HORSES FOR HEAVY DRAUGHT. 611 



the properties required. He does not appear to have at- 

 tempted any mixture of the blood of horses of high breed- 

 ing, but to have confined himself to the kinds suited for slow 

 labour. His stock was highly valued, and its descendants 

 were preserved with care by succeeding breeders. If the 

 figures of some of them do not exhibit what would now be 

 regarded as the form of a perfect Draught-Horse, they shew 

 the degree of breeding which Bakewell thought sufficient 

 to be communicated to horses employed in draught. His 

 example was beneficial ; and Leicestershire, as well as the 

 adjoining counties of Derby and Stafford, became distinguished 

 for the breeding of this class of Horses. 



The modern English Black Horse retains the general 

 characteristics of the pre-existing race, but greatly modified. 

 His colour is usually a sooty black, with frequently a white 

 lozenge-shaped mark on the forehead ; and he has very gene- 

 rally one or more of the feet, and part of the legs, and not 

 unfrequently the muzzle, white. His body is massive, com- 

 pact, and round ; his limbs are stout, his chest is enor- 

 mously broad, and his neck and back are short. His mane 

 is thick and somewhat frizzled, and his legs below the knee 

 and hock are hairy down to the heels. His whole aspect con- 

 veys the idea of great physical power without corresponding 

 action. The main defects of his conformation and tempera- 

 ment, are his too great bulk of body, and want of action and 

 mettle. For a pull with a heavy weight he is admirable ; 

 but he steps out short, and is slow in all his motions. 



These powerful horses are in extensive demand, not only 

 in the midland counties, where they are chiefly reared, but 

 over all the south of England, for the labours of the field, 

 and for waggons and heavy carriages of all kinds. They are 

 everywhere to be seen, moving at a slow pace, in the numer- 

 ous heavy waggons by which merchandise is conveyed inland, 

 and in great numbers in all the larger cities and sea-port 

 towns, where they are used for the transport of heavy goods 

 at wharfs, for the carriage of coals, timber, building mate- 



