HORSES 



121 



By size is meant largely height but weight includes total 

 amount of matter. These are two entirely different things7 

 A draft horse may measure 16 to 18 hands (1 hand equals 

 4 inches) high and a roadster horse from 15 to 17 hands. But 

 a draft horse weighs from 1600 to 2000 pounds while a roadster 

 weighs only from 900 to 1200 pounds. One of the principal 

 differences between the two types of horses then is their 

 width. 



FIG. 13. Ready for action. The same roadster type horse as above. 



The roadster type of horse is built to develop relatively 

 more speed and less pulling power than the draft horse. To 

 get this, a greater relative length of leg is needed. The 

 greyhound is one of the speediest of domestic animals, and 

 at the same time is one of the longest legged. The length of 

 leg in the roadster horse is more than the depth of its body. 



The pastern in the roadster is also longer and has more slope 

 than in the draft horse. This gives more elasticity which is 

 needed. The roadster's feet come down harder and oftener 

 than those of the draft horse. 



The roadster is not so wide in body nor so heavy in neck 

 because it does not need to pull such heavy loads. Further- 

 more, a wide-bodied horse cannot travel so fast or economic- 



