68 



THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



neither in nor out. The hocks should be firm and not show weak- 

 ness, as springing wide apart when in action, and the feet should 

 be held true, neither turning in nor out at the toes. When either 

 at walk or trot the horse should pass from or come toward the 

 judge on the same true line, without sidewise gait, dragging feet, 

 paddling, clicking, etc. Straight and regular movement should 

 be sought for. Ordinarily a coach horse is expected to have a 

 speed of about eight or ten miles an hour in continuous road work. 



FIG. 21. Brigham Pearl, showing extreme flexing of knees and hocks, with but 

 two feet on the ground. From photograph by courtesy of Mr. Howe 



Subclasses of heavy harness horses. On account of the special 

 requirements of city trade, in relation to the size and use of various 

 vehicles, the coach horse is divided into groups. This classification 

 only occurs, however, in the important horse shows and in the 

 exclusive trade of the city dealer. Pure-bred coach horses, as a 

 rule, do not come within these subclasses when of the smaller type, 

 though the Hackney may furnish an exception. The following 

 three subclasses are the principal ones of interest : 



The Park horse is a coach horse of the smaller class, in which 

 are found typical heavy harness conformation and a very flashy style 

 of action. This represents the finest of the subtypes referred to 

 and stands from 15 to 1 5| hands and weighs 1000 to 1 1 50 pounds. 



