TYPES AND MARKET CLASSES OF LIVE STOCK 397 



.bination of proper conformation and strength, and a willing 

 disposition. 



Common defects in the action of draft horses are (1) going 

 wide at the hocks, (2) swinging the fore legs outward, called 

 "paddling," (3) swinging in, (4) striking supporting leg with 

 foot of striding leg, called "interfering," (5) twisting striding 

 leg around in front of supporting leg, called "winding," "plait- 

 ing," or "rope walking," (6) short, stubby stride, (7) low, skim- 

 ming action, called "daisy cutting," (8) unsteadiness of gait, 

 (9) striking sole or heels of fore foot with toe of hind foot, called 

 "forging," (10) excessive lateral shoulder motion, called "roll- 

 ing," (11) lack of energy or snap, and (12) lameness. 



Color. It is commonly said that a good horse cannot have 

 a bad color. By this is meant that color" is disregarded if the 

 horse suits otherwise. Some colors, however, are very generally 

 disliked, and still other colors are not liked by some persons. 

 For instance, duns, flea-bitten grays, white horses, very light 

 grays, and spotted horses are universally discounted, either 

 because they are hard to groom, hard to match, or because the 

 color is unsightly. Dark colors, such as dark or steel gray, 

 dark dappled gray, dark bay, dark brown, dark chestnut, dark 

 roan, and black, are given preference. Dark dappled grays are 

 well liked by buyers, and some firms will accept no other color 

 because the flash gray color attracts attention to their turnouts. 

 It is not uncommon for business houses to adopt some color as 

 a sort of trademark, on account of the advertising value. How- 

 ever, color is of less importance in draft horses than in any other 

 type. This is true because the drafter is a business horse, whereas 

 other types are valued mostly for pleasure purposes. 



Finish. The term "finish" refers to fatness and to the 

 condition of the coat. The horse market discriminates in price 

 to a considerable degree between the fat drafter and the thin 

 one, and it is surprising what an improvement is made in some 

 horses by the addition of fat. Fatness adds to the weight, 

 improves the form and spirit, and provides the necessary reserve 

 store of energy to carry the horse through the first few weeks 

 in the city during adjustment to city sights, sounds, loads, pave- 

 ments, stables, and other new conditions. Although fat is impor- 

 tant in the horse for sale or show, the judge must learn to distinguish 

 between fat and muscle, and must not be deceived as to size of mid- 

 dle, spring or rib, or length of back and croup. The coat should 

 be well groomed, so as to give the animal a sleek appearance. 



