CHAPTER XI 



THE FRENCH COACH 



Early French horse history. The horse has been known in 

 France since prehistoric times, and the remains of horses have 

 been found in the eastern part of the country in large numbers. 

 These were associated with the Stone Age. Just when the horse 

 first became domesticated in France is unknown. He may have 

 been used in a measure by the early people of the country, both 

 for food and labor. Several hundred years prior to the time of 

 Christ horses were used in Gaul for military purposes. 



Horse racing in France dates back several centuries. It is said 

 that racing was practiced in 1323 under Charles le Bel and even 

 earlier. Systematic attempts to improve the racing horse began 

 during the reign of Louis XIV, in the latter part of the seven- 

 teenth century. Colbert, one of the ministers of Louis XIV, 

 founded the "Administration des Haras." 1 During these early 

 days more or less horse racing was engaged in, but in no 

 persistent form. Between 1775 and 1790 French horses were 

 taken to England and raced on the turf by French owners. The 

 French saw the merit of the English Thoroughbred, and along 

 in this period they began to buy and send them to France for 

 both breeding and racing purposes. Several of the sires taken 

 to France in and about 1776 became famous, as, for example, 

 Comus by Otho, Glowworm by Eclipse, King Pepin by Turf, 

 and Pyrois by Matchem. Some mares were also taken across 

 the Channel. 



Very early in the nineteenth century Napoleon the Great 

 undertook to promote the development of the horse, though he 

 had in view the army service as well as use on the turf. 



The French Jockey Club was organized in 1833, and with it 

 came the first real influential development of the light horse in 



1 Administration of Studs. 

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