CART-HORSES 123 



Youatt adds his testimony to the docile temper of the 

 Suffolks :— 



" Many a good draught horse knows well what he can 

 effect ; and after he has attempted it and failed, no torture 

 of the whip can induce him to strain his powers beyond 

 their natural extent. The Suffolk, however, would tug at 

 a dead pull till he dropped. It was beautiful to see a 

 team of true Suffolks, at a signal from the driver, and 

 without whip, down on their knees in a moment and drag 

 everything before them. Brutal wagers were frequently 

 laid as to their power in this respect, and many a good team 

 was injured and ruined. The immense power of the Suffolk 

 is accounted for by the low position of the shoulder, which 

 enables him to throw so much of his weight into the 

 collar." 



The original type, as given in the first volume of the 

 Stud Book, p. 42, was " rather small, barely 16 hands ; 

 low in the forehand ; upright on the shoulder ; ' sorrel ' or 

 chestnut, with the occasional flaxen mane and tail ; short- 

 legged ; not over-handsome, but with the deep ribs, hardy 

 constitution, and the aptitude to ' draw ' well, which was 

 the pride of the Suffolk farmer at that time." While 

 Suckling, in his work on the " History and Antiquities of 

 the County of Suffolk," describes them as " active in their 

 paces, and on the lighter lands of the county will draw a 

 plough at the rate of three miles an hour." 



The first volume of the Stud Book, quoting from the 

 Live Stock Journal Almanac for 1878 with much approval, 

 states : — 



" The deep back ribs, short legs, and close joints are 

 rarely absent in an animal of the Suffolk breed good enough 

 to go to London. The evenly turned quarters, the round 

 barrel, and good chest mark the county of his birth ; " and 

 this description holds as good to-day as at the period 

 when it was written. The Stud Book then proceeds to give 

 the points of the breed, which are so clearly stated, that 

 I cannot do better than repeat what is there laid down. 



" So far as a leading feature in his character, colour 

 stands first. . . . The recognised colour is chestnut. Bays 



