CHAPTER XI 



DRAFT- HOESES CLYDESDALE, ENGLISH SHIEE, 

 SUFFOLK PUNCH 



ONE of the oldest, if not the oldest breed of British 

 draft -horse, is the Clydesdale. As a variety, they 

 attracted attention as early as 1715; but it was long 

 afterward before they assumed that uniformity of 

 character and potency which should be possessed by 

 any class of animals before it can properly be called a 

 breed. There appear to be good reasons for believing, 

 and the most trusted authorities assert, that all of the 

 heavy draft -breeds trace back to the wild Black Horse 

 of Europe. This would seem to be a fair conclusion, 

 since it is not probable that large draft -horses were 

 developed from light, high -mettled, oriental foundation 

 stock; though, without doubt, most, if not all of the 

 draft -breeds have some admixture of warm blood. 

 Horse-breeders from time immemorial have been fond 

 of trying experiments; hence heavy stallions were, as 

 they are now, sometimes bred to mixed-blooded mares, 

 and not infrequently desirable female offspring resulted. 

 These were then used to beget other offspring. Selec- 

 tions were then made according to the consensus of 

 opinion of the best breeders, usually in a somewhat 

 restricted district, as to the characteristics and qualities 

 most desired. 



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