82 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



Government supervision of horse breeding in Germany has 



obtained for centuries. The use of stalhons on the mares of East 

 Friesland was regulated by royal edict for many years. Finally 

 more liberality was permitted in the use of stallions, but govern- 

 ment supervision, much as in Belgium, was the rule. It was made 

 a law that no permits should be issued authorizing the use of 

 stallions, unless they passed a satisfactory government inspection. 

 At the present time both the government and agricultural societies 

 promote intelligent horse breeding. Prizes are awarded for ani- 

 mals of special merit, and such animals must remain in the country 

 for a specified term. First prizes are awarded only to mature 

 horses and mares that have shown merit as breeders. Stallion 

 shows have long been held at Aurich, in East Friesland, where 

 the horses are brought annually for inspection and approval. 

 Prizes for brood mares are also awarded by the government. 



The t3rpe of German Coach horse, as seen in America, possesses 

 some considerable variation. In 1893, at the World's Columbian 

 Exposition at Chicago, an exhibit of over eighty German Coach 

 horses was made, including special exhibits from Germany made 

 by the Oldenburg Agricultural Society, the Hanoverian Agri- 

 cultural Society of central Germany, and the East Friesland 

 Head Agricultural Society. There was some considerable varia- 

 tion in the types shown, and following the awards by German 

 judges came pronounced objection and dissatisfaction. This 

 resulted in an editorial statement on the German Coach type, 

 which appeared in the Breeders' Gazette and was authorized by the 

 German judges. This statement is of importance to American 

 students, and so is given here : 



The visiting German horsemen make the following claims concerning the 

 light types of horses. Four types of light-legged horses are recognized, and 

 each now has its separate studbook. The Trakehtier is the lightest of all 

 and is a carriage and saddle horse, not a heavy coacher. ThtHolstein and 

 Hanoverian horses are about the same type, but the Hanoverians are more 

 used for saddle horses and the Holsteins for carriage horses. This difference 

 in use implies somewhat of a difference in action. The Oldenburg is the 

 heaviest type, and these horses are used for heavy coach work, such as state 

 coaches, and as farm or all-purpose horses, and are not put under saddle. 

 Then there are the East Friesland horses, which are practically Oldenburgs, 

 as they are bred from Oldenburg sires. It is claimed that these distinctions 

 are actual rather than artificial. 



