FARM HORSES 271 



horses to take up types and breeds in detail, it seems more 

 important to confine our attention to those that are regarded 

 as the most useful on the farm, and to the essential points in 

 the care of farm horses, such as housing, feeding, and treat- 

 ment. 



Farm horses. Work horses have been roughly classified 

 as belonging to four general groups, according to the work they 

 seem best adapted to perform: i. heavy draft horses useful 



Farm draft horse. Side and hind views. (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.) 



for pulling very heavy loads; 2. medium and light draft, 

 lighter than the heavy draft yet capable of doing heavy 

 work (includes nine-tenths of all farm horses); 3. roadsters, 

 adapted for drawing light loads with considerable speed; 

 4. small horses, known as ponies. 



For farming purposes, only the first and second groups 

 need be considered. The roadster has largely given way to 

 the automobile, and the pony is of little value for farm use. 



Whether heavy draft or light draft horses are the most 



