62 



CONKEY'S STOCK BOOK 



general we estimate their value according to weight, on the supposition 

 that this indicates the power brought into the collar. Draft horses conform 

 to certain main essentials of development and usefulness, as follows: 



DRAFT POINTS Lean head, strong and muscular neck, smooth, well-set 

 shoulders, broad knee, smooth, well-sloped pastern, foot 



large, well-set and free in movement are the chief conformation points to 

 look for in draft horses. 



Quality is shown by large, strong, firm bones, with tendons prominent. 

 Hair fine and silky, especially the "feather," the hair on the fetlock, is 

 taken to show good bone quality, just as hair indicates quality in cattle. 



Bold, free, regular gait at a walk is essential, for express animals 

 the same ease of gait in a trot. For a farm horse, a good square walk is 

 like a good, square deal for men. A good fast walk is especially valued 

 for the reason already stated. 



A $3,500 Brood Mare (Percheron), owned by Gregory Farm, Whitehall, 111. 



GENERAL POINTS The score card from the University of Missouri 

 calls for generous and symmetrical development, 



lively carriage, full bright clear eye, large flexible nostrils. In every point 

 quality is best described as neither coarse nor refined, not too large or 

 too small in bone, too massive or too slender a leg. In the entire scale 

 of points full 15 go to action, that rapid, springy, straight walk, or free 

 balanced straight trot so essential for commercial purposes. Another 10 

 points go for weight alone, of course age and condition are also consid- 

 ered. The forefeet should be large, even and sound, hoofs dense and 

 waxy, sole concave, bars strong, frog large and elastic; heels should be 

 wide, and the rule is one-half the length of the toe and set vertical to 

 the ground. Full 8 points go to the forefeet, and 6 points for the hind 

 feet on the same general characteristics. Hocks should be large, strong, 

 wide, deep, clean and well set. 



