SUFFOLKS AND CLYDESDALES, 59 



CHAPTER XIL 



SUFFOLKS AND CLYDESDALES. 



The Suffolks, like the Shires, are a lieavy clrauglii liorse 

 breed. Tliey are descendants of the old-time famous Sutl'olk 

 I'unulies. Suft'olks are smaller and less weiglity than Shires; 

 the}' are neither so big-boned nor so massively built as the 

 latter. The height of SufiPolks is about 16 hands. Their 

 t-olour is ahvays chestnut, no other colour occurring in the 

 In-eed ; the chestnut varies in shade in different horses. In 

 addition to the chestnut colour, the Suffolks possess the fol- 

 hjwing characteristic points : they are Ioav on the leg, the 

 limbs being comparatively short; this feature gives them the 

 appearance of being longer in the body than is actually the 

 case. The legs are not provided with " feather " as is the 

 case Avith Shires and Clydesdales ; the limbs of the Suffolk are 

 free from long hairs, barring the tuft of hair at the back of 

 the fetlock. The feet are comparatively small in size. The 

 legs of Suffolks frequently are comparatively light in regard to 

 rlie size of their body. The breeder of Suffolks should cer- 

 tainly aim at breeding them with as stout limbs as possible. 

 The Suffolk is of a placid disposition, but a very willing and 

 game worker, being the equal of the Shire in this respect. 

 As the Suffolk is smaller and less weighty than the Shire, the 

 former naturally does not possess the same powers of draught 

 as the latter, owing to the smaller amount of weight he is 

 able to throw into the collar. Suffolks are very suitable for 

 farm work, buf" they are not nearly so much in request for 

 haulage purposes in towns as Shires. The prices ruling for 

 Suffolk horses are not as high, speaking generally, as are those 

 for Shire horses. The Suffolk is chiefly bred in its native 

 county, and the popularity of the breed is practically confined 



