CHAPTEE IV 



CAEEIAGE-HOESES 



Cleveland Bays. 



A CARRIAGE-HORSE must look well in harness, and an 

 important point is the position in which he stands, 

 his fore-legs and hind-legs being well apart. Many a good 

 hunter has slightly bent knees, or has his hind-legs bent 

 too much under him ; but this will not do for a carriage- 

 horse, and is fatal to making a handsome show when drawn 

 up for parade. The neck must be long and carried well 

 up, and be able to bend in a graceful curve ; the mane 

 should be plentiful and fall well ; and the tail should be 

 full and well carried. Such are the general characteristics 

 of a handsome carriage-horse in a full-sized carriage, which 

 requires length in the animals which draw it to match 

 itself, for there is a want of symmetry when a pair of short 

 horses are seen attached to a long carriage. 



In colour they should be bays with black legs, browns 

 with tan muzzles, dark chestnuts, or greys. The action 

 must be smart, knees well bent, the hocks sharply flexed, 

 and the feet lifted high off the ground ; and the lighter 

 the carriage the more active should be the horses, with a 

 corresponding degree of pace. 



When shorter and lighter vehicles are used the fashion 

 of the day tends towards the employment of the hackney, 

 with its showy action, hogged mane, and short-docked tail, 

 but in a long carriage such seem wanting in the requisite 

 length for harmony in appearance. All harness-horses 

 must have strong loins, quarters, and hocks, that they 

 may be able to turn sharply, hold back a carriage down- 

 hill, or stop it quickly when required. 



105 



