394 
A French Haras and Horse Fair. 
and with them in my mind's eye, I thought the thoroughbred 
horses at Lamballe the least interesting section of that great stud. 
It is only fair to observe, however, that the Ancien 
General-Directeur des Haras draws a beautiful and appreciative 
portrait of the English thoroughbred horse, admiring " the 
plenitude of life to be seen in one of these masterpieces of 
creation." Pure English blood — vuilit le mot Idche — is his best 
factor, his first element ; as for the dam — quant d la maman — 
" intervention cle papa et de maman" — " choose from the best," 
and "man'ez entre eux les produits" — "good blood knows not 
how to lie ! " There was a considerable range of dark iron-gi*ey 
Percheron horses, with white tails and manes — this dark colour 
is said not to change with age to white ; these dark horses are 
avowedly kept to please the American taste and trade, very large 
sums are paid for them, and they are greatly in demand. The 
English Norfolk cobs of the heavy type are well adapted in 
substance, shoulders, and legs to improve by amalgamation with 
the native mares — to form a distinct race recognised officially 
as Norfolk-Bretons. The Norfolks were introduced into France 
in 1850, under the directorship of M. Gayot ; he calls them 
splendid, incomparable — his aim draught more than saddle. 
" Jye trotteur que je vise, entendons-nous bien, est clieval de trait, 
nan clieval de selle,'' a draught-horse with a dash of blood. 
I noticed the following Norfolks : Sir Richard. The General, 
Old Times, Lord of the ]\Ianor, Sir Georges Wowmbell (sui), 
Blackfireaway, Norfolk Hero. If these seven horses are not of 
the very highest quality, they are useful animals, well adapted 
and judiciously selected ; their feet appeared shapely and sound. 
I have a note that there is a little wanting in the fore-ribs of 
'• Sir Georges Wowmbell " ! 
Not the least interesting episode of a most interesting day 
were two stallion teams shov.m out in harness and admirably 
driven ; the coachmanship was really excellent. There is at 
the Haras Du Pin a free school where instruction is given in 
regard to coachmanship and every other detail relating to the 
management of horses. We were sent to the station in a 
break drawn by two magnificent stallions — Anglo-Normans, I 
think — a pair of state or town carriage-horses, that left little or 
nothing to be desired either in regard to shape, substance, 
manners, or action. 
One of the perfectly handy teams so shown out was of 
lighter horses, thre(> brown Bretons and one black roan Norman 
half-bred, stallions ; the ofi' leader had really remarkable, exten- 
sive action, and all were shapely and well-matched good goers. 
The second team, all chestnuts, were of a stronger kind of 
Breton horse — cJieval de p)oste — in characteristic and national 
