THE HORSE 



139 



FIG. 20. A SHIRE STALLION 



The well-to-do farmer often keeps carriage or road horses. 

 These are a kind of coach horse fifteen or sixteen hands high, 

 of beautiful form, and even temperament. 



The Percheron. The Percheron draft horse is a native of 

 La Perch a, France. It is noted for its massive size, good 

 quality, endurance, and action. Stallions usually weigh from 

 1700 to 2000 pounds. They range from fifteen and one-half 

 to seventeen hands high. The color is variable, though black 

 and dapple gray predominate. This is the most common 

 breed of heavy draft horse in the United States. 



The Shire. The Shire draft horse was developed in Eng- 

 land about 150 years ago. It is commonly known as the old- 

 est breed of "cart horse" (this term is also applied to Bel- 



