BREEDING HEAVY HORSES 57 



Shire have so many affinities there is no reason why the 

 very best of stock should not be produced in the manner 

 named. It is quite another matter to cross the Shire 

 with the Suffolk or with the Percheron. The highest 

 market prices can be obtained for the right class of 

 animals belonging to the breeds named. The Percheron, 

 or French horse, is an animal of fine constitution, of 

 splendid size, power, weight, activity, and courage, 

 consequently for a clean-legged draught horse suitable 

 for either military transport, artillery, agricultural, or 

 commerical work, it is an invaluable breed. The United 

 States and Canada have bred thousands of this class of 

 horse, and are apparently satisfied with its introduction 

 into these countries ; nevertheless, as a breed the author 

 does not consider that it possesses the impressive, sterling 

 quaUties of the Suffolk. The British Percheron Horse 

 Society's primary and definite object is that of bringing 

 this breed into pre-eminence in Great Britain, although 

 the author fails to see any particular advantage in this 

 when our own breed, the Suffolk, can do everything that 

 the Percheron can do. Some may prefer the colour of 

 the Percheron to that of the Suffolk, but this is of no 

 particular importance. Both breeds are clean-legged and 

 active, deep-chested and well-hearted, and are particu- 

 larly good in the stoutness of neck and shoulders. The 

 possession of these features makes the breeding of this 

 class of horse desirable for the purposes already named, 

 and anyone establishing a stud of draught horses would 

 do well to consider the advisabihty of purchasing good 

 stock of either the Suffolk or Percheron breed. Begin by 

 buying two or three five or six-year-old mares and a 

 couple of two-year-old fillies. This will constitute the 

 nucleus of a good stud, provided that a judicious selection 

 is made and the animals selected from studs which have 

 built up a good reputation. To those who contemplate 

 crossing the Suffolk with the Percheron the author would 

 say dont do it. There can be no possible advantage. 



