16 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



thorough-bred Clydesdale sires have been let out for the season 

 for £500. 



The Shire horse is described as a true cart-horse which is not 

 a Clydesdale, a Suffolk Punch, or a dray-horse, but is at times 

 a blood relation of all three. He appears to be of no particular 

 stamp, colour, or breed, but a mixture of choice county horses, 

 resulting in a large, well-built, powerful animal, more placid 

 and stronger than the Clydesdale, though less valuable as a 

 sire, inasmuch as he is less certain in transmitting his good 

 qualities. Moreover, his pace is slower, and he does not excel 

 in anything beyond a smart walk. 



The head is generally large and heavy, without expression, 

 though showing good temper ; the body is large and roomy, 

 some horses girthing eight feet ; the hips wide, and the loins 

 broad and muscular ; the fore-arms and thighs are long and 

 powerful, and the hocks broad and deep. The legs are very 

 hairy, the hair (which should be rather silky) falling thickly 

 over the hoofs. 



The largest of these horses are bred on heavy land, where 

 plough work is very exacting ; and the strongest and best- 

 looking of them are selected for drawing heavy loads at a 

 comparatively slow pace in towns. It is stated that on a 

 moderately good hard road one of these horses will take two 

 tons as his ordinary load ; while nothing will equal them in 

 starting and shifting railway waggons. " Less handsome speci- 

 mens are purchased for road waggons. The mild temper of 

 these horses adapts them admirably for large teams, where a 

 long waiting pull is required, or to guide good-temperedly to 

 the voice or whip, without rushing into the collar, as hotter- 

 tempered horses are so prone to do. Three of these brood 

 mares can take a double-furrow plough even through heavy, 

 stiff land, and they are taught more easily than any other 

 horse to go gently, and stop at roots in wood land, or amongst 

 other obstacles." 



