10 FARM ANIMALS 



horse and the heavy horse type the knees and the 

 hocks should be relatively large, for great strength 

 is required at these points and too small joints 

 are an indication of weakness. In the heavy 

 horse type the legs are as large and strong as is 

 compatible with quality. There should be no 

 tendency towards coarseness or sponginess of 

 the legs. The length of the body in this type 

 should be considerably greater than the height 

 at the withers. On account of the extreme 

 muscular development in the shoulders of draft 

 horses the relative length of the head may be less 

 than in speed horses. 



In breeding horses it is desirable to take into 

 consideration some of the effects of climate and 

 soil on the conformation of the horse. It is 

 a fact of general observation that horses reach 

 their greatest height in temperate climates and 

 diminish in size both in the cold and hot climates. 

 Great altitude has the effect of reducing the 

 size of the horse somewhat but may simultaneously 

 add considerably to the hardiness and relative 

 power of the horse. The effect of the varying 

 numidity of the air in different regions is not 

 very striking in temperate climates. Excessive 

 moisture, however, may predispose horses to 

 the disease known as roaring. The quality of 

 the pasture exerts a rather striking influence on 

 the development of the horse. Thus we have the 

 blue grass horses of Kentucky pastured on the 

 blue grass of that state, the long suffering and 

 indefatigable broncho reared on the nutritious 

 range grasses of the mountain pastures and 

 various other geographical varieties of this sort. 

 Moreover the heavy draft type develops best 

 on low lying pastures while the light horse in- 



