[Illustration:
THE CART HORSE.
]
Till of late years, Pack-Horses were employed in the northern parts of
England, to carry goods and parcels. In their journeys over barren
moors, they strictly observed the line of order and regularity they were
first taught to keep. The leading horse, always chosen for his
steadiness and sagacity, being furnished with bells, gave notice to the
rest, which followed the sound, though sometimes at a distance. Some
years ago, one of them who had been long used to follow his leader, was
from accident or fatigue, put into an inferior rank; when, as if
sensible of his disgrace, he by the greatest exertion recovered his
usual station, but on arriving at the inn-yard, he dropped down dead!
These horses are not now seen; the old English Road Horse is strong and
active, and capable of enduring great hardship; and though the form of
the common Cart Horse is heavy, and his motion slow, he is extremely
useful, and is employed in a great many ways. In London there have been
instances of a single horse drawing, for a short space, so great a
weight as three tons.
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