FINE ENGLISH COARSERS

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were the among the first to write a description of the horses they saw in the Native American herds of the Pacific Northwest-- the ancestors of and inspiration for today's Appaloosas. In an entry made February 15, 1806, Lewis and Clark compared the horses of the Nez Perce and related tribes to "Fine English Coarsers",  and the finest horses from back home in New England. What exactly did they mean when they said that these native herds resembled "the best blooded horses in Virginia"?
 
Lewis and Clark would have been familiar with fine English Thoroughbreds that were being imported into, bred and  raced in Virginia and surrounding states. There is no doubt that a "Coarser" (courser) was a swift, valuable race horse, and the racing horses and "blooded" horses of the time were Thoroughbreds. In other words, the horses of the PNW tribes were not being described as common, run of the mill, small weedy ponies. As if comparison to the best horseflesh of their homeland was not descriptive enough, Lewis and Clark also made note that these predecessors of the Appaloosa were "lofty, eligantly formed, active and durable..... and would make a figure in any country."

Here are artists' images and breeder, owner, and studbook descriptions of Thoroughbreds in England and the USA in the late 1700s and early 1800s-- the horses which Lewis and Clark were favorably comparing the horses of the PNW tribes to:

DIOMED 1777-1808
Imported to Virginia 1798, "His success in America was overwhelming. Admired for his looks and presence, mare owners sent him their best. He gave them a dynasty." "Diomed, a horse of strong 15.3, of high quality but rugged and well-thewed, bred often larger than himself. ... With their size they had rangy frames, heavy bone and sound, strong constitutions..... they lived long and begot progeny innumerable. In modern phrase we may say that they had everything...in superlative degree."

EAGLE 1796-1826
Imported to Virginia 1811, "in regard to size, grandeur and  justness of foundation [he] is allowed by all judges to be without exception
the finest horse in this or perhaps any other kingdom; and I believe in the essential quality of speed he never has been surpassed by any horse since the time of his grandsire Eclipse; he also enjoys a most excellent constitution,
  having been eight years in constant training and never unsound or indisposed during the whole time."

RUBENS 1805-1829
Described as a "heavy-topped, fleshy horse, standing quite sixteen hands high, and with a flash of speed like lightning."

ORVILLE foaled 1799
described as "slightly over 16 hands... a horse of great power, and fine symmetry and quality."

SOOTHSAYER foaled 1808
said to be a "large, plain horse whose offspring were  often large and good looking, although of uncertain temper."

SHARK 1771-c.1796
Imported to Virginia 1786, "A highly respected stallion, said to stand about sixteen hands, he was often bred to daughters of Diomed* and  produced numerous valuable daughters."

DUROC 1806-1825
Bred in Virginia, described as "a substantial chestnut colt, and grew to be a muscular, heavily-boned animal standing 15.3 hands. He was also  a temperamental horse." Sire of the famous American Eclipse.

MONKEY 1725-1754
Imported to VA c.1737 It was said that he imparted "something magical to his filly foals which made of them the foundation stock
  for the successful quarter racers which it was the privilege of Janus ultimately  to galvanize."

PRECIPITATE 1787-1805
Imported to Virginia 1803, stood 15.2 hands and was described as "a horse of great beauty and substance," "handsomely marked, of big  bone and great muscular strength and powers". 'large and full of fire, bold as a lyon, active as a greyhound and in all his movements ether : he rushes forward  like a thunderbolt and hesitates at nothing'." Almost certainly palomino in  color.

CITIZEN 1785-c.1810
Imported to NC 1803, Described as "standing 15 hands 1 inch and of great grandeur he was said to be perfectly sound with remarkably good action." "He had more accurate proportions and higher finish - a more game,  Arabian look and carriage than any native or imported that I ever had the pleasure to look upon."

GOHANNA 1790-1815
Described as a "plain, powerful, hunter-like style of horse," sired c. 15 hand offspring "with great power, on short legs" and "broad foreheads, small noses, prominent eyes, and were generally very speedy and staying."

SIR HERCULES foaled 1826
"He was noted for the silver hairs on his flanks and  quarters and at the root of his tail, which he often passed on to his descendants. Without a doubt his best son was Birdcatcher."

HIGHFLYER 1774-1793
"He was easily the best horse of his day, winning...  distances from two to above four miles"- Undefeated.

SIR ARCHY 1805-1833
Bred and foaled in VA, earned the title "Goldolphin of America" because of his influence as a sire. "as a three year old measured over just 16 hands high." He was "A horse of commanding size, with great power and substance. He is eminently superior in all those points indispensable to the turf horse, and mainly contributory to strength and action. His shoulder, the most material part of the horse, is strikingly distinguished, being very deep,fairly mounting up to the top of the withers, and obliquely inclined to the hips. His girth is full and deep, back short and strong, thighs and arms long and muscular, his bone good. His front appearance is fine and commanding-his head and neck are well formed, the latter rising well out of his withers. Take Sir Archy upon the whole, and he has more size, power and substance than we often see combined in the full bred horse."

SALTRAM 1780-c.1802
Imported to Virginia 1799, 15.3 hands, described as 'elegant, highly formed'

MULEY foaled 1810
Said to have "larger bone and greater muscular power than any thoroughbred stallion in England." Sire of the 16 hand LEVIATHAN,
successful  U.S. sire

PARTISAN 1811-1835
15.2 hands, was said to be "very muscular in form, without heaviness". "A beautiful short-legged horse, with a lovely head, straight  hocks."

SORCERER foaled 1796
he was described as a "horse of superior breed, good temper, good feeder, and able to stand work, which qualities he was said to impart to his stock. It was speculated that he derived his 16.1 hand size and considerable substance from Babraham."

For references and more information on early Thoroughbreds, please visit tbheritage.com and bloodlines.net/TB .