THE CLYDESDALE BREED. 



391 



the Highland and Agricultural Society. The colour is simply not 

 liked, and few breeders on the Clydeside care to have their best mares 

 served by grey horses. Clydesdale breeders are decidedly averse to 

 chestnuts ; and in some districts a chestnut horse, however good-look- 

 ing and strong, would not be made use of, and indeed would be 

 regarded by many as of impure origin. An occasional roan is to be 

 met with ; but this colour is regarded as evidence of impure blood. 



White markings are now very common, and have come to be re- 

 garded as a sign of purity of blood ; few of the Clydesdale horses of 

 the present day are without white on one of the legs, while a white 

 star or stripe on the face " ratch," as some breeders term it, if of the 

 latter form is highly prized. 



Fig. 87. Clydesdale Mare, " Pyrene." 



Champion at the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at Lincoln, 1907. 

 The property of Mr. J. E. Kerr, Harviestoun Castle, Dollar, N.B. 



In examming a horse when standing, a good judge will, in addition 

 to running his eye over the various points mentioned, see that he 

 stands even and firm on his feet, which in some horses are inclined 

 slightly inward. To be the least inclined outward is a bad fault, and 

 one which gets worse with age. 



In walking, the horse should, if approaching you, come with his 

 head well carried, and with an apparently measured stride, lifting his 

 feet well off the ground, and placing them down again regularly, evenly, 

 and with apparent deliberation. 



On a side view one can notice if his action be even, i.e., if his fore 

 and hind action be in unison ; for in horses with long backs and weak 

 loins the two ends seem to be under different control, and the hind 



