108 THE HORSE 



ancestors. Such are the beneficial effects of blood, that 

 is of a superior race judiciously engrafted on an inferior." 



" It cannot then be claimed for the Yorkshire Coach- 

 horse that he is a pure-bred animal, but that on the con- 

 trary, by the judicious crossing of large-sized good-coloured 

 mares with stallions altogether, or nearly thoroughbred, a 

 class of horses has been produced suited to the wants and 

 circumstances of the times. 



" Certain characteristics have been carefully cultivated 

 — by universal consent the colours 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 abundance of bone and muscle for any effort that may 

 be required of them." 



Several celebrated coach-horses are mentioned in vol. i. 

 that were sold for very high prices. 



" Kainbow, afterwards called King George IV., sold to 

 Robert Thomas, of Eryholme, Darlington, when seventeen 

 years old, for ^B300. 



" Landmark (belonging to Mr. G. Holmes), foaled 1870, 

 whose dam was by a thoroughbred sire, this horse was sold 

 to the King of Bavaria for 400 guineas. 



"Mr. Thompson's Necromancer was the progenitor of 

 some high-priced animals. He was the sire of Sir Edmund, 

 sold for £600 to go abroad ; of Don Quixote, and another 

 sold to Mr. Alders for £500 ; also of Burton's Ebor, which 

 was sold for 500 guineas. 



" Of the speed, power, and endurance of these horses we 

 have recorded that Dreadnought, by Old Clothier, won a 

 trotting match for £100, carrying 16 stone 16 miles, within 

 the hour; Wonderful, a horse that obtained a high premium 

 at Ripon Show in 1819, had a brother, Peirson's Plato, that 

 trotted 18 miles within the hour, carrying 18 stone ; and 

 Bevas Pullen's King William trotted a mile in 3 minutes 

 at Selby, carrying 14 stone. 



"In conclusion, we can confidently recommend the 

 Yorkshire Coach-horse as an animal that has been a source 



