THE COMMONER HORSE 47 



hundred pounds weight. This class of horses should 

 now be produced cheaply, if pains are taken in bringing 

 together the appropriate strains of blood. The founda- 

 tion stock for the production of this class of animals is 

 at hand and abundant. Such horses are well adapted 

 to more than three -fourths of the work performed by 

 horses in the United States. What is wanted is a 

 slightly modified and enlarged old-fashioned Morgan 

 horse, with feet like iron, legs like steel, hair like silk, 

 courage that never falters and placidity that never 

 degenerates into sluggishness. Such a horse will charm 

 the multitude, though he be not a mountain of flesh, nor 

 as fleet as a grey -hound, nor his name be writ high in 

 the roll of aristocratic equines. He will only be a dis- 

 tinguished commoner, a citizen of the great horse 

 republic. Such a horse will not be a so-called "general- 

 purpose horse," neither will he be specialized toward 

 draft or speed, just a mighty handy fellow to have 

 around, ready and willing at all times to "fetch and 

 carry," so long as he is not asked to fetch with light- 

 ning speed or carry the elephant's burden. He will not 

 be a true, high-priced coach -horse, nor the ideal 

 saddle-horse. 



In imagination I see this commoner horse ready 

 to serve the citizen: Bay in color, black points, short 

 back with neck which has a little suggestion of the 

 peacock's and an eye that meets your gaze bravely; 

 a collar seat which lovingly embraces the shoulders, 

 a breast which protrudes like the prow of a schooner, 

 legs wide enough apart to prevent their interfering 

 and to give room for the inside leg muscles strong 



