308 ELEMENTS OF AGRICULTURE 



other draft breeds. Their color is quite variable. Black 

 and mottled gray seem to be the most popular. 



The Clydesdales are said to lack in circumference of 

 body and in weight. They are also said to have poorer 

 constitutions. They have a heavy growth of hair on the 

 fetlocks. This distinguishes them from all other breeds 

 except the Shire. It is also one of the objections to the 

 breed. Drivers do not like this mass of hair, which gets 

 clogged with mud on our poor roads. The English Shires 

 are nearly like the Clydesdales. They might be called 

 English Clydesdales. 



The Belgians and Clydesdales have not been so popular 

 in America as the Percherons. The chief reason is probably 

 that the latter breed is more active. 



The Hackneys and coach horses are not much raised 

 in America, although they seem to be gaining ground. 

 Our coach horses are usually large grades that contain 

 considerable of the trotting blood. 



The American trotter and American saddler are the 

 distinctly American productions. They are the best of 

 their kind in the world. From selected members of these 

 breeds, the Department of Agriculture is now trying to 

 develop a breed of American carriage horses. The Indian 

 pony and bronco are also distinctly American. They 

 have many valuable characteristics, but they seem destined 

 to extinction. 



285. How to Tell the Age of a Horse. One of the first 

 questions that is always asked when one wishes to buy 

 a horse is the age. This is because the age is so important 

 in determining the value. Every farmer should be able 

 to estimate the age of a horse. 



