THE AMERICAN ROADSTER 39 



can varieties, says: "On the contrary, while the 

 Conestoga horse, the Canadian, the Indian pony of 

 the North, the Indian mustang of the South, the 

 Norman horse of the northeastern British Provinces, 

 the pacer and the general working, or farm -horse, of 

 the middle states, have no chronicler, we go on import- 

 ing and studying elaborate treatises on the English 

 hackney, the English cart-horse, the English dray- 

 horse, the Suffolk Punch, the Cleveland bay, the 

 Galloway, the Shetland pony, and I know not what 

 else; when it is notorious to every horseman in the 

 country that not one of these varieties does exist ever 

 did exist except in the case of the individual importa- 

 tion; or, if they do exist, would be of any value or 

 utility in North America." Perhaps this statement is 

 somewhat overdrawn; nevertheless, it contains much 

 truth. 



Previous to the Revolutionary War, a number of 

 thoroughbred horses had been imported, but none of 

 the states or colonies had regularly established race- 

 courses except Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina. 

 The northerner paid little attention to the breeding 

 of thoroughbreds until nearly half a century after the 

 war. From the race -horse it was an easy step to the 

 trotter. Out of the oriental racing blood, tracing 

 back in some lines to the time of Charles II (1660-1685), 

 has been developed in the United States a most valu- 

 able, it might be said wonderful horse, the American 

 trotter or roadster. Many causes have led to his pro- 

 duction. A single one, on aononnt of its uniqueness, 

 may be mentioned. To the Puritans, the running of 



