18 Animal Husbandry 
22. French coach compared with the Hackney. —In general 
conformation the French Coach is not so smooth or symmetrical 
as the Hackney. The French Coach is larger than the Hackney, 
possessing very good length of body, with a long, somewhat arch- 
ing neck and a long, wide, level croup. The French horse possesses 
the larger bone and the more powerful muscling. The action, 
particularly at the trot, is longer and more powerful, rather than 
high and flashy as in the Hackney (Fig. 7). 
23. The German coach horse. — This breed was developed in 
northwestern Germany, particularly in the fertile lowlands 
drained by the Elbe, Weser, and Ems rivers. The states that 
contributed to the development of this breed are Hanover, Olden- 
burg, Schleswig-Holstein, and East Friesland. The German Coach 
horse owes its origin to horses introduced from the Orient. As 
early as 1552 Count Johanna imported horses from Turkey to 
Oldenburg and took an active interest in improving the horse 
stock. Many of the German States took an active interest in 
developing horses somewhat similar to France. Thus we have 
several types of German horse varying in size and conformation, 
most of them taking their names from the state in which they 
were developed. The more important of these types are: the 
East Prussian or Trakehnen horse, the Hanoverian horse, the 
Holstein horse, the Oldenburg horse, and the East Friesland 
horse. 
24. German coach compared with Hackney.— The German 
horses are exceedingly variable in size and weight, and all types 
lack the smooth outline and symmetrical form of the Hackney. 
The East Prussian or Trakehnen type is the lightest and, with the 
Holstein and Hanoverian types, is useful for light carriage and 
saddle purposes. The Oldenburg and East Friesland types are 
the largest and are used for heavy coach work and as farm or 
general-purpose horses, but are seldom used under the saddle. 
The action at the walk and trot is longer and not so high and 
stylish as in the Hackney (Fig. 8). 
