CARRIAGE HORSES AND COBS. 187 
sequently there was a wide diffusion of thoroughbred 
sires. Under these influences, the improved or half- 
bred Cleveland bays lost their distinctive color in a 
large degree, chestnuts, iron-grays, roans, and dark 
browns becoming frequent among them. Still, there 
are in existence even at the present time many Cleve- 
land bays of the correct color, with legs black from 
the knee down, and with that “list,” or strip of black, 
running from the withers to the root of the tail, which 
is considered to establish beyond a doubt the purity 
of their blood. A dark brown coat with a cinnamon 
muzzle was supposed to indicate a tough and hardy 
beast, and animals thus marked are seen occasionally 
nowadays. Blacks were the least common, this color 
being avoided, as suggestive of a cart horse origin, un- 
less it could be traced directly to a thoroughbred sire. 
Particular colors came to be associated with particular 
districts. Thus, in one neighborhood it would be the 
ambition of every carriage owner to have a gray Sir 
William or a brown Sir Peter, as the case might be; 
whereas in another district a black this or a chestnut 
that would be considered an indispensable inmate of 
a gentleman’s stable. 
The most potent influence in developing the car- 
riage horse was, however, that mania for fast trav- 
elling in coaches and post chaises which could be 
satisfied with nothing less than ten and even twelve 
miles an hour. Anybody who has actually driven ten 
or twenty miles at this rate in a light carriage — not 
simply heard or talked about it, which is a more com- 
mon occurrence — can imagine what a task it was for 
four horses to travel at such speed, while hauling a 
load of four tons or more. Nothing but a strong dash 
