84 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



development of the floating ribs is important, especially in a brood 

 mare, to allow full room for the development of the digestive and 

 reproductive organs. A full hind flank is important for the reason 

 that a wasp-wadsted horse is usually a poor feeder and lacks stamina. 



The development of the hind quarters is necessary, because the 

 greatest amount of the animal's propelling power is developed there. 

 Not only is muscular development necessary, but the hind legs must 

 be well shaped to endure the great strain that is exerted when pulling 

 a load. The hocks and the legs from these joints to the pasterns 

 should be parallel and set rather close together. Viewing the leg 

 from the side, the back line from the point of the hock to the ground 

 should be perpendicular. The angles of the bones of the lower leg 

 should form an angle at the hock with the cannon of about 60 de- 

 grees. If this angle is greater we have what is known as a straight 

 leg, and consequently a hock predisposed to curbs. If the angle is 

 much less a sickle hock results. Deflection of the hocks inward 

 causes what are known as cow hocks. Bad conformation in the 

 hock joint and light development of the joint predispose to spavin, 

 one of the most serious forms of unsoundness. 



This, in a general way, covers the points to be looked for in con- 

 formation and the reasons for them. Next, we should look for qual- 

 ity. This is shown in the cleanness of the head, neck, and bones of 

 the leg, by the clean-cut appearance of the tendons, the softness and 

 fineness of the hair, and the texture of the skin. Quality is an index 

 of the breeding of a horse and of his stamina and durability. 



Next, action should be looked for. This in a farm horse is most 

 important at the walk, which should be regular, straight, free, and, 

 above all rapid. A fast walker is a far more valuable worker than 

 a slow one, and will turn many more furrows in a day. Action at 

 the trot should be quick and free, straight and true. High action is 

 not necessary in a farm horse, but the knees and hocks should be 

 flexed well with snap and precision. Finally, in breeding stock the 

 farmer should look for uniformity. His mares should be as nearly 

 alike as possible, and should be so bred as to produce uniform colts. 



This will give an idea of the type of farm horse which will read- 

 ily do work enough to pay for his keep. Any specific mention of the 

 proper size for such horses has purposely been omitted, for the reason 

 that this matter is so important that it can well be taken up again 

 in addition to what has already been said. It is useless to expect a 

 farm mare to produce a good-sized mule or work horse if she herself 

 is undersized. If the South is to produce good salable mules the 

 size of the farm mares must be increased. If it is ever to sell horses 

 at a profit on the New York or Boston markets, the same thing must 

 be done. In the writer's opinion the standard weight of a farm mare 

 should be 1,200 pounds. A mare having the description given, with 

 this weight, would produce a good mule when bred to a good-sized 

 jack, and when bred to a suitable stallion would produce a good work 

 horse for the farm. This statement of standard weight applies to 

 South Carolina under present conditions, and does not apply to con- 

 ditions which might obtain in other sections of the country, and 



