

THE HORSE 141 



common marking, though there are many blacks and grays. 

 Like the Shire, the long hair on the back of the cannons is 

 a breed characteristic. 



The Belgian. The Belgian breed has been developed to a 

 high standard through the great interest shown in horse 

 breeding by the people of Belgium jand the assistance given 

 by their government. Unfortunately, in pushing through 

 Belgium in the present war, the Germans have almost 

 totally destroyed the horse breeding establishments of these 

 brave and courageous people. Before the war, however, 

 many of these horses were brought to the United States 

 each year and thus the breed will be saved. The Belgian 

 horses are the blockiest of all draft breeds. They are not 

 as large as the Shire, but being so thick fleshed are equally 

 as heavy. 



Grading up of horses. The term " grading up" applies 

 to the practice of mating common bred mares to pure-bred 

 stallions, or the reverse, thus producing half-breeds. Half- 

 breeds mated back to pure breeds of the same breed will 

 increase the pure blood percentage in the offspring from one- 

 half to three-fourths, and the next such cross to seven-eighths, 

 and so on for each successive generation. A constructive 

 grading-up process for the average farm community would 

 be by the male line of pure-bred ancestors. 



If there are no enterprising, progressive men in the locality 

 who are standing pure-bred, registered draft stallions, the 

 first step would be to organize a community association to 

 secure co-operatively the desired sires, and to promote the 

 horse breeding industry. After a careful study of the mar- 



