CHAPTER XII 

 THE FRENCH COACH HORSE 



The name "French Coach'' is of American origin, there 

 being no breed of that name in France. The term "Demi 

 Sang," meaning half-blood, is the name employed to 

 designate the coach horse in France, and was originally 

 applied to the offspring of English sire crossed to 

 Norman mares. 



The native home of the French Coach horse. — This 

 breed of horses was developed in France, particularly in 

 the counties of Calvados, Orne and La Manche, which, 

 in connection with Eure et Loir and Sarthe, compose that 

 section of France known as Normandy, a region famous 

 for its horses. Because of the proximity to England this 

 region was influenced by the race course, and much 

 attention was given to the improvement of the horse 

 stock, with the result that the light horses soon became 

 noted for speed and endurance. 



The origin of the French Coach horse. — Following the 

 lead of England the French very early begun racing 

 horses. In 1323, during the reign of Charles le Bel, it is 

 stated that racing was rather common. In the latter part 

 of the seventeenth century, during the reign of Louis 

 XIV, systematic attempts to improve the racing horse 

 were begun by the French government. Colbert, a 

 representative of Louis XIV, established the "Admin- 

 istration des Haras" (administration of the Studs). This 

 experiment proved successful, and did much to promote 

 horse breeding in France. The work went rapidly for- 

 ward and in 1714 a stud was founded at Le Pin, and in 

 1755 another stud, with fa sub-studs, were established at 

 Pompadour, both being under government control. These 

 studs were destroyed during the revolution, but were 



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