THE DRAFT-HORSE TYPE 93 



good feeder, and materially add to the weight necessary in the 

 drafter. Usually satisfactory rib development provides a proper 

 body conformation. Often immature horses appear to lack depth 

 of body to some degree, but age and feeding establish the proper- 

 proportions. The horse that lacks depth of body will also lack 

 such essentials as capacity and the power of endurance. 



The loin should be broad and thickly muscled. Narrow, thin 

 loins indicate weakness of a serious character. Often the loin is 

 depressed directly in front of the space between the hips, a dis- 

 tinctly undesirable conformation. Animals with a sway back, as a 

 rule, show this weakness of loin. 



The croup should be broad, wide, fairly level, and heavily mus- 

 cled. A steep croup is very objectionable and affects both the 

 beauty and power of the horse. A short, steep croup is less 

 strongly muscled than one that is long. The Belgian and French 

 draft breeds seem most subject to steepness of croup and low 

 setting of tail. 



The thigh should be strongly muscled, and the quarters should 

 be thick and full. A horse split up high behind, with a thin, 

 sharply tapering thigh, lacks good draft form at this place. The 

 gaskin, or lower thigh, when properly made, is deep from front 

 to rear and heavily covered with muscle. 



The hock is a part which requires careful study. As viewed 

 from one side, it should show considerable depth, while from 

 the rear it should possess a certain degree of thinness, though 

 broad in front, the entire joint being free from extra flesh. 

 Thick hocks are very common with draft horses, due to various 

 reasons. The joint may be fleshy, puffiness may occur from lack 

 of exercise, or a form of spavin may exist. The hock should be 

 smooth and its various natural curves well defined. As the horse 

 stands in a natural position on his feet, the hocks should be 

 straight and true as viewed from behind, showing no evidence 

 of weakness. Where the hock holds a correct position the hind 

 feet also stand true, neither toeing in nor out. When toeing out 

 the points of the hock come too close together, while if toeing 

 in notably the points may be wide apart and the hocks appear 

 springy and weak when in action. The hock should be supported 

 by a wide, thin, clean-boned cannon, which may be about eleven 



