344 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



horses that fill the requirements are always in demand at strong prices. 

 An expresser is the best finished of all of the minor draft classes. 



Size and weight. — The size and weight vary somewhat, as a matter of 

 course, but, as a general rule, an expresser stands from 15.2 to 16 hands, 

 and weighs from 1,250 to 1,500 pounds, or even more, the weight varying 

 with the kind of work, wagon, etc., to which the horse is to be put. In 

 some cases a team hitched to an express wagon will be seen showing all 

 the characteristics of the true drafter, but, as a rule, these horses are for 

 heavy dray work, and are not looked upon as representative expressers. 



Conformation. — The most pronounced type of expresser is a rather 

 upstanding horse with strong, closely coupled body, considerable width of 

 chest and hips, sound, clean limbs, and particularly sound, healthy feet. 

 Special stress is placed on the health, quality and conformation of the 

 foot. Excepting the class following (the bussers) no class of draft type 

 has to undergo the same amount of strain on the feet as the expresser. 

 Hauling a loaded wagon at the trot soon tells on any but the best organs 

 of locomotion. 



When an expresser is said to be upstanding the inference should not 

 be that he is what could be denominated "leggy." This extreme is to be 

 absolutely avoided, and as between the two, a horse with short legs is 

 much preferable. Buyers demand a sensible medium. The most striking 

 features in the conformation of an expresser are (1) his high finish, with 

 considerable weight — "a draft horse with coach finish," and (2) his rather 

 upstanding appearance as compared with other draft classes. 



Action. — His work makes the trot of an expresser his most important 

 gait. It should, above all things, be straight, frictionless, as smooth as 

 possible, and quick and regular. The walk must be similarly developed. 



Demand. — The express companies constitute the ruling factors in the 

 trade for this class of horses, but other lines of business that require an 

 extra good light-delivery horse find in the expresser such an animal as 

 they desire. The lighter teams of the packing companies are heavy 

 expressers, weighing from 1,450 to 1,550 pounds. 



Fire companies buy horses very much after this type, getting a some- 

 what "toppy" animal that shows much intelligence and courage. Police 

 horses come from somewhat similar sources. 



ENGLISH TYPES. 



Much is he„rd of English "light vanners" and "parcel carters." These 

 are simply the English forms of what we call expressers, changed some- 

 what to conform to English requirements — that is, with legs as short as 

 possible. The two names are used for practically the same horse. 



THE OMNIBUS HORSE. 



Size and Weight. — A typical busser stands from 15.1 to 15.3 hands, 

 and weighs from 1,200 to 1,400 pounds. 



Conformation. — In form he is a compact, rugged little horse with all 

 the characteristics of the true draft type, set on short, strong legs, with 



