BREEDS OF HORSES 83 



crease in the size of farm horses is of the greatest importance, espe- 

 cially where heavy clay soils are common. Two 1,200-pound horses 

 will probably do more work and eat less than 3 weighing 800 pounds 

 each, and larger ones probably in similar proportion. 



Next, conformation should be improved. Conformation is im- 

 portant not only because it has a great effect on the selling price, but 

 because a horse with good conformation will do more work and last 

 longer than one with poor conformation. The points especially to be 

 sought are as follows : Wide, open nostrils ; medium-sized, clean-cut 

 muzzle; clean-cut, open jaws; clean-cut head; straight face; wide 

 forehead; large, clear, intelligent eyes; medium-sized, smartly car- 

 ried ears, set close together; clean-cut throatlatch; clean-cut, well- 

 muscled, long neck, smoothly joined to the shoulders; and sharp, 

 smooth withers. The shoulders should be sloping, and should extend 

 well into the back ; the arm should be well muscled and well thrown 

 back. The forearm should be wide and muscular, the knees wide 

 and strong and strongly supported. The canon should be flat and 

 well developed, so that there is no falling away below the knee. The 

 fetlocks should be wide and straight, the pastern of medium length, 

 strong, and inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees. The feet 

 should be of good size, with large hoof heads, dense bone, well-de- 

 veloped frogs, and wide heels of good height. The back should be 

 straight, broad, and well muscled, and the ribs w r ell sprung. The 

 loins should be straight, broad, well muscled, and closely coupled to 

 the hind quarters; the croup wide and straight; the quarters fully 

 developed; and the tail set high and smartly carried. The flanks 

 should be full. The hocks should be clean cut, wide, strong, and 

 straight, and the supporting canons broad and flat. Further de- 

 scription of the hind limb practically corresponds to that of the fore 

 limb. 



The necessity of these points from the standpoint of durability 

 is obvious on a moment's reflection. A wide, open nostril generally 

 indicates good lung capacity and therefore good constitution. A 

 wide forehead usually indicates brain capacity; a straight face, do- 

 cility ; a full, clear eye, intelligence ; an erectly carried ear, alertness. 

 Roman noses frequently indicate strongheadedness and dished faces 

 viciousness. A horse with a narrow nostril, Roman nose, small 

 bear eye, narrow forehead, and badly placed lop ears is usually 

 one to be suspected of being capable of all kinds of equine villainy. 

 A thick throatlatch and short, thick neck indicate a horse which will 

 probably be thick in the wind. Meaty withers and shoulders are 

 seldom found with good action. A straight shoulder and pastern 

 shows a limb predisposed to ringbones, sidebones, and other diseases, 

 and a horse with such conformation will not "wear well. Good feet 

 are necessary, as shown by the old adage, No foot, no horse. The 

 development of the middle piece the body is necessary for many 

 obvious reasons. A horse with a narrow, shallow body, low back, 

 and weak coupling is not only a weak horse with little constitution, 

 but a poor keeper; a fully developed back, well-sprung ribs, deep 

 body, and closely coupled loins usually indicate a strong one. The 



