Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-09-19
THE FRENCH COACH HORSE.


TO improve It's A1ofsHN'
The king Of horses is the French
coach horse. should say general pur-
pose horse for do not class horoagh-
breds, Arabs and trotters in the ranks of
utility; they are there to improve our
stock, and today they are scarcely need
ed for that The French coach horse,
demi sang, or Anglo-Norman, as he is
variously designated, halls from the
tboroughhred and Rather, who was inn
ported in 1909, did more for the coach
horse than any of the other thorough
brcGs uscd by the government.
II was the Eattler blood that found
the missing link in the French coach
mare, and from these two, believe, came
the breed of horses, and the only ones
besides the thoroughbred capable of re-
producing itself TO a certainty. 1t is the
admirable direction Of the French gov
eminent which has enabled that country
to produce this noble animal It is the
thorough plan for uniting and develop
ing all the valuable qualities Of the very
best breeds, 50 that it has given over to
the world race of horses that possess
degree Of perfection never before at
tained-size, style and action.
As early as 1865 the government studs
were permanently established, and from
that time down to the present day the
horse breeding Of France has been re-
duced TO a science.
In 1889 there were in France $3.50 APP
proved and government stations, and
from 1915 to 1888 the government bought
for service in their studs 800 stations.
In 1881 a notable advance was made to-
ward the improvement of the light breeds
suitable for coach and cavalry purposes,
which was followed in 1888 by decree
establishing government stud book for
the preservation of pedigrees, and this
was placed under the supervision of the
minister of agriculture.
After the establishment of this stud
book more critical judgment was exer-
csed in the selection of stations for gov
eminent use; decided improvement has
| taken place in the character of the horses,
between 5000 and 1000 owned bv the
government having been recorded, no
| animal being numbered unless belonging
to the government studs. In 1870 the
arrangements Of the government studs
was vested in the department of agri-
! culture and commerce, under the i'm
mediate supervision Of a director general,
eight inspectors, twenty-siX sub-direct-
OTIS, ten superintendent and twenty-six
| veteTinaries.
Previous to the war France was living
in its height luxury. The finest teams
in the world then belonged to the en-
peror. Private individuals were all vie
| ing with each other who should own the
| largest, handsomest and most stylish
turnouts. Hundreds Of horses seventeen
hands high, drawing eight spring ba-
rouches, were to be seen in the Bots do
| Boulogne
Today the French coach horse has OBJ
tanned what to my mind is the correct
| height, 16 hands to 1872, and numbers Of
these can now be met with.
In 1874 the number of stations owned
| by the government was ordered to be in
creased 200 per year until they should
reach $500, and the credit necessary for
prizes aw ~ded to breeding animals
should reach l 800, 600 francs per annum,
and special sum of 10000 francs per
year was granted to make experiments
at the Haras or Stud Of PompadOur.
The French coach horse has been de-
veloped under the exclusive guidance Of
the manager of the national studs 1t IS
the careful selections through so many
generations that has developed race Of
such size and wonderful endurance,
combined with perfect symmetry and
graceful carriage, that the idea of per
lection in a coach horse has been at
tanned, while the in and in breeding as
sures their power to transmit these quail
tiles TO their offspring.
No other coach horse can approach
them in the combination Of size and
stylish action, for though they do not
attain as high rate of speed as the
light weight American trotter, yet their
achievements over their native turf
tracks, in their two mile, half and four
mile races stamp their endurance as
something wonderful Many Of these
horses attain the weight Of 400 pounds,
and yet are as graceful as an antelope
and as beautiful as a picture,-Cor. Pa
clfc Rural Press.