Notes on Cart Horses. 
309' 
hoped that though the prizes offered bj the Society have not 
as yet yielded any important present results, they have at 
least directed special attention to the subject, and set agoing 
experiments which may in the future be productive of sub- 
stantial gain. 
VIII. — Notes on Cart Horses. By James Howard, M.P., af 
Clapham Park, Bedfordshire. 
During the period which has elapsed since the establishment 
of the Royal Agriculural Society, more than one important 
change has come over peoples' opinions with regard to the 
best style of draught-horse for farmers to breed. In the greater 
portion of England most celebrated for the breeding of cart- 
horses, the old-fashioned dray-horse had held undisputed sway, 
until the Shows of the Royal Agricultural Society brought into 
prominence horses of lighter build and quicker step ; the hand- 
some clean-legged Suffolk and the active Cleveland bay attracted 
no little attention. Whether or not these exhibitions had the 
effect of influencing fashion in breeding, it is certainly the fact 
that after their establishment a change took place in public 
opinion in favour of clean-legged, active horses for farm purposes ; 
and the more massive, slower moving, and hairy-legged breed 
fell correspondingly in general estimation. For many years it 
became quite the fashion for noblemen and other landed pro- 
prietors to introduce a Suffolk stallion into their district, with a 
view to improve the local breed and obtain a race of clean- 
legged horses. The object was, doubtless, secured in many dis- 
tricts, but it was quickly discovered that the attainment of the 
qualities desired was attended with loss of bone ; for the Suffolk 
horse, notwithstanding his fine big body, was, as he has 
remained, light of bone, especially below the knee. During 
the time of which I speak, the Royal Agricultural Society 
dropped its prizes for " Dray-Horses," a step denoting the 
change which had come over public opinion. 
The infallible effect, however, of the law of supply and de- 
mand stepped in before a very long interval had passed, and 
turned the tide in the opposite direction. The construction 
of railways and other public works led to a large demand for 
powerful, massive horses ; the supply proving unequal to the 
requirements, caused this description of draught-horse to rise 
inordinately in value. The demand was for horses of greater, 
and still greater substance ; whilst coincident with the demand 
for greater substance came the insistence chat such horses should 
be able " to move as well as draw." 
