THE FRENCH COACH 



79 



France in and about 1776 became famous, as, for example, 

 Comus, by Otho; Glowworm, by Eclipse; King Pepin, by Turf; and 

 Pyrois, by Matchem. Some mares were also taken across the 

 Channel. Very early in the nineteenth century Napoleon the 

 Great undertook to promote the development of the horse, though 

 he had in view the army service as well as use on the turf. 



The French Jockey Club was organized in 1833, and with it 

 came the first real influential development of the light horse in 

 France. This club was aristocratic, wealthy, and influential, and 

 it began to promote 

 racing and breeding. 

 Since that time the 

 government's haras, 

 the Jockey Club, and 

 horse-breeding socie- 

 ties have done much 

 to improve the horses 

 of France. 



Origin of the French 

 Coach horse. The 

 term " French Coach " 

 is an American one, 

 there being no breed 

 of that name in 

 France. The type of 

 horse that we know by 

 this name in America is termed Demi-Sang in France, meaning 

 "half-blood." These horses when descended from English sires, 

 especially Thoroughbreds and Norman mares, have been called 

 Anglo-Normans and are often referred to as such. Hackney, Arab, 

 and other blood has also been used in developing the Demi-Sang. 



Characteristics of the French Coach. This breed really pre- 

 sents some variation in type. The larger, smoother sort at one 

 time brought to America is what we know as the coacher. These 

 generally average about 16 hands high for stallions and geldings 

 of maturity. Mares will stand from 15 to 16 hands. Stallions in 

 fair condition, weighing about 1350 pounds, may be regarded as 

 acceptable in weight, v^i^/zBi&^M/absi^jo pounds. There is also 



Fig. 26. Flirteur, three-year-old French Coach stal- 

 lion, champion at the Paris Horse Show, 1908. From 

 photograph by the author 



