84 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



judges came pronounced objection and dissatisfaction. This re- 

 sulted in an editorial statement on the German Coach type, which 

 appeared in the Breeders Gazette and was authorized by the 

 German judges. This statement is of importance to American 

 students and so is given here : 



The visiting German horsemen make the following claims concerning the 

 light types of horses. Four types of light-legged horses are recognized, and 

 each now has its separate studbook. The Trakehner is the lightest of all 

 and is a carriage and saddle horse, not a heavy coacher. The Hohtein and 

 Hanoverian horses are about the same type, but the Hanoverians are more 

 used for saddle horses and the Holsteins for carriage horses. This difference 

 in use implies somewhat of a difference in action. The Oldenburg is the 

 heaviest type, and these horses are used for heavy coach work, such as state 

 coaches, and as farm or all-purpose horses, and are not put under saddle. 

 Then there are the East Friesland horses, which are practically Oldenburgs, 

 as they are bred from Oldenburg sires. It is claimed that these distinctions 

 are actual rather than artificial. 



The distribution of German Coach horses has been very wide- 

 spread. They have been sold to various European countries, 

 South America, South Africa, the United States, and Canadian 

 Northwest. For years the most prominent importers, exhibitors, 

 and promoters of the breed had headquarters in Indiana, Illinois, 

 and Iowa. As these horses never met with a very favorable 

 reception in America, no stables of importance were established, 

 and since 1914 the breed has practically disappeared from 

 American trade. 



German Coach horse organization in America began in 1892 

 with the incorporation, under the laws of Illinois, of the German, 

 Hanoverian, and Oldenburg Coach Horse Association. Very soon 

 after the organization of this association came the Oldenburg 

 Coach Horse Association, which was also incorporated in Illinois, 

 but from which very little was ever heard. The former association 

 published two volumes of studbooks, up to 1906, containing the 

 registration of 3849 animals, mostly stallions. 



