HORSE, The French Coach. The pre vailing characteristic of a Frenchman is his de votion to those things that make life pleasant. From an artistic standpoint he leads the world. Pleasure and horses go together. A French-. man is instinctively a horseman. The French cavalry is without an equal in the world. Since the time of Napoleon the French government has taken charge of the breeding of horses that are best adapted for cavalry uses, and in ac complishing this purpose the government has contributed to the production of a very high class coach horse. The cavalry horse of France is usually selected after the committee has finished their work of picking out the•very best stallions for breeding purposes. Nearly every French- coach stallion that stands for public service in France is owned by the' French gov ernment. The French have been willing to advertise and sell their other breeds horses, but they have been loath to part with their coach horses. The instinct of self-preservation causes the French government and the French people to keep their French coach horses at home in order to have better horses than can be found in any other country.
' The breed of French coach horses has its origin from the same source as the English thoroughbred. On the 'one hand, the English thoroughbred surpasses in speed, while the French coach horse is superior in all of those qualities that go to make up a high-class car riage horse. Like the Percheron, the French coacher is developed in its highest state 'of per fection in Normandy, but he comes from the northern part, while the Perche is in the south of Normandy.
The French coach horse is about 16 hands high; his average weight is between 1,200 and 1,300 pounds. His color is as a rule bay, brOwn or chestnut. flis outline is most pleasing. He is a fast trotter, and under the conditions of horse racing in France under saddle over a turf track a distance of 4,000 metres 'he holds the record. The French method of developing their trotters cultivates a very high, attractive style of action. Not only is the French coacher seen in every French city hauling the most gorgeous equipages over the boulevards' surrounding Paris, but he is to be seen in the best stables throughout all of the capitals of Europe, especially in London. The French coacher sup plies the English royalty with their most useful and most attractive carriage horses.
For more than 20 years French coach stal lions have been brought to America very spar ingly. Where they have been crossed with the best road mares, trotting bred mares, the result has been most satisfactory. High-grade car riage horses that go into our best markets and sell for the highest prices usually have a strain of French coach blood flowing through their veins. A perfect type of the French coach horse when standing or in action is impossible to describe in words. To fully realize his superiority, to appreciate and admire his style and magnificent high action, one must actually see him. Words are inadequate to describe him, and the most perfect picture falls far short of the most perfect horse.
Joist R. MCLAUGHLIN.