing the Lanark mare with the 

 Planders stallion. Most of the southern parts of 

 Scotland are supplied with the Clydesdale from 

 this district ; and he has found his way even 

 into some of the southern counties of England. 

 Speaking of his appearance and qualities, Mr. 

 Low says, that " the Clydesdale horse, as he is 

 now bred, is usually sixteen hands high. The 

 prevailing colour is black; but the brown or 

 bay is common, and is continually gaining 

 upon the other, and the grey is not un- 

 frequently produced. He is longer in the 

 body than the English black horse, and less 

 weighty, compact, and muscular, but he steps, 

 out more fully, and has a more useful action 

 for ordinary labour. He draws steadily, and 

 is usually free from vice. The long stride, 



characteristic of the breed, is partly the result 

 of conformation, and partly of habit and 

 training ; but however produced, it adds greatly 

 to the usefulness of the horse, both on the 

 road and in the fields. No such loads are 

 known to be drawn, at the same pace, by any 

 horses in the kingdom, as in the single-horse 

 carts of carriers and others in the west of 

 Scotland. Although they are inferior in 

 weight and physical strength to the black 

 horse, and, in figure and strong action, to the 

 better class of the draught horses of Nor- 

 thumberland and Durham, yet they possess pro- 

 perties which render them exceedingly valuable 

 for all ordinary purposes. On the road they 

 perform tasks that can scarcely be surpassed ; 

 and in the fields they are found steady, docile, 

 and safe." 



The heavy black horses, such as we see in 

 the brewers' carts of London, are bred princi- 

 pally in the midland counties from Stafford- 

 shire to Lincolnshire. They are majestic- 

 looking animals ; and as they have great loads 

 to draw, they require to have great weight 

 themselves, so as not to be shaken in the 

 performance of their duties. All our heavy 

 draught horses, and some even of the lighter 

 sorts, have recently been much crossed by 

 the Flanders breed. This has improved them 

 by raising the fore-hand, flattening and deepen- 

 ing the legs, and giving them greater activity. 



CHAPTER V. 



ECONOMY OF THE STABLE, AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE HORSE. 



Sanitary improvements in all that relates to 

 the well-being and happiness of the inhabi- 

 tants of our larger towns and cities, have, for 

 a number of years, occupied the attention 

 of philanthropists aud medical men ; and 

 whilst the dwellings of the human have been 

 gradually undergoing a change for the better, 

 we are happy to say that some of those of 

 the equine species have been receiving atten- 

 tion. This, however has not been so general 

 as it is hoped it will yet become. We have 

 104 



still to lament, with Mr. Stewart, in his ad- 

 mirable work on Stahle Economy, that " stable 

 architects have not much to boast of. Their 

 sole ideas are limited to shelter and confine- 

 ment. If the weather be kept out, and the 

 horse be kept in, their objects are attained. 

 If light and air be demanded, the doorway 

 will admit them. If the horse has room to 

 stand, it matters little, though he have none 

 to lie ; and if you can get him into the stable, 

 what consideration is it, though his loins be 



