104 THE HORSfi 



to produce an American coacher, if we can be weaned 

 from the notion that, of necessity, everything imported 

 has quality and value above the home production. 

 Out of the thoroughbred and selected superior mixed- 

 blooded road-mares has been developed in America 

 a superb, unequaled, utilitarian and pleasure -giving 

 animal, unexcelled in any other country. From the 

 same blood and by similar methods, in less time and 

 at far less expense and pains than have been incurred 

 in producing the trotter, a potent breed of coacher 

 might have been produced. Sooner or later it will 

 have to be done, or rather it will be done; and then 

 an imported coacher will be as rare as imported Merino 

 sheep, or an imported steam -locomotive. 



It may be said, the fact that Europeans are pur- 

 chasing large numbers of horses in America for 

 cavalry mounts and other army purposes proves con- 

 clusively that many good sires and dams, usually of 

 mixed blood, are possessed by American farmers. As 

 these pages are being written, it is reported that 

 nearly 20,000 army horses have been shipped from 

 New Orleans to South Africa for war purposes during 

 the last two months. It would seem that while we have 

 good foundation stock for the production of cavalry- 

 horses, we are importing Demi- Sang cavalry -stall ions 

 from France to be used for siring coachers. If, then, the 

 largest and best of French cavalry -stallions are suitable 

 for producing coachers, why can not the largest and best 

 of the American Demi-Sangs, or mixed-bloods, also be 

 used for producing coachers? Since they are virtually of 

 the same lineage, that is, they have a liberal infusion 



