THE BRITISH HORSE 23 



Although the Punch is not what he was, and tlie Suffolk 

 and Norfolk farmer can no longer boast of ploughing more 

 land in a day than anyone else, this is undoubtedly a 

 valuable breed. 



The Clydesdale is a good kind of draught-horse, and 

 particularly for farming business and in a hilly countr}^. 

 It derives its name from the district on the Clyde, in 

 Scotland, where it is principally bred. The Clydesdale 

 horse owes its origin to one of the Dukes of Hamilton, who 

 crossed some of the best Lanark mares with stallions that 

 he had brought from Flanders. The Clydesdale is larger 

 than the Suffolk, and has a better head, a longer neck, 

 a lighter carcase, and deeper legs ; he is strong, hardy, 

 pulling true, and rarely active. The southern parts of 

 Scotland are principally from this district ; and many 

 Clydesdales, not only for agricultural purposes, but for the 

 coach and the saddle, find their way to the central and even 

 southern counties of England. Dealers from almost every 

 part of the United Kingdom attend the markets of Glasgow 

 and Rutherglen. 



The Clydesdale horse, as it is now bred, is usually sixteen 

 hands high. The prevailing colour is black, but the brown 

 or bay is common, and is continually gaining upon the 

 other, and the grey is not infrequently produced. They 

 are longer in the body than the English black horse, and 

 less weighty, compact, and muscular ; but they step out 

 more freely, and have a more useful action for ordinary 

 labour. They draw steadily, and are usually free from 

 vice. The long stride, characteristic of the breed, is partly 

 the result of conformation, and partly of habit and training ; 

 but, however produced, it adds greatly to the usefulness of 

 the horse, both on the road and in the fields. No such loads 

 are known to be drawn, at the same pace, by any horses in 

 the kingdom, as in the single-horse carts of carriers and 

 others in the west of Scotland. 



III.— The Cleveland Bay— The Coach Horse. 



Though horses are bred in every county of England, 

 Yorkshire has the credit of pi'oducing the greater number 

 of good ones. It has, or rather had, in the old " Cleveland 

 bays," a particular race, combining peculiarity of form, a 

 certain cast of countenance, and high qualities of utility. 



