THE HORSE 



255 



of the legs below the knees and hock grows an abundance of 

 long hair called the ' ' feather ; ' ' the color is usually bay and the 

 characteristic markings are a white blaze on the face and one or 

 more white feet; the action is not surpassed. Because of its 

 good action, this breed is fairly popular in America, though the 

 color and the feather are more or loss ol)jectionable. 



Shire. — This breed is of English origin and is the outgrowth 



of England's attempts to produce a ponderous horse useful for 

 war. One of the early improvers of tliis ])roed was Robert Bake- 

 well, who did much to stimulate interest in the estal)lishment of 

 modern breeds of farm animals. The breed owes its excellency 

 to English breeders who persisted in the development of an im- 

 proved type of horse through a long period of time. 



In general appearance the Shire resembles the Clydesdale, 

 particularly in color markings and the feather of the legs. Pos- 



