HEAVY DRAUGHT HORSES 37 



be almost any colour. One of the most distinctive 

 features of the breed is the shortness of the hmbs and 

 the ponderous body, the latter rather a disadvantage 

 than otherwise. To be tjrpical a good Shire should have 

 plenty of bone and substance throughout, and an abun- 

 dance of hair of a soft, silky texture, extending from 

 below the knees and hocks, and encircling the pasterns 

 and coronets. If the hair is coarse in the regions alluded 

 to and the skin thick it indicates that the animal is of 

 coarse breeding and predisposed to a sluggish circulation. 

 Some people object to a superabundance of hair at the 

 parts referred to, and there is no doubt that for horses 

 working on heavy land it does give a certain amount of 

 extra trouble in grooming the animal, but at the same 

 time this long hair is most decidedly protective to the 

 skin, preventing cracked heels, etc. 



A well-developed crest, moderately high withers, well- 

 sprung ribs, a strong back and loins, and powerful quarters 

 •are points of importance, and as such should never be 

 overlooked when purchasing a horse of this class. A 

 good Shire should have the best of feet and be free from 

 both ring-bone and side-bone — two of the commonest 

 defects. There should be a general compactness of form, 

 and above all good action, and such action should mainly 

 come from the knees and hocks. Faulty action is quite 

 common, but it is always distinctly detrimental. In 

 buying a Shire the intending purchaser should see that 

 the animal is examined prior to purchase for soundness, 

 tried in harness, prove its suitability for the work required, 

 and be sure that it is representative of the breed to which 

 it belongs. Six years is a good age to purchase, whilst the 

 price may range from 80 to 250 guineas, striking the 

 average at 120, when horses have assumed their normal 

 market value. The last-named price does not, of course 

 include horses required for show purposes, the prices for 

 which range up to several thousands of pounds. 



