CHAP r. YORKSHIRE COACH HORSE. 875 



dealers who resort to the September fair at the quaint 1 little town of 

 Howden. 



Though the Yorkshire Coach Horse has long been recognized as 

 a distinct class, it is probable that few if any of them have been kept 

 free from all infusion of Arab blood. It cannot therefore be claimed 

 for him that he is a pure bred animal, but that, on the contrary, 

 by the judicious crossing of large-sized good-coloured mares with 

 stallions altogether or nearly thoroughbred, a class of horse has 

 been produced suited to the wants and circumstances of the times. 

 Certain characteristics have been carefully cultivated. The colour 

 should be bay or brown with black legs ; mane and tail abundant, 

 but not curly; in height from 16 hands to 16 hands 2 inches, 

 with fine head, sloping shoulders, strong loins, and lengthy quarters, 

 high-stepping action, good sound feet, flat legs, and plenty of bone and 

 muscle for any effort that may be required of them (see Figs. 80 and 81) . 



Remarkable as are the produce of common county or shire mares 

 when mated with thoroughbreds for strength and even sometimes for 

 appearance, says Mr. Wm. Hutchinson in the "Live Stock Journal," 

 the staying power of the produce of the Yorkshire coaching mare mated 

 with the thoroughbred is infinitely superior, as are also the intelligent 

 head, straight rounded back, and lengthy quarters of the latter to the 

 thick jowl, low shoulders, narrow loins, and drooping quarters too often 

 seen in the former. If there is anything in hereditary disposition and 

 qualities, what can the breeder of, so-called, half-bred horses for either 

 saddle or harness purposes want better for his foundation than mares 

 in whose veins still runs the blood of Escape, Sandbach, Ruler, Old 

 Screventon, and Necromancer, strengthened by mating with real coach 

 horses such as Pierson's Peato, and Pulleine's King William, the one 

 trotting eighteen miles within the hour, and the other one mile in 

 three minutes on the Leeds turnpike-road, and that not with perambu- 

 lators at their heels and the most attenuated of stable-boys holding 

 the reins, but carrying on their backs eighteen and fourteen stone 

 respectively ? 



Mr. George E. Brown, Aurora, Illinois, writing in the " Live Stock 

 Journal Almanac " on Cleveland Bays and Yorkshire Coach-horses in 

 the United States, says : " For a time we feared that the controversy, 

 resulting in two societies and registers in England, might have a 

 detrimental effect in America, but fortunately it has not so proved, the 

 Cleveland Bay and Yorkshire Coach Horse being recognised here as one 

 and the same, and of equal value, both having proved themselves suffi- 

 ciently prepotent to impress their characteristics on foreign breeds with 

 remarkable certainty. I have often remarked that, in respect of the 

 power of transmission, they are only equalled by the Devon and 

 Holstein cattle, whose blood once infused, descends through many 

 generations, showing distinguished features. The American trade in 

 these horses is yet in its infancy. Having been uniformly successful, 

 the demand for them has rapidly increased ; and as our newly-settled 

 States become improved, and the settlers better circumstanced, they 

 will require better horses. The Cleveland Bay makes an excellent 



