The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-12
The FRENCH CANADIAN HORSE
STEPS TikEN TO REHABILI.
TaTE 4 FAHOI BREED.
Authority Given ~ the Government for
Esiabllshlnk q New stud Booh the
Original Tlpe stnrdN, sDeedy and Sc
tut HAS Declined IN Recent Ncars.

Ottawa in giving authority for the esiab-
lshment ~ q stud book IN which the
French Canadian tvIe Of horse Will he
eligible for registration
there was limo when this breed Was
GlEnct,a II the Province 1t Quebec.
hut ou,crrssss with unsuitable stations.
chiefly CIvdss ana Rnlgsns. have prACti-
oally eVtsnnnated tho type which once
Vas Predominant There are, however. IN
few districts some good specimens still.
and en- eFcrt % to M made toward
irrhabIlt-ting tho hrred.
The true French Canadian horsa ~
halt a century ago was a stout bodied
horse IN short Ic-s Tie had many IT the
qualities II the Morgan. although as =
rule much larger than his American
cousin. and there 10 little reason n doubt
that many Morgans brought from Maine
and Vermont across the Canadian border
we're used In the stud throughout Quebec
and that some n the most priBed ~ tho
French Canadian horrss had strong
infusion of.Mo-Ran hlood Their trappy
action and hgh ness n foot showed that.
IL heinE no extraordinary thing tn find
horses 81 ! 81 pounds and more capable
~ go speed. With the hcnd Of the knee
and the aeV ~ the neck that are the delight
of every man who knows the horse and
what IL most desirable in gait
That the thoroughbred sires and mares
brought from England by the cavalry
Officers IN the early days were the parent
Eto,k there il No disputing. The fine
muzzles. clean throttles and broad. Cat
legs. With teudons like ivory. would he
an open guide 90 any student of horse
breeding: but there Ia still more tangible
evidence m the knowledge cleaned from
men ct the type ~ the late Etienne ~.
German of this city. who bought and
sold horses all over Quebec and Ontario
for more than siNty-fve years.
he handled thousands 81 the French
Canadian horses and was m authority
on the breed the disappearance IT which
ne never failed to deplore His belief
vas that the sturdy mares brought from
France by the original settlers Of Quebec.
crossed with the thoroughbred and the
Morgan. was the original blend. and az
! long a. that policy was pursued Quebec
hsld he preeminencs a. horse producing
provnce.
In the American civil war many thou
sands 81 the desirable animals which
IN any kird Of service were bought by
agcats of the United States and sen, 70
the front speedily became famous The
horses Of that day from 1871 20 1894 we're
described nv ~ German in a converse
ton with the writer a. being ~ an aver
aReWeighf Of 7ro pounds They had fine.
Em-ll heads. With prominent eyes which
cleaned like jewels
Their ears ere fine and ran ~ a point
and when they ere raised the tips almost
touched - beautifully were they set
The throat vas invariably fnc even in the
largest specimens where any coarseness
would be looked for and the neck, while
often short was Indicative ~ strength
rather than of monErel breeding
Their shoulders we're well placed and the
back 70 short and the coupling 20 close
that the source Of their marvellous
gtrslgfh was apparent a. a glance
They were long underneath and their
muscular dev elopment in 'he arms.
thighs and gaskins was what would he
looked for in horses that were used in the
lumber woods in the winter months
and On the billy farms and roads ~
Quebec In other seasons Their feet wore
a. hard a. flint and Of that gray black
hue which hetokens perfect texture of
horn. Their hips were broad and fat
and = curb. SPAWN or -plint was a rarity.
and rlngbonss A. hereditary blePhish
we're unheard 81. according 20 this
expert.
Their m0-t distinguished Characteristic
was their heavy names tails and foretops.
the hair n the former invariably falling
% the point 81 IN" shoulder and often
% the knee. while the bottom Of the tail
IN many instances reached the ground
N me cases 81 the stations the names
had to be turned on alternate sides u the
neck IN successive years % prevent the
crr from being pulled out u shape. 10
heavy wa~ the mass u hair
Their strength Wa prodigious and for
their inches they could output any horse
ln the world Used IN the heavy shows
at the long winter. where they we're
often ~ IN their backs IN the lumber
vOods and sharply shod. Il was a rare
thing for them 10 cut themselves. The
average roldblooded or mnngrel hor.s
will struggle when placed m a like position.
an II shod sharply will tear he legs 70
pieces IN Wild -cramble 70 e1tricats
himself
Not ~ the French Canadian He will
settle down in the soft. yielding macs
waiting The command Of he driver. and
whsn he 10 told 70 -mArchs- Il 10 picture
- go him 80 HE splendid shoulders In
The collar and hang In the traces with
muscles bulginE until the load moves.
There - none n tho wild flying and plunR-
ing a. the load which IL characteristic Of
some horses The Canuck knows how 10
utilize he strength. and once the load IA
In motion he keeps On until restrained.
When Sunday comes he takes the family
- mas a. a round trot NJ from ten 10
twelve miles an hour and perhaps on the
rcad home n Francois HippolvtA M Jean
Rafiste should happen along with a chin
IN his shoulder tho nags can p,lt no
q spirited race and show matches
purity ~ actIon. for they all have that
round hooplke swing that CARRIES them
over the ground without hot or weight.
and shod hy the country hlacksrnith In
arv style ha native fancy dictates the
trntting instinct h there
IL u any wonder that the French Ca
madam ~ lubilant about the coming raiu-
venatiOn N The hrasd' The marvel Il
that the good people NJ this province
we're ~ short sighted a. n he led astrav
% eEpaTments Wblch we'll nigh cost
a..