THE LONDON HORSE AT HOME 97 



vestries, and the large breweries and distilleries own 

 troops and regiments of horses, and the combination of 

 capital and high organization with proper economic 

 management in these great establishments has set a 

 standard of good and humane treatment by which the 

 London horse has greatly benefited. Better and larger 

 stables, good food and litter, and steady work, with 

 regular days of rest, have lengthened the life and 

 improved the physique of the London horse. A good 

 brewer's horse, standing 17*2, was weighed by Mr. 

 Gordon, and tipped the beam at just over the ton. The 

 driver weighed 20 stone 12 Ib. ! the van, fully 

 loaded, 6 tons 15 cwt., to which must be added the 

 harness, making a total with the driver of nearly 

 8 tons. Three horses drew the whole ; and it was 

 stated that, on the average, three horses now do the 

 work which four did twenty years ago. 'The vans 

 have improved, the roads have improved, and the 

 horses have improved especially the horses/ We 

 agree with Mr. Gordon in thinking that steady attention 

 to the breeding of draught-horses all over the country 

 has probably increased their size and power, just as it 

 has increased the average size of the thoroughbred. 

 The latter gains one hand in a century. In 1700 he 

 stood, on the average, at 1 3*2 ; he now stands 1 5*3. We 

 might suggest a rough test of the growth of the draught- 

 horse. The shafts of the 'tumbril,' or country two- 



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