this country weigh from 1,200 or 1,550 pounds. While the breed ranks among the largest of the coachers, it lacks somewhat the quality and action of the other coach breeds. In coach and carriage horses, high and attractive knee action with good hock action is essential. Such action must be combined with a smooth, stylish and symmetrical appearance, which in turn must be associated with quality in all the parts. Since the Cleveland Bay did not approach the excellence shown by other breeds in this respect, it failed to attract popular favor.

The Yorkshire Coach horse is described as strongly

resembling the Cleveland Bay in some respects, but is taller and shows more style and quality. The head is more refined and the crest more developed. The action is also freer, as well as higher.

Uses of the Cleveland Bay coach horse.-While this breed was formerly in very great demand for heavyharness driving, it failed to keep pace with the times, and other breeds have succeeded it. Stallions of the breed have been used to some extent in crossing on the common mares, with varying success. They have one advantage in that there is uniformity in color and mark

ings, which they seem to be potent in transmitting, when crossed on common mares. Because of this their get is uniform and easily matched into teams. Cleveland Bay coach horses seem to have plenty of stamina and fair quality, which, in connection with their size and good disposition, adapt them to work on the farm better than the other breeds of light horses, but, for some reason, perhaps because of the deficient action, they have never met with favor in America.

Distribution of the Cleveland Bay coach horse. This breed seems to have enjoyed some popularity in South

Africa, to which country many are being exported at the present time. Aside from importations to North America, the Cleveland Bay has been taken to South America, Australia and Sweden. Those brought to America were distributed throughout the Central states and Canada.

Organizations and records. As previously stated, in England there is a society and stud book supporting each the Cleveland Bay coach and the Yorkshire Coach. In 1885, the Cleveland Bay Society of America was organ

ized and a stud book established, of which two volumes have been published, the last dated 1891, thus showing the lack of interest in recent years. Both Cleveland Bay and Yorkshire Coach are recorded in the American Cleveland Bay Stud Book.

Criticisms of the Cleveland Bay. As with the German Coach, this breed lacks the general symmetry of form and the stylish carriage so essential to coach horses in America. The Cleveland Bay is rather upstanding, with long legs, which are often deficient in quality. The head is often plain and often lacking in quality. The rear ribs are frequently deficient in length, giving the body a rangy appearance; the action, one of the most important characteristics of a coach horse, is not stylish and lacks in animation.

CHAPTER XV

THE PERCHERON DRAFT HORSE

Of the various breeds of pure-bred horses in America, the Percheron draft horse is the most popular. This breed secured a foothold in Ohio in the early fifties, from which place it has spread in all directions with amazing rapidity.

The native home of the Percheron draft horse. This breed was developed in northwestern France, especially in that section of the country known as La Perche, a district situated to the south and west of Paris, and embracing a considerable portion of the territory that is included in the modern departments or counties of Orne, Eure et Loir, Loir et Cher and Sarthe. La Perche is about 50 by 60 miles in area, with a rather broken surface, having numerous valleys and small streams of water. The soil is fertile, producing nutritious grasses, and the climate favorable for the production of horses of the highest excellence, while the inhabitants have long been noted for their attachment to the horse. All of northwestern France, from Paris to the English channel, has from time immemorial been famous as a horse-producing region.

The origin of the Percheron draft horse.-The source of this breed is to be found in the large infusion of eastern blood upon the native stock of La Perche, a district already distinguished for the size and strength of its horses, as well as to the natural adaptation of the soil and climate and the habits of the people. In 1732 France was invaded by the Saracens, 300,000 strong, who were defeated by Charles Martel on the plains of Vonille. The Arab and Barb steeds upon which the infidels were mounted fell into the hands of the victors, and were assigned largely to the men of La Perche, Orleans and

Normandy. Other large infusions of Eastern blood took place upon the return of the Crusaders, who brought with them many of the finest Arabian stallions. These horses, crossed upon the large, strong, native mares, imparted a degree of refinement and finish that has ever since characterized the horses of northern France.

There were other countries besides Arabia, however, that contributed horses to La Perche, to aid in the development of the draft horse of France. Madame du Barry of Paris received a gift of a pair of Danish horses about 1775, which became so popular that they were followed by others of the same kind, with the result that Danish horses were used extensively in Normandy. English stock was also introduced, as were horses from Belgium and adjoining districts, particularly Flanders. In addition, reference is made to horses being introduced from Andalusia, Spain.

Early development of the Percheron draft horse.-In 1820, two famous Arabian stallions, Godolphin and Gallipoli, were imported and extensively used under the direction of the government at the stud of Pin. These horses were gray and no doubt had much influence in developing the gray color of the draft horses of France. Further, these two sires are given credit for much of the quality, style and finish possessed by the Percheron. Gallipoli, in particular, had a very beneficial influence, especially through his grandson, Jean Le Blanc, born in 1823, and regarded as the greatest sire of his day.

The type of horse resulting from the use of eastern stallions upon the mares of La Perche was a smaller and more active animal than the Percheron of the present time, and was more suited to general purposes. This early type is described as showing much less scale and ranging from 15 to 16 hands high with a draft conformation; the head of medium size and clean cut, frequently as fine as an Arab's; the neck rather short; the shoulders long and sloping with chest deep and broad; the body well ribbed