HENllY CLAY. 373 



they lack in the high nerve and splendid brain qualities of the Abdal- 

 lahs. They have not the lofty trotting quality and ready courage of 

 the Duroc-Messenger cross. They are far below it. 



A well-known gentleman has very recently, through the turf 

 journals, given to the public a particular account and description of 

 Henry Clay, from which I make the following extracts : 



He was a coal black horse, about 15}^ hands high, with a short, but limber 

 neck, rather thin than heavy, a good square head, a little large, as most level- 

 headed good stallions do have. His muzzle was somewhat large and square, 

 but still line in the outline, with active lips and nostrils. His eye was larg-e 

 and pleasant, but full of fire ; ears rather short, but Avide apart, and active^ 

 ever on the alert. In the forehead was a remarkable white crescent, very 

 perfect, the line of which extended up and down, that is, one horn above the 

 eyes, the other below. The neck was set on fine shoulders, union with the 

 withers being perfect, running into a deep brisket; shoulders very oblique, 

 elbows well out from the chest, giving plenty of room for play, without beating 

 the heart and lungs; arms large, long and powerful, knee large and flat, as 

 was the cannon, but very short, set on short but spring}' pasterns. Back 

 tendons unusually large, and hard, setting out from the bone like a well-drawa 

 rope, almost as large as the bone in some of the horses of the present day. Feet 

 rather large, but round and handsome, wide in the heel, with a wall thick and 

 tough enough to trot a race barefoot. Was deep and wide through the lungs 

 and heart. Body long and round, well ribbed out, with very large ribs, or 

 bone, not, however, running up close to the hip, rather open there. Back 

 long, coupled well back to very long hips, but so drooping as to look exceed- 

 ingly short, when really they were very long from the coupling. Very broad 

 and strong over the loin, great length from point of hip to hock, powerful 

 quarters set tcell down to large gaskins. Hocks large, but clean. The picture 

 of the hind leg was a first-class sickle leg. The tail was rather hairy, coarse 

 and wavy, with more or less white hairs at the root of dock, which same he 

 put upon most all his colts; whether bay, brown or black, these white hairs 

 were most often there. In motion he had rather high knee action and when 

 going square, the movement of his hind legs was the same as with Sprague's, 

 but when excited, or the road stony or rough, he was mixed, a real Canada 

 Foxrun, but with the first chance, he would square himself away from 

 preference. 



From the line, back, he was a perfect old-time Kanuck, while all forward 

 was every true horseman's " beau ideal " of a perfect horse. Hips were 

 sharp, indicating the nervous, wide-awake temperament. In disposition and 

 temper, he was a real lovable horse, because pleasant, cheerful, prompt, and 

 ever ready to the word, and always ready to do quick when asked. 



Money and fashion may make horses, but it don't make an " Old Henry Clay." 

 The last time I went to see him was in October, ISGo. ]\Ir. Fellows who owned 

 him, knew I loved the old horse, and asked me " would I not like to see him 

 out." Thinking not to trouble him, knowing the old horse had long been 

 blind, I replied "Nevermind:" but the door of his box was swung wide 



