THE BELGIAN 



J37 



horse show and at some of the central West fairs during the 

 past twenty years, but it is only very lately that general interest 

 has been taken in the breed. A small show of Belgians was made 

 at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893 at Chicago by 

 A. B. Holbert, Van Volsen Bros, and Vanderschuerm, Lefebure 

 & Sons of Iowa, and J. Crouch & Son of Indiana. During the 

 past two or three years interest in the breed has greatly grown, 

 and at the International Live Stock Exposition at Chicago in 

 1903 there were shown twenty aged stallions, while in 1905 a very 

 large and creditable show was made. In all the exhibitions, how- 

 ever, but very few mares are found ; in fact, there are but very 

 few pure-bred Belgian mares in America. 



The American Association of Importers and Breeders of Belgian 

 Draft Horses was organized in 1877, and works in harmony 

 with the Belgian society. Thus far it has published but one 

 studbook, issued in 1905. 



Characteristics of the Belgian Draft horse. The general con- 

 formation is of the most compact form, this breed having a 

 maximum of weight within a given space. The body is very full 

 in the breast and unusually broad and deep of back, no breed in 

 proportion to its size showing so much body girth. Symmetry 

 of form is not as frequent as could be wished, owing to a rather 

 characteristic steepness and shortness of rump extremely com- 

 mon with Belgians, with the tail set rather low. The head shows 

 considerable refinement, and is carried with spirit on a short, 

 symmetrical neck. The head, neck, and rump rather suggest the 

 French breeds in style and carriage. The legs of the Belgians 

 are devoid of long hair and are notably short. Compared with 

 an ordinary draft horse one is impressed by the closeness with 

 which the body comes to the ground. While the legs may not 

 be open to objection, frequently there is a tendency to too much 

 lightness of bone and lack of substance to support the body 

 weight and withstand the severest of labor. Neither do the 

 hocks show great depth and strength as frequently as is desir- 

 able. An important criticism of the breed by Americans has been 

 directed to the feet. These tend to be small and lack in circum- 

 ference at the crown, besides being high and narrow at the heel. 

 Probably no class of draft horses brought to America has the 



