Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-09-03
SCANDINAVIAN HORSES.


Paris. Ne.
SCANDINAVIAN HORSES.
Neither in Guttenburg nor In Stock
holm-the only two great commercial
ports OF Sweden-do you see the massive
Shire horse, or the more graceful ely
desdale, engaged in the heavier work
that shipping or manufacturing places
ALWAYS demand with US. Instead, there
is but wiry, undersized, but well-bred
animal, attached 10 "A much lighter de
scription of vehicle, aud going At rate
which We are unused 70. OF course the
loads are proportionstely lighter, but
the price makes up for it, aud the clean,
cobble-pSved stones resound all day
long almost all night too, with the
short period OF semi-twilight which may
De called night al this season. with an
amount of traffic greater than YOU would
otherwise expect TO meet. Well condi-
toned are these light steeds, and every
spare moment Is utilized by letting them
MUNICH at good Swedish oats, or hay
clover, which is placed before them in a
conveniently raised msuger, instead OF
merely putting bit of something within
their reach, by the baroarous agency OF
a nose bag.
In many cases, also, piece of wet
mating is placed for the forelegs TO
stand on; and there is evidently small
need for the officers Of any society fof
I the prevention of cruelty TO animals" To
/ look after the interests OF the equine
race. a pretty sight, too, where the
I farmer drives in 10 market, and the
Young colt, fastened by the lightest OF
I tethers round its neck, trots along by the
I side OF the mother. each a. happy and Ss
proud OF the compsnionship 50 Il Is pos
sihle 20 be. stopped one such cavalcade,
where dun-cOlored mare had still
more deeply dun-colored colt jogging by
her side. The farmer and could barely
make each other understood, but there
is a horsy freemSsonry all the world
over, which gets through difficulties,
and could readily make out that the
mother and colt had taken blue ribbon
az some local competition, and that the
colt was not for sale at any price.
Much OF the heavier field work In
wermland C'swarm land, the best farm
ing point in Sweden) is done by oxen
oxen not only az work on the fallows.
but attached 10 the wains that were
gathering the very heavy crop of hay to-
gether. Their pace was not fast enough
for the moving machine, but for any
thing else they were fully equal 20 the
position. II need not be said that the
flesh OF a siN-yeSr-old work-oN - not
quite so tender as that OF Short-Horn
or Hereford steer OF half the age; but
really good beefsteak is rarely met
with here.
The reader will conclude that Sweden
is a fat country 30 il is-south OF the
great lakes. | doubt whether there is a
hin that will reach the height OF Ham
stead Heath. Hence q heavy, dead pull
il rarely demanded from horses, and our
greater-limbed animals would be sadly
out OF place. The Swedish horses are
eminentlv adapted for the sphere 10
which their lot IL east. But when YOU
cross the mountains 10 Norway, uiner-
ent class OF animal at once meets you-S
beast AZ least equally suitable Tor Its own
native habitat.
An EngliShman accustomed 10 see the
horses OF his own county, with their
short docks, well-kept names, clean
heels and satin-like coats, is inclined Al
first sight almost 10 despise the rough
looking ponies he sees standing about IN
The streets Of Bergen or Of Chrlstiansand.
But IL thSt same Englishman has oppo :
tunities for riding aud driving durl'
his stav, II is pretty certain he VIII re-
turn 10 his country with very different
estimate OF the capabilities OF the useiui
little beasts. To see the round-barrelled'
lonc-iailed anim"l waiting oy the quays
and markets. unattended altogether or
fastened bv a fetlock strap 10 a ring,
their heads hanging down, aud their
half-elosed ewes blinking lazily beneath
their shaggy foreloeks, one would say
they were absolutely devoid OF heI'ie
aud only fit for slow drudgery' bu.
no greater mistake was ever made ana
the first ride one has 10 take IN a NctN-
irerre or carriole will convince INN on
this point: particularly II some steep
twisting gradients, with precipice on
one side and bottomless ford on the
other. have 10 be descended; one Is then
Inclined 10 think that, il ANYTHING, the
monies possess too much mettle. More
over. II is not improbable that q strong
desire 70 descend from the jolting pereh
in order 10 obtain a better view OF the
scenery will be experienced when the
next descent is reached. Even goou
eouestrains AZ home have been known 10
xperience this preference for epedestraih
eIercise during their first ride behind
one Of these unenterprising looking
little rascals. But there's no need 10 be
frightened. for if YOU simply let the
nonv alone he will never put foot
wrong. and. provided the harness ana
cart but hold together, there Is lltt!e
fear Of an accident. BY the way, u Is
well 10 study the intricacies OF Nor
UeSian harness. and see that everything
i nroperlv fastened before starting on
q ;ourney. as the "Skyds-stationere
Sposting-masters) are frightfully care
les in this respect, and think nothing oi
matching up their dilapidated tackle
with bits of rope or rotten straps. Inc
rejus are usually lengths of cord, but
that is OF little consequence, as lhe
monies really require no driving. HOW
svsr the driver must bear in mind that
the rule OF the road In Scandinavia Is
exactlv opposite TO what IL Is IN Eng
land also that in order 10 stop pony
II il useless 10 exclaim whoa. n
curious sound quite unspeliaoie. Pro-
SnreS bv a Quick rattle of the tongue
something like "Br-r-r-r-r, VIII stop
them in their tracks. You soon get 10
ike these rough creatures and 10 ieeI
safe when they are allowed 70 nave ',ei'
own wav.-T. BowICK, Upsala, sweden
-, Coun,rv Gentleman.