3-011-944 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The annual horse fair at Horncastle, Lincolnshire, 1864. View of '...the principal street [during] the annual horse fair, which is one of the most important held in this country. A large assemblage of professional and amateur horsedealers and horsebreeders, owners of coaches and omnibuses, jobmasters, livery-stable keepers, gentlemen sportsmen, and cavalry remount agents, were brought together on this occasion. There was a splendid collection of: harness horses, blood stock, and draught cattle; superior animals for private carriages; hunters; strong, thick-set, active horses, suitable for town vans or carriers' light carts; light-legged horses for public conveyances; well-built horses, for artillery and other military work; heavy cart horses, for brewers or merchants; teams of horses for roadwork and agricultural purposes; aged cart horses; cart colts; saddle horses, handsome cattle for park riding or ladies' saddle; neat cover hacks and clever cobs; handsome weight-carrying ditto; harness cobs and neat ponies; young horses of pedigree, and ditto of Irish blood; hunters of reputation, being good jumpers and possessing speed and staying qualities. A good business was transacted among breeders in brood mares, yearlings, and young blood stock'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.