THE FRENCH COACH 



75 



famous Demi-Sang stallion that proved to be a remarkable breeder, 

 being in service at the national haras at Le Pin from 1862 to 

 1880, had Thoroughbred blood on both sire and dam sides four 

 generations back. The famous stallion Indre 385, imported by the 

 late M. W. Dunham, foaled in 1886 and still alive in 1905, was 

 a grandson of The Heir of Linne on the sire's side and great- 

 grandson of Conquerant on the dam's side. The stallion Young 

 Rattler, bred in England but in service in Normandy from 1820 

 to 1834, proved to have a most important influence on the French 

 turf. These examples suffice to show the influence of foreign 

 horses on the mares of France in developing the Demi-Sang. In 

 recent years it is claimed that the breeding has been restricted 

 to French blood entirely. 



Methods of the French to promote horse improvement. It is 

 appropriate to give here in some detail the methods employed in 

 France to improve the horse, these applying to the Percheron, dis- 

 cussed elsewhere, as well 

 as to the French Coach. 



Beginning with the 

 Administration des Haras 

 in the latter part of the 

 seventeenth century, the 

 French government has, 

 in a more or less degree, 

 continuously promoted 

 horse improvement. In 

 1690 by government 

 decree there were 1600 

 stallions classed as either 

 royal or approved. In 

 1 714 Louis XV estab- 

 lished a government stud, 

 or haras, at Le Pin, which 



has since been the leading one of France, and where also an 

 equine school has been maintained. In 1755 a stud with twelve 

 sub-studs was established at Pompadour, this being under govern- 

 ment control. In 1789 there were 3239 approved and govern- 

 ment stallions in France, which served about 115,000 mares. 



Fig. 27. Radziwill, a famous French Coach 

 stallion, purchased by the French govern- 

 ment for 25,000 francs ; under examination 

 by a juror at Caen. Photograph by James 

 B. McLaughlin 



