SOME FOREIGN BREEDS 141 



17 hands, whereas in the Brabant type it falls to 

 between 15J and 16J, while in the Ardennais stock, 

 of the Ardennes, it is only from 15 to 15! hands. 

 The Picardy horses of France form a fourth modifica- 

 tion of the present breed. Perhaps the most striking 

 feature of the Belgian is to be found in the great 

 fulness of the chest and the depth and breadth 

 of the back ; the girth of the body being relatively 

 greater than in any other breed. The shortness 

 and sharp inclination of the rump are more con- 

 spicuous than in the Percheron, and constitute a 

 distinct blemish. Another frequent fault is the lack 

 of sufficient stoutness of bone in the legs, and the 

 small and narrow feet, which, as in the Percheron, 

 are devoid of long hair. The neat head is carried 

 on a short neck, which is frequently of great depth, 

 and thereby shows another indication of affinity 

 with the French breeds. On the other hand, 

 chestnut is the prevailing colour, bays, bay-browns, 

 and roans being, however, by no means uncommon, 

 although greys are rare. Despite its somewhat 

 slow action, the Belgian, on account of its weight, 

 enjoys an unusual capacity for moving heavy 

 loads with the least possible amount of exertion 

 and strain. 



As regards draught-horses of a lighter type, 

 the rich lowlands drained by the Elbe, Weser, and 

 Ems in North-western Germany have long been 

 noted for the excellence of their breeds, among 



