HONEST DIFFERENCES OF OPINION 155 



form, not being too oblique; shortish neck and legs, 

 clean head and limbs. 



One cannot help getting the impression that they 

 have not so much spirit nor so long a stride as the 

 Clydesdale. Be that as it may, they are a valuable 

 addition to our draft breeds, and time alone can reveal 

 whether or not they can win their way to equally popu- 

 lar favor with the two leading breeds. 



No breed or animal is perfect; every breed is likely 

 to have some characteristic defects. There are few, if 

 any, animals so perfect but that we would like to make 

 some slight changes. But if a writer points out a slight 

 defect in a breed, as shown when large numbers of 

 animals are inspected, somebody gets hot "under the 

 collar." Then, too, honest differences of opinion too 

 often are not given respectful treatment. Some horse- 

 men have yet to learn the philosophy of agreeing to 

 disagree. A conservative horseman of high standing 

 says, "I have yet to find a writer on the horse who 

 dared to call attention even to slight defects of any one 

 of the modern breeds except the bronco." On this little 

 fellow he vents all his spite; and, what with writers 

 and riders, it is no wonder that he occasionally strikes 

 back or "bucks" in sheer self-defence of his long- 

 acquired right to freedom and self -protection. 



