AMERICAN HORSES IN PARIS. 43 



some exceptions these horses are not handsome, in spite of the numer- 

 ous importations by prominent American breeders of Percheron stal- 

 lions, whose descendants we were promised should supplant our native 

 animals in our own markets. "There is no reason," said one of the 

 principal employees of the company, "for our breeders to apprehend 

 any serious competition from America. The so-called heavy Ameri- 

 can draft horse is a composite result of incongruous, unintelligent 

 crossing without system, the results being inharmonious and defect- 

 ive in form. This horse has a heavy head, small neck, great mule 

 ears, flat croup, long back, well built in front, but hind quarters 

 defective, feet flat, colors objectionable, the coat altogether lacking 

 sheen, average height 1.65 meters, good movement as to front but 

 defective as to hind quarters. Except perhaps on the shoulder and 

 forearm, the muscular masses which are so distinctive of our native 

 draft breeds are wanting." Apart from these defects we were assured 

 that the American draft horses were badly broken, having no well- 

 defined paces, and generally awkward in their movements. Hitched 

 up with well-broken French horses, however, they soon get used to 

 harness ; they eat well and are not dainty. While showing good work 

 at first their service is not durable ; after only two years' service they 

 begin to show wear, the hind legs swell, and they are subject to fis- 

 tulas. A comparison made on the spot with French horses which had 

 been in the service twelve to fourteen years was invariably in favor 

 of the latter, notwithstanding the fact that the American horses cost 

 the company as much as the native. The director of the company's 

 horse supply has practically concluded that his company will purchase 

 no more Americans. 



Mr. Vidal, the merchant from whom the omnibus company referred 

 to above purchased its American horses, says: 



I regard the American draft horses as having no future in France. Personally' 



:I find no profit in their importation, but I am considering an importation of car- 



iriage horses (chevaux de luxe). In comparison with the Percheron or Boulon- 



,nais the American draft horse is not pleasing in appearance, moreover he is 



ill broken. Among the better carriage horses we occasionally find some really 



brilliant in harness. France being still fortunate in the possession of good draft 



'horses, the American draft horse has with us nothing to expect. The principal 



(traffic with these horses is in Belgium, and they are generally destined for the 



^market of Metz and Strasbourg; nevertheless, a merchant of Paris, Mr. Levy, jr. , 



proposes to undertake an experiment on a large scale, having purchased at 



Antwerp large grounds upon which he proposes to establish a depot for American 



draft horses with a view to introducing them throughout France. 

 ( 



i Mr. Vidal does not believe in the success of this effort. He gives 

 the prices of these horses as $80 to $100 in America and $150 to $170 

 (delivered in Paris; $180 is all that the omnibus company paid for 

 itheirs. " It is an error, " said Mr. Vidal, ' ' to imagine the prices of horses 

 in America to be so low. Some years ago, undoubtedly, the price 



