20 



will not permit of going into very minute details on 

 the subject, so a few of the more important hints will 

 be given which may prove advantageous to some 

 readers. 



The old-fashioned country horses of the working 

 type are very nearly extinct through the increased 

 and increasing distribution of Shires in the South, 

 and Clydesdales in the North. In most respects this 

 is an advantage, whilst in others it is somewhat of a 

 disadvantage, because fashion, even in horse-breed- 

 ing, is sometimes more regarded than utility and 

 profit. Ten or a dozen years ago, no cart horses at 

 agricultural shows were considered worth looking at 

 unless extravagantly furnished with the fashionable 

 and aristocratic " feather," but, happily, this craze 

 for hair is dying out, as evidenced in the cleaner- 

 legged horses which are winning at the present day. 

 Excessively hairy legs are good for nothing but 

 accumulating mud and dirt, and from mud and dirt 

 spring cracked heels, grease, and a number of other 

 ailments due to uncleanliness. 



SHIRES AND CLYDESDALES. 



Shires may be said to be the chief breed of heavy 

 horses in England. The distribution of Suffolks is 

 practically confined to the county from which they 

 derive their name, and need not be specially con- 

 sidered at present. During the last decade there 

 has been a wonderful improvement in Shires. Their 

 quality has been materially added to without impairing 



