THE GERMAN COACH HORSE 153 



German methods for improving the horse. — For cen- 

 turies the governments of many of the principalities have 

 promoted horse breeding. Early in the seventeenth cen- 

 tury a government stud was established at Ilo which pos- 

 sessed 182 horses in 1648; from 1628 to 1648 the stables 

 of Count Ulrich II contained many famous stallions ; 

 and in 1658 Count Enno Ludwig sent Emperor Leopold 

 a number of horses described as very beautiful and of 

 great value. Early in the eighteenth century a govern- 

 ment stud was in operation at Harlingerland, in East 

 Friesland, and a report dated 1712 refers to 16 stallions 

 that served 819 mares. 



Government supervision of horse breeding. — Formerly 

 a few of the principalities, notably East Friesland, held 

 very close supervision of horse breeding, which was 

 regulated by royal edicts. Later more liberality was 

 permitted, but it was made a law that no permits should 

 be issued authorizing the public use of stallions, unless 

 they passed a satisfactory government inspection. At 

 present the government and the agricultural societies are 

 encouraging horse breeding by awarding prizes to 

 animals of special merit, such animals to remain in the 

 country for a specified time. A commendable feature of 

 the system is that first prizes are given only to mature 

 stallions and mares that have shown merit as breeders. 

 Large horse shows are held at Aurich, East Friesland, 

 where the horses are brought each year for government 

 inspection and approval. Horse breeding in Germany 

 is greatly influenced by military requirements which has 

 a bearing upon the type approved. This is so great a 

 controlling factor that few of the powerful and compactly 

 built type can be found. 



TYPES AND BREEDS OF GERMAN HORSES 



As previously stated, owing to the conditions prevail- 

 ing in Germany, many types of German horses have been 



