74 LESSONS IN AGRICULTURE 



LESSON XXII 



THE DEAFT HORSE 



Have a draft horse in the school yard for this lesson. 



Note the short legs, heavy body, short, thick neck, 

 broad, deep chest and shoulders, strong hocks and rather 

 large joints and feet. With the draft type weight is one 

 of the most important considerations. A draft horse 

 may weigh from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds. The heavy 

 horse in harness brings greater power into the collar 

 than does the light one. 



There are several different breeds of draft horses. 

 The Percherons, Belgians, Clydesdale, and English 

 Shires are the common breeds. 



The following points any school boy should recognize 

 in a good draft horse : 



1. The best selling colors are : bay, chestnut, brown, 

 roan, black, and iron gray. 



2. Body conformation, massive, low-set, ample, very 

 muscular, short-flanked, cylindrical, large and broad 

 limbs, good feet, good face, ardor, and endurance. 



3. The horse should be at least sixteen hands high 

 at the withers. 



4. The animal should be sound, and the following 

 blemishes should always be in mind in examining a 

 horse: Spavin, curb, thorough-pin, sidebones, splints, 

 sweeney, sprung knees, faulty hoofs, poor eyesight, 

 string halt, poor wind, parrot mouth, blindness, etc. 



5. The horse should have good life but be gentle. 

 While the horse is present for this lesson, some in- 

 teresting and profitable measurements may be made. 



