n 



80 CH. XVI 



CHAPTER XVI 



HORSES FOR COACH OR DRAG 



Horses for coach or drag will vary according to 

 the taste of the owner and the depth of his pocket. 

 For a drag, horses of fifteen-three hands, all four of 

 the same size, will be generally found the most useful. 

 Of these the lightest and quickest should be selected 

 for the lead, and the strongest put at the wheel. 

 It is not difficult to find four horses of the same 

 height, of which two will weigh fort)' or fifty pounds 

 apiece more than the other two. The team shown 

 in Plate XXIX. corresponds to this description. 



The extreme type of racing thoroughbred does 

 not look in place to a coach, but the half-bred horse 

 of the English hunter style is in every way suitable, 

 although he is not always easy to drive when multi- 

 plied by four. The nearer that this latter type is 

 approached, the better, as f as appearance goes. 



The half-bred mare shown in Plate XXX., fifteen- 

 three hands, bv a thoroughbred sire out of a trot- 

 ting dam, hunted many seasons and driven as a 

 leader, is as nearly as possible perfection in all her 

 points. 



The hackney, as now produced in America and 

 in England, makes an admirable coach-horse when 

 laree enough, and if his recent introduction into 



