A French Haras and Ilorso Fair. 
391 
there was yet a considerable detachment of crib-biters. The 
action of the horses generally was hardly equal to their shapes ; 
in some instances we observed nice all-round action, in many 
cases good hind-leg action ; sometimes the action was extensive, 
sometimes lofty, sometimes speedy, with a straddle of the hind- 
lesrs ; there was often a dish, or throw outwards of the fore-feet — 
on the whole, I rather thought there was a general absence of 
that everyday harmonious action which on a hard road makes 
the real ring of pleasant rhythmic music. 
As to general conformation, we saw many horses with shoulders 
running into their necks, consequently having an uglj'- long- 
bodied look, often accompanied with short or slack back ribs, or 
both ; many, especially the stronger kinds, with round pulpy- 
looking legs and joints, suggesting outwardly inward softness 
of bone — firm flat legs and bold clean joints were especially 
attractive when occasionally observed. 
The equine population of Brittany, including the four de- 
partments, is put at 300,000, or one-tenth of all the horses in 
France. ' The Breton race is said to prevail in forty-seven depart- 
ments, Breton blood being infused in half the horse production 
of France ; in the last century an Arab and also a Danish 
cross prevailed. The Bretons are divided into two families, 
little and big, according to position and food, for a little bit of 
corn does wondei*s in changing the constitution of these prick- 
eared, small-eared, round, short-quartered little beasts. There 
are far too many small horses that could not carry even a light 
dragoon. The famous race du Conquet are 15.2 hands, and 
near Lamballe Bretons are often 15.3 hands in height. The 
great object is, of course, to bring this valuable race of all sorts 
up to an even level — they have a great affinity for blood — but diffi- 
culty as regards elevation arises also from the sale of all the colts. 
The real Breton horse of the country, untransformed by the 
influence of any Haras, and as seen at work in the most out-of- 
the-way districts, is of a real good sort. Here is a type 
dra\\Ti from nature: a little square-framed stallion, 14 hands 
high, bred near Cornouaille, in the Carhaix district — the 
most unsophisticated district of ancient Brittany ; there you see 
in perfection old timber houses, and people more old-fashioned 
than their houses. This little, countrified, near the ground, 
well-limbed horse had a cheerful expression and lively pricked 
ears, much skin, little flesh, and no end of bone ; he thrives on 
scanty food, "ie cheval qid mange de tout va partout" (the 
horse that feeds goes where he needs) ; according to his driver, 
• Gayot, p. 261. 
