HORSES 297 



Horses are adapted to a wide range of climates, and can 

 be successfully produced in every state. The market for 

 horses is good and, under skilful management, they can be 

 be raised with profit on almost all farms. 



1. Make a list of all the horses on your farm, and 

 have your father help you estimate the value of each. Now 

 compare the value of your horses with the value of your 

 cattle; your hogs; your sheep. 



2. After each member of the class has made the com- 

 putation asked in No. 1, put all the results together and 

 make similar comparisons for the value of different farm 

 stock for all farms represented. Compare the relative val- 

 ues of horses, cattle and hogs for your region with the rela- 

 tive values of these animals for the entire country, taking 

 the necessary figures from the respective chapters of this 

 book. 



2. Classes of Horses 



Class and grade. Regardless of breed, horses are 

 classed in the markets according to the uses to which they 

 are suited. The different classes are : draft horses, chunks, 

 wagon horses, carriage horses, road horses, saddle horses 

 and ponies. Animals are graded within each class as choice, 

 good, medium, common and inferior. The class to which 

 a horse belongs depends on (1) weight, (2) height, and 

 (3) conformation, or build, and (4) quality. 



Draft horses. To be in the draft class a horse in 

 good flesh must weigh from one thousand six hundred 

 pounds to more than a ton. The height ranges from 15-2 

 to 17-3 hands. The form of draft horses is broad, com- 

 pact and rugged, with legs short as compared with the 

 depth of the body. This build brings the weight close to 

 the ground, where it can exert the greatest power in draw- 

 ing a load. Draft horses are used largely for city teaming, 

 for logging and the like. 



