BREEDS OF HORSES 21 



breed have been kept since 1715. The Clydesdale District has proved 

 to be particularly well adapted for the production of large draft 

 horses possessing an exceptional quality of bone, muscle, tendon 

 and hair. The characteristics coupled with the hardihood, activity, 

 vigor and endurance have placed the Clydesdale with the foremost 

 rank of draft horses. 



Characteristics. The typical Clydesdale stands 16 hands high 

 or over, and weighs from 1,800 to 2,200 pounds. He is in color 

 bay, brown, black or chestnut with white markings. The head is 

 usually of good shape, neck of fair length, arching and muscular. 

 Horses of this breed are noted for the sloping shoulders and oblique 

 pasterns. Horses of this breed are fast walkers, due to a long, 

 springy stride at this gait. Compared to the Percherons they are 

 quite as fast at the walk due to the long stride, while the Percheron 

 has the quicker step, the Clydesdale has the longer. As a fast walk- 

 ing pace is the chief requisite as regards the action of heavy draft 

 horses, this has made the Clydesdale favorites. (Wis. B. 127.) 



ENGLISH SHIRE. 



The heavy black stallions of Flanders used upon the large 

 native mares of the Fen counties of England, notably Lincoln, Kent, 

 and Cambridge, founded this breed of draft horses many years 

 ago. This breed is still bred pure and has been greatly improved 

 in many particulars. In color the horses of this breed are now mostly 

 bay or brown. 



Characteristics. The typical size horse is of great weight and 

 power. He is more massive than the Clydesdale, but possesses less 

 quality. His body is usually deep, broad and round with strong 

 coupling, thighs and quarters heavily muscled. While powerful 

 he is slow in action and sluggish in disposition. Compared to the 

 Clydesdale the shoulders and pasterns are more upright and the hair 

 somewhat closer and in general it tends to show more coarseness. 

 The size is sometimes spoken of as a ton horse as many individuals 

 exceed this weight, (Wis. B. 127.) 



BELGIAN DRAFT. 



Blending together the blood of the Flemish Brabancan and 

 Ardennais horses have formed in Belgium a breed of draft horses 

 known as the Belgian Draft. The breeding of these horses forms an 

 important source of income of the Belgian farmer, and the Govern- 

 ment aids this business by subsidies and supervision. 



Characteristics. The typical Belgian Draft is a blocky, wide, 

 heavy horse having short clean legs, his neck often inclined to coarse- 

 ness and his croup sloping often to a defect, while his pasterns are apt 

 to be upright and his feet somewhat steep. As a rule the Belgian 

 horse, when out of condition, is perhaps more readily and quickly 

 fattened than any other breed. This makes them popular with the 

 professional horse feeder who prepares them for market. There 

 seems to be no standard color for the breed ; bays, browns and roans 

 are common. (Wis. B. 127.) 



PONIES. 



Ponies of various grades and breeding are frequently found on 



