THE GERMAN COACH HORSE 157 



heavy armor and to do all kinds of pack and draft work. 

 While many kings and dukes established studs in Schles- 

 wig the one which remained the longest in existence was 

 founded by Friedrich III in 1648. It is stated that, 

 present-day animals can be traced to his stud. In 1891 

 the Registered Union of Schles'wig Horse Breeding So- 

 cieties was formed with the stated object of "supplying 

 a strong work horse that can fulfill agricultural, commer- 

 cial and military requirements." 



The German Coach horse in America. — It is only re- 

 cently that the German Coach horse made his appear- 

 ance in America, the first importations occurring in the 

 eighties. About the year 1890 the breed began t<9 gain 

 recognition at our fairs and horse shows. Among the 

 early importers may be mentioned A. B. Holbert of 

 Greeley, Iowa, who was perhaps the first to introduce the 

 breed; the Altmans, Watseka, Illinois, and J. Crouch & 

 Son, Lafayette, Indiana. Perhaps by far the more im- 

 portant of the early animals imported was Moltke, who 

 is credited with 51 recorded produce in Volume II of 

 the German, Hanoverian, Oldenburg Coach Horse Stud 

 Book. Other imported stallions of note are Kaiser Wil- 

 helm (494) Young Altona.,1 (458), and Young Adonis 

 (476), as well as Bertus, Ento and Hannibal, the last four 

 having distinguished show careers. In a study of the 

 animals recorded in Vblume II of the stud book it was 

 found that Moltke leads as a sire, while others in order 

 are : Ruthard with 48 recorded produce, Whittlesbacher 

 with 35, Friebeuter with 31, and Elegant with 26 re- 

 corded produce. 



The German government voted a large sum of money 

 to make a display of German Coach horses at the Chicago 

 World's Fair in 1893, and sent over a fine exhibit of 

 stallions and mares. The provinces of Oldenburg, East 

 Friesland and Hanover repeated this enterprise at the 

 St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. 



