GERMAN COACH HORSES 45 



THE OLDENBERG COACHER is in a sense a local 

 variety of the German, much as the Morgan is of the American 

 trotter, but its breeders and importers are inclined to keep it distinct 

 hrom the general breed and press their claims to its popularity be- 

 cause of greater uniformity of type, purer blood and a stronger pre- 

 potency in transmitting the inherited character. 



The origin of the Oldenberg is like the German in native mares 

 crossed with fine stallions from Arabia, Barbary and Spain. 

 During the sixteenth century steps w^ere taken to improve the local 

 breed. Count Johann XVI, 1 552-1 557, w^as especially active 

 in procuring horses from Turkey, Italy and Spain. During the 

 following centuries selection of typical breeding horses has been 

 observed and fixity of type and purity of blood inculcated. A 

 few of these horses were brought to America during the last two 

 decades of the nineteenth century, where they gained a good 

 reputation by winning honors over all coach breeds at the Colum- 

 bian Exposition in 1893. They are described as bay or brown 

 in color with dapples, and commonly a white star on the forehead 

 and a white hind ankle. A characteristic marking is a lighter 

 shade around the nose, popularly styled " mealy nose." In size 

 they are uniformly large, 1 6 hands high and weighing about I 200 

 pounds. In form they are symmetrical, well-muscled, stylish and 

 strongly made. The head is elegant, fine and carried high, the 

 neck strong and well arched, the shoulders long and oblique, back 

 short and strong, body round and close-ribbed, coupling smooth 

 and powerful, croup high, quarters full and long, legs strongly made 

 and of good width. They are characterized by high, attractive 

 and powerful action, good tempers, sagacious and intelligent. 

 They are bold, fearless movers with a load at speed. 



Cleveland Bay 



The name is taken from the old town of Cleveland in Yorkshire, 

 England, and the uniform bay color of the breed. They originated 



"Jlfter trial of your Gall Cure we find it gives excellent satisfaction. 



^rushy (fountain Coal Co., "Pelros, '^enn. " 



