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OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



In England the Norfolk trotter is the light- 

 weight carriage and harness horse par exccl- 

 le'ncc. He comes from crossing the original 

 English blood with the Thoroughbred, adding 

 a slight mixture of Dutch blood. His trot is 

 noble and high stepping ; he is well built, 

 though his back is sometimes a little hollow. 



The Hunter is also a half-breed ; but what 

 the Norfolk horse does in harness he does 



of the hunt, and power of endurance, while 

 their riders naturally require them to have a 

 pleasant, elastic motion. 



The half-bred Irish horse is much in demand 

 for military service. The Hackney, which has 

 many of the qualities of the Hunter, is also 

 used as a saddle horse, but on level roads, 

 however, because he is more fitted for quiet 

 riding than for jumping. Consequently the 



under the saddle, as liis name inijilies. Thor- 

 oughbreds arc also used 'for hunting, but for 

 heav\'-\veight I'iders tlie half-bred hunter is 

 prefei'able. lie is a descendant of hea\-y sires 

 and light-weighl dams, especialh' Irish mares. 

 It often ha])pens that a mai'e producing a 

 Hunter is ])art]y Thoroughbred lierself. The 

 print ipal qLialilies of these animals are strength 

 that enables them to carry hea\'y weights o\'er 

 obstacles, speetl to follow tlie jtace, often rapid. 



chief qualities required of him are a fine gait, 

 elegance of shape, and docility. 



The Cob is a small but sturdy horse, em- 

 jiloyed to draw liglit phaetons ; he is some- 

 times used as a riding horse for old gentlemen, 

 on account of his quiet and easy gait. He is 

 fiery, howe\-er, and a pail of water is often 

 gi\'en him, just Ijcfore his master mounts, to 

 make him quieter. It was said that Sir Robert 

 I'eel lost his life by being thrown from a Cob, 



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