126 THE HORSE 



less enthusiastic movement toward breeding them 

 in their purity and also crossing them upon other 

 stock. 



At the present time, too, a great many breeders 

 of trotting-bred stock are breeding for type more 

 than for speed and have produced horses with an 

 elegance of finish such as old-time breeders could 

 hardly have foretold. But, notwithstanding this 

 increase — and in spite, too, of the advent and 

 popularity of the automobile, which, for long 

 journeys, leaves horses entirely out of the reckon- 

 ing — fine carriage stock was never so scarce in 

 the market as now nor so high in price. 



Before considering the blood that will best pro- 

 duce good carriage stock, let us see what a car- 

 riage horse should be. With the compactness 

 and substance necessary to pull a carriage he 

 should be always a beautiful animal, smooth in 

 build, graceful in contour, and with the aristo- 

 cratic look that can only come from plenty of 

 warm blood. His action should be free, spirited 

 and yet easy, and he should have at least a reason- 

 able degree of speed at the trot. This latter 

 requisite, which is not infrequently overlooked by 

 those who attach an undue importance to high 

 stepping, will, in my opinion, be more and more 

 insisted upon as time passes. 



The breeders of Hackney and French Coach 



