488 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



discharge his numerous and unusual duties under constantly differing 

 surroundings. In selecting, the first requisites are tractability, good 

 feet and legs, with bone and hoof of the best texture, a short, strong 

 back, and well-proportioned fore and hindquarters, well covered with 

 firm, elastic muscles. For heavy engine companies and heavy hook- 

 and-ladder trucks, a gelding of uniform and hardy color, in good condi- 

 tion, from 5 to 7 years old, standing 16 to 17-2 hands, and weighing 

 from 1,500 to 1,700 pounds should be selected. Hose-carriage horses, 

 same age; weight from 1,200 to 1,400 pounds; height, 15 to 16-2 hands." 

 The demand for fire horses is very limited, coming from fire com- 

 panies of cities. There are usually enough horses in the general supply 

 to meet the demand. 



Carriage Horses 



The chapter dealing with carriage horse type presents a detailed 

 description of the general class known as carriage horses, and while 

 this general class is subdivided into four classes known as Coach, Cob, 

 Park, and Cab Horses, nevertheless the differences between them relate 

 mostly to size and weight, and much the same conformation, style, 

 and action is desired in each of them. 



Coach horses may be described as carriage horses of large size. 

 They should stand from 15-1 to 16-1 hands high, and weigh from 1,100 

 to 1,250 pounds. The weight is not so important as the size. The 

 essential thing is to get a horse that looks right before the large, heavy 

 vehicle to which he is hitched, such as the park drag, body break, 

 road coach, and brougham. A hearse requires black horses from 15-3 

 to 16-1 hands high, weighing, 1,200 to 1,250, and without white mark- 

 ings. White horses are also used to some extent by undertakers. 



Cobs differ from coach horses in size and in the use to which they 

 are put. They are driven singly, in pairs, or tandem. Cobs stand 

 from 14-1 to 15-1 hands high, and weigh from 900 to 1,150 pounds. 

 The strongest demand comes for horses 14-3 to 15 hands high, and 

 weighing from 1,000 to 1,100 pounds. Being essentially a lady's horse, 

 solid colors are wanted, without flash markings. They are usually 

 hitched to a light brougham or phaeton. 



The park horse, sometimes called the gig horse, is a carriage horse 

 of medium size, and he is a higher-priced horse than either the coach 

 or cob horse. He has the same conformation and action as they, and 

 there may be no difference in size and weight, but his conformation is 

 more perfect, his action higher and more sensational, and his style and 

 elegance more outstanding. Park horses are hitched to a cart or gig, 

 or may be driven tandem to the latter vehicle. They are also driven 

 in pairs before mail phaetons and victorias. The limits for height and 



