76 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE HORSES OF CANADA. 
will find in the Library of Useful Knowledge, article “ Draught,” 
page 411-12, that horses trotting with both legs on the same side 
raised at once are made mention of; and you will observe it is 
stated that “ this is never seen to occur in a state of nature at 
the present day that it is inconsistent with the balancing of the 
body ; and was, therefore, more probably, an error of the artists. 
Now, although it is not to be seen in England, I beg to observe, 
in support of the ancient sculptors, that it is very commonly seen 
in this country, and is, lam of opinion, natural to a great many 
horses; and that they are encouraged in it, is beyond a doubt, 
from the circumstance of its being much easier than the high 
trotting action ; and they are, many of them, quite as fleet as the 
regular trotters. The action of the pacer has a strange unsightly 
appearance, and would almost induce one to believe he was un- 
sound or crippled in his action. In Upper Canada it is customary 
to emasculate the horses, but in some parts of the country they 
follow the old practice of squeezing the testes, and horses are com- 
mon to be met with having diminished testes, scarcely perceptible. 
I know an instance of an individual, who, shortly after his arrival 
in this country, purchased a Canadian horse, to carry a lady. Upon 
being asked if he did not intend to alter him, he was surprised 
at the question (not knowing the meaning of the term), but much 
more so, as you may suppose, on finding he had purchased a 
stallion without knowing it. The horses are good-tempered willing 
slaves, seldom balkey *, and for powers of endurance not to be 
surpassed, but more adapted for harness than the saddle. In the 
eastern townships they have a breed they call Morgan horses, a 
cross between the Norman or French horse and the Armenian 
mare; they are of a superior description, and highly prized in 
that part of the country, being very compact, and well adapted 
for general purposes. 
On this island (Montreal) the horses are a miserable set of 
garrons, generally speaking ; nevertheless they are wonderful little 
animals to work, and are made to exert themselves far beyond their 
powers. Fortunately for the owners and drivers, but unfortunately 
for the willing little slaves, Martins Act is not in force here ; and 
more’s the pity, for I have witnessed, and will venture to say 
that there is, more cruelty practised towards them in this city than 
in any quarter of the globe. 
I told you upon a former occasiont that the majority of the horses 
in this place are unsound, and that all the lame horses are said to go 
sound in the winter — which, certainly, many of them do ; and this 
you will easily understand when I tell you we have between three 
* A balkey horse is one which refuses to draw r . 
f In vol. xviii of The Veterinarian, p. 43. 
