Russia is the only European country with a distinct breed of trotter--the ORLOFF. This breed was made by crossing Arab and English horses with the native races. The Orloff has not the speed of the American horse, but has greater powers of endurance. The trotting-season in Russia is winter, the races taking place on the ice.
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
One of Sir Walter Gilbey's celebrated cart-horses.]
The PACER is not a distinct breed, but so called on account of its curious method of trotting. In trotting the left fore and right hind leg strike the ground at the same moment; in pacing the fore and hind leg of the _same side_ move in unison. Some wild animals--as the giraffe--are pacers. "Many American horses," says Mr. Winans, "are able to move with either action, a set of lighter shoes often sufficing to convert a trotter into a pacer." Pacing is a swifter mode of motion than trotting. The record time stands at one mile in 1 minute 39½ seconds, as again the trotting record of one mile in 2 minutes 3¾ seconds.
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
Another of Sir Walter Gilbey's champion cart-horses showing mother and young.]
[Illustration: _Photo by T. Fall_] [_Baker Street._
This photograph shows the Duchess of Newcastle with one of her white Welsh ponies.]
[Illustration: _Photo by C. Reid_] [_Wishaw, N.B._
Various breeds of ponies are used in this game, but the most esteemed at the present day are the English-bred New Forest, Dartmoor, or Exmoor, or Welsh ponies.]
This also is not a distinct breed, as some suppose. Any good riding-horse may be used as a hunter. "Hunters" have been made by infusing the blood of the race-horse with native breeds. The chief requirements are a muscular neck and chest, with a rather short body, and shorter and stouter legs than the race-horse.
From the half-bred hunter we pass by insensible gradation to the ordinary saddle- and carriage-horses. The ideal carriage-horse, however, is more of a distinct breed than the hunter, and known as the CLEVELAND BAY. It has been produced by mingling the blood of the thoroughbred with that of a horse of stouter make than that of the hunter type.
The record broad jump for the hunter, we might mention in passing, is variously stated to be from 33 to 37 feet!