THE HORSE, DIFFERENT BREEDS, ETC. -89 



XVIII. The Canadian. 



This horse, when pure, is entitled to be considered distinct. He can 

 l»y no claim, of course, to being regarded as the natural horse, no more 

 than the Norman, Percheron or the English thorough-bred ; but his char, 

 acteristics are so marked as to render him worthy of being classed sep«> 

 rately and noticed mth some minuteness. 



He is supposed to be descended from the Norman-French horse,J 

 brought over by the pioneers of Canada ; but how crossed, (though he is 

 evidently the result of a cross), it is impossible to say. In some partic- 

 ulars, he so much resembles the old horse of Normand^'^ as to seem the 

 unmistakable descendant of that stock ; whereas in others he is so unlike 

 him as to indicate that the cross must have been with a very strongly 

 marked animal, of great powers of transmission. 



The distinguishing characteristics may be stated as follows : The 

 average height is about fourteen hands ; the body is solid, compactly put 

 together, but somewhat inclined to flatness of side ; the head is rather 

 large for a horse of the height stated, but it is well formed and lean, so 

 that it does not appear out of proportion and cumbersome ; the forehead 

 is broad ; the ears are wide apart, and carried well up ; the eye is small 

 and clear, and has a bold expression ; the chest is broad and full ; the 

 shoulder is strong, but inclining to be straight and rather lo w and heavy 

 at the withers ; the loins are fine ; the croup round and fleshy ; the thighs 

 muscular ; the legs comparatively heavy and joints pretty large, but the 

 bones are flat, and no race of horses has sounder and more powerful 

 limbs ; and none can equal the Canadian as to feet — these being tough, 

 hard, iron-like, and free from disease, even under the most unfavorable 

 circumstances. This seems to be one of his most valuable chai^cteristica 

 of body. Bad handling, awkward shoeing, hard travel — nothing In the 

 bounds of reason seems to affect his feet. Diseases of this part are 

 almost absolutely unknown. 



The mane and tail are peculiar, being very heavy, and in almost all 

 cases, wavy. The back sinews are shaggy-coated, nearly to the knee, 

 and the fetlocks are long. 



The prevailing color is black ; but browns and chestnuts are frequently 

 found ; sometimes sorrels and duns, having manes and tails lighter than 

 the body. Occasionally there may be found a dark iron-gray, with' 

 black legs. 



Canadians are long-lived, easily-kept, and capable of the greatest 

 endurance. They are heavy enough for the purposes of the farmer ; and 

 as roadsters, while they are not to be regarded as rapid travelers, they 

 maintain a reasonable rate of speed, say six miles an hour, for long jour- 



