Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-02-05
THE VERMONT ORAUGHT HORSE.

THE VERMONT ORAUGHT HORSE.
In 1857 Frank Forester (IIenry Will
liam Ilerbert) published his work on "The
Horse of America, one of the largest
and in some respects one of the best
works yet published in this country on
the horse.
When it was written the Morgan horse
was at the height of its popularity, but
Herbert, though he gives an elegant steel
plate of Ethan Allen, and another very
good of Young Morrill,is much enbittered
against the Morgan, showing his spleen
in repeated instances, when speaking of
them. He, however, devotes a chapter
to what he calls "The Vermont Draught
that he says was owned by Adams EX-
press Co., New York; height l6 hands,
weight l60 lbs. The picture is that of
the large-size Morgan horse, such as we
often see in Vermont, and such as now
there is a pair of at Bread Loaf, lG
hands and weighing $500 lbs, repeatedly
inbred Morgans, being by Addison Lam
bert; and dam by Lapham Horse, son of
Black Hawk.
We give entire this curious chapter of
Mr.. Herbert of breed that, under his
designation, no one ever heard of before
or since, but which all who know the
Morgans instantly preceives refers to
them, and coming from so bitter an
enemy is very curious proof of the
wonderful merit of the family:
HISTORY OF THE VERMONT DRAUGHT-
HORSE.
In the first place, of the Vermont
draught-horse, have been able, from his
own locality, to obtain no information
whatever, all the horse interest and am
bition of that State, and indeed of the
Eas tern States generally. appearing,
somewhat strangely and iniudiciously
must say, it seems to me, To center in
what they are pleased to call the Morgan
family.
The above cut is portrait from life of
fine gray draught-hJlse in the possess
ion of Adams Express Co.; height, lG
hands, weight llG0 lbs.
Incomparably, however, the best light
team-horse, or extremely heavy carriage
horse, and another yet lighter horse of
somewhat the same type are raised in
Vermont, ana in Vermont alone, in per-
lection.
No persons familiar with the streets of
New \ DIRK can fail to have noticed the
magnificent animals, for the most part
dark bays, with black legs, names and
tails, but few browns, and now and
then, but rarely, IA deep rich, glossy chest
nut, which draw the heavy wagons of
the express companies ;and would more
especially designate those of Adams &
Co.
They are the very models of what
draught-horSes should be, combining i'm
mense power with great quicknesS, IA very
respectable turn of speed, fine show and
good action.
These animals almost invariably have
lofty crests, thin wthers and well set on
heads, and, although they are emphatic
ally draught-horses, they have none of
that shagginess of name, tail and fetlocks
which indicates descent from the black
horse OF Lincolnshire, and none of that
peculiar curlineSS or wavness which
marks the existence of Canadian or Nor
man blood for many generations and is
discoverable in the names and tails of
very many of the horses which claim to
be pure Morgans.
The peculiar characteristic, however,
of these horses is the shortness of their
backs, the roundness of their barrels and
the closeness of their rubbing up. One
would say that they are ponies until he
comes to stand beside them, when he is
astonshed to find that they are oftener
oyer than under l6 hands in height.
These horses are, nine out of ten, from
hn H,,
est animals in all the United States in my
opinion for the quick draft of heavy
loads-for which opinion of mine | have
reason to produce in justification-bu
the mares OF this stock are incomparably
the likeliest, from which, by well chos-
en- thoroughbred sire, to raise the most
magnificent carriage horses i'm the world.
In proof of what assert | Will relate
TWO circumstances connected with this
breed of horses which have come under
my own immediate observation, and
which cannot fail to have weight with
candid Judges.
During the Canadian rebellion, in 1897,
the English force being largely augment
ed in the provinces, two cavalry regi-
ments with considerable park of artill-
cry were among the number of rein
forcements. The cavalry consisted of
the First Dragon Guards and of the
Seventh Hussars, the latter of which.
light regiment, brought its horses with
1t from England. The Dragon Guards,
which Is as heavy regiment as any in
the world, except the Life Guards and
the Royal Horseguards, which are CUR
assiers, came dismounted and were all
horsed fIom Vermont with scarcely an
exception, the Canadian horses not hav-
ing either the size or power necessary to
carry such weight.
saw this magnificent regiment sever
al times under arms after the horses had