The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-23
ORIGIN OF THE HORSE

|OlNlHW OF
The thoroughbred, the Oldest pure
bred horse in existence, dates back to
the seventeenth century, for the foun
dalton of the modern race-horse was
laid during the time of Charles II,
when Barb and Arabian stations were
crossed with English mares used In the
chase. In those early days there were
three great progenitors of speed. The
Herod line traces back to Byerly Turk;
the Matchem line to the Godolphin
Arabian. and the Eclipse line TO barley
Arabian. The influence of the thor
| oughbred blood is found in every ina
| proved breed OF horses, and to the
thoroughbred may be credited all
tistandard- bred trotters and PAGERS.
coachers. hunters and polo ponies ~
| The most successful sires of road
sters are OF the Hambletonian strain of
trotters. which leads back to Messen-
ger. a gray thoroughbred, foaled In
England in 1880. In 1888 lie was i'm
ported to America and located in this
city. His progeny could trot fast, and
he left many sons and daughters when
he died, in 1908. His son, Mambrino,
was the sire of Abdullah.
In 1928 a Norfolk trotter named Bell
foundec, No. 90 In the English Hackney
Stud Book, was imported. and he was
| the sire of the Charles Kent mare, she
also tracing back to imp. Messenger.
The Kent mare was bred to Abdullah,
and Rysdyk's Hambletonian. No. TO-.
was the result. he having been born
May S, 1S49. This colt developed phe-
nomenal speed. string ability. and from
his loins sprang the family which now
dominates the trotting and pacing
world.
Origin OF Perchcron.
] j. II. S. Johnson. well-known writer
on the origin of the various breeds and
Itypes Of horses, In his "Horse Book :
| Just published, gives the origin of the
'Percheron rs union Of Flemish
stallion with the French draft mares,
| the breed having been later improved
by the infusion of Arabian and Anda-
lusian blood The French group of
| nlzed as the Percheron and the Boul-
lonnais, while those not claimed to be
pure are the Nivernais, Bretonnais and
| the Ardennais Percherons in France
may be registered as French drafters.
The breed was also known as Normans.
and the first Percherons imported to
! the United States were sold as Nor
1 mans.
! Seventy-fve years ago the Percheron
was used as q diligence, or bus horse,
4 weighing from 1920 to 1900 pounds.
i Percherons, or Kormans, We're intro
4 duced into Canada 100 years ago. and
4 the McNitt horse, a trotter, sired Alex
| ander's Norman. who got a draft type.
In $40 Percherons were imported
4 into New Jersey, and in 1899 Charles
Pullington and Erastus Martin. Union
4 county O.. imported Louis Napoleon
i Weighing 1900 pounds, and Percheroll
& breeding has since been a recognized
Industry. The Percheron Is rangy In
conformation. not chunky or sauatty'
\ good width; ribs we'll rounded. neck
3 well archcd, not coarse, topped witt
a head rather small. He has breezy
gait and an air of elegance, charac-
teristic OF no other draft horse breed
The Morgan Horses.
Forty years ago the Morgans were ei
the favorite road horses. This strain
traces to q single ancestor, justin
Morgan, foaled In Nermontgin 1793 ms
blood being largely thoroughbre,d
Fran him descended the Elack HaWk
Bashaw,$ Golddust and Lamb err Ialll-
lies The Morgan type Is short OF leR
thick and round barrel, intelliRe1it - a'e
/ OF great courage dltl CIV
ern horse markets calls for horses o.
s greater size and speed and the deca.
: dence OF the Morgan breed Is due .
this. ~.
Tho hackney is nm offspring OF the
! Norfolk trotter. a popular STRAIN q
! saddle horses that Is claimed ny soii,'
to have originated from a shire stal'
: lion crossed with a COMMON preu f1 l,,
:. lish cart mare, Thea hackney N t NJ
! country is said to date pack 70 ~.
! importation Of Belfounder e1ghty-ily'
!. wears ago The horses n harness
shows in 1880 brought on Room !,
i, the hackney importatlon and al sizes
/, we're introduced. Typically the mack .Ie1
t ney Is of medium size, Very IGN ,S
{ reach sixteen hands and preserve wy
$ tyne When crossed With America
mares tho stallion generally trans ms
mits his conformation and high-golh y,
: action. The hackney Mt SHOWS q
judged Ny his knee and hook action
1.-the legs lingering somewhat when en-, q
speed, with the front feet performlna
u a spiral motion. Among the hfamo 'sl
I fiS W.