THE FRENCH COACHER. 205 



his like. Infusions of Thoroughbred blood are 

 still being poured into the breed and indubi- 

 tably the type is changing. As between the two 

 now quite distinct types each must choose for 

 himself. The trotter is going up on legs some- 

 what, but the refining influence of the track is 

 plainly visible in him. 



From the beginning the object has been to 

 secure a high- folding action in front and a clean 

 lift behind, and the training and racing over 

 rough turf tracks have aided in fixing this char- 

 acteristic. The action of the racing trotter in 

 France is not duplicated elsewhere. He goes 

 high and he goes on with it. Annually the 

 government purchases the best of the three- 

 year-old stallions and relegates them for service 

 to the stud, where they are available to the 

 breeders at merely nominal fees. Under the law 

 provision is made for the maintenance of 3,300 

 stallions and of these something over 2,000 now 

 in service are of the demi-sang breed. France 

 takes mighty good care to have plenty of 

 horses available for her army. 



Being bred so close to the blood French 

 Coachers are generally bay, brown, chestnut or 

 black. The other hues are not wanted. 



In his career in this country the French 

 Coacher has suffered both from lack of suitable 

 mares and continuity of effort on the part of 

 those who have patronized him. Besides the 

 efforts of the importers, more especially in days 



