CHAPTEE XIV 



TliK HORSE 

 By Tkof. W. M. IIaki'Ek, ]M.S.» 



The United States stands among the first nations in the 

 number and quality of its horses. Possibly Eurojje and the 

 British Isles lead in draft horses, particularly in quality, but 

 the United States leads, and by long odds, in the production of 

 trotters and saddlers as Avell as in work horses and mules. There 

 are about one hundred million horses in the world, of which 

 approximately one-fifth — the Thirteenth Census giving the 

 number as 23,015,902 — are in our country. Of all the mules in 

 the world, approximately one-half are in our country, according 

 to the census the exact number being 4,480,140. These animals 

 represent vast Avealth and unrecorded power. 



TYPES AND BREEDS OF HORSES 



There are three types of horses: Draft, coach, and light — 

 to which may be added the pony type. Each of these types is 

 distinct as the form or conformation best adapted to one type 

 is different from that of the other. There are a number of 

 l^reeds within each of these tyjies. 



Breeds of the light type. — While of the same general form, 

 the light breeds of horses vary somewhat in conformation, 

 depending on the purpose for which they are adapted. In gen- 

 eral conformation, however, the breeds of the light type are 

 rather tall, the legs long, the distance from the knee to the 

 withers and from the hock to the hip is great, the form somewhat 

 narrow and often rather angular, with cleancut features 

 throughout. 



Thoroughbred. — This is the running racehorse and is of 

 English origin. This breed is very popular among English 

 sportsmen. Indeed, it was the Englishman's love for the race 

 that resulted in the development of the breed. As early as the 

 thirteenth century the En^ish Avere importing superior animals 

 to improve their horse stock. These animals came from Eome, 

 S^oain and the Orient, especially Arabia and Barbary. However, 



^ College of Agriculture, Cornell University. 



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